The Sino-German Automotive Industry Collaborative Development Forum held on Oct 22 at the Shanghai International Auto City in Jiading district, Shanghai, celebrated 40 years of partnership between China and Germany in the automotive sector.
The event brought together industry leaders and experts to discuss the future of joint ventures and collaboration.
In his speech at the forum, Lu Fangzhou, Party secretary of the Jiading district, emphasized Jiading's role as an international automotive hub, with the automotive industry being a key driver of its economy, and highlighted the district's history of Sino-German cooperation.
Forty years ago, SAIC Volkswagen, China's first joint venture in the automotive sector, was established in Jiading. Since then, nearly 30 German automotive companies, including Schaeffler and ZF, have set up operations in the district, making significant contributions to China's automotive industry.
Lu noted the industry's ongoing transformation driven by new energy and technologies, identifying trends such as the rise of Chinese brands and closer collaboration among leading companies. In a bid to become a world-class hub for intelligent vehicles, Jiading is partnering with auto firms like SAIC Volkswagen to innovate and localize the supply chain for mutual growth.
The forum featured speeches from representatives of the German Association of the Automotive Industry and the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Keynote speakers from SAIC Volkswagen, ZF Group, and Horizon Robotics highlighted efforts in green transportation and sustainable development. Participants agreed on the need to deepen Sino-German cooperation, especially in new energy vehicles, to drive a global green transition.
In addition, the forum's roundtable discussion explored how joint ventures can evolve from "in China, for China" to "in China, for the world", and how to leverage regional advantages to support industry growth.
The forum's roundtable discussion focused on two topics: "The Future of New Joint Ventures: Innovation, Opportunities, and Challenges" and "Collaborative Innovation in the Automotive Industry Chain: Future Trends and Challenges". [Photo/jiading.gov.cn]