THE Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, known as the Beijing Auto Show, has made a big return after a prolonged absence, emerging bigger and bolder than ever before. Surpassing its counterparts in Japan and the West, the 2024 edition of the show served as a testament to the rapid ascent of Chinese automotive brands, outpacing renowned counterparts from the United States and Europe, and neighboring South Korea and Japan.
China's strategic acquisitions of popular automotive brands two decades ago are yielding substantial returns today. Chinese brands are swiftly overtaking heritage counterparts, offering vehicles of comparable, if not with superior quality, safety features, performance, and design, all at a more affordable price point. With an annual production exceeding 30 million units, China has optimized efficiency, driving down the costs of parts and components.
Gone are the days when China-made cars were synonymous with inferior quality. Today, these vehicles incorporate best practices from international counterparts and boast cutting-edge technology in car assembly. Drawing on a diverse global pool of designers, Chinese car designs are at the forefront of innovation, with the ability to bring a model from concept to reality in just four years, compared to the seven-year timeline of heritage brands.
Fifteen years ago, China boasted only a handful of automobile manufacturers, including major state-owned entities like SAIC, FAW, Dongfeng, and Changan, alongside private players such as Great Wall, Geely, and BYD. Today, the landscape has transformed, with over 200 brands, a significant portion of which are dynamic startups.
The venue for this year's show, the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing's Chaoyang District, spanned eight vast halls. Alongside local brands, international giants from Europe, America, South Korea and Japan made a prominent presence.
At the heart of the exhibition stood Great Wall Motor (GWM), occupying one of the largest booths in the East Hall. GWM showcased an array of new vehicles from its four brands: GWM, Haval, Ora, and WEY, unveiling the rugged Tank 700 luxury off-roader, the sleek Haval crossovers, the luxurious WEY MPVs, and impressive ORA electric vehicles.
During a press presentation, GWM President Mu Feng outlined the brand's global development achievements and future goals, emphasizing a commitment to "ecological globalization." Rooted in China, GWM aims to localize operations overseas, prioritizing production, brand culture, and supply chain management to ensure high-quality global development.
Feng highlighted GWM's investment in production plants and knock-down (KD) factories across multiple countries, promoting localized research and development (R&D), and production to tailor products to regional needs while enhancing cost competitiveness and contributing to local economies.
After over two decades of overseas expansion, GWM's global development has reached a harvest period. High-value new energy products like the Tank and Ora have gained traction in overseas markets, bolstering the success of the "ecological globalization" strategy.
GWM international head, Parker Shi, underscored the brand's global appeal, showcasing achievements across five major product series. With a presence in over 170 countries and regions and more than 1.4 million international users, GWM's overseas sales surged to over 314,000 vehicles in 2023, marking an impressive year-on-year increase. With the growing demand for their vehicles abroad, GWM has established production facilities in Thailand and Brazil, alongside KD factories in Pakistan, Ecuador and other locations, fostering localized R&D and production to meet regional demands.
Under the "ONE GWM" brand strategy, the company has pursued a "multi-category + multipower combination" overseas path, securing Australian and European five-star ratings for its main products. Models like the GWM Tank 300 and GWM Tank 500 have gained traction in over 30 countries, with the former ranking second in global hardcore off-road sales, reshaping perception of Chinese automobiles.
Currently, GWM Philippines offers a range of vehicles, including the GWM Cannon pickup truck, Haval Jolion ICE, Haval Jolion HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) subcompact crossover, Haval H6 HEV hybrid SUV, Tank 300 off-roader, and the Ora 03 sports electric vehicle, embodying GWM's commitment to delivering quality and innovation to the local market. Later this year, GWM will bring to the country its newly launched models including the Haval H9, the WEY GaoShan luxury MPV, the Tank 700 luxury off-roader, the Ora 03 GT and the Ora 07.
2024-05-06T17:14:48Z dg43tfdfdgfd
