China - July 16, 2024

China leads global transition to green mobility

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Gu Xiaoyu, Senior Manager, Traction Battery R&D Department, GAC AION Research and Development Center:

"I joined the Guangzhou Automobile Group R&D Center after graduating in 2016, and I've been involved in GAC AION's NCM ternary lithium ion battery work since 2021."

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Gu Xiaoyu may look young, but she's an expert in the new energy vehicle industry. Along with her team, she was the first to develop a sponge-like silicon anode battery and achieve mass production use in large traction batteries.

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Gu Xiaoyu, Senior Manager, Traction Battery R&D Department, GAC AION Research and Development Center:

"Our sponge-like silicon anode battery, magazine battery and graphene fast charge battery, have achieved mass production use, which significantly relieves the consumer's anxiety over the range, safety and charging convenience of the battery."

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As the world's largest producer and market for new energy vehicles, as of June, China had nearly 25 million in use, accounting for over half of the world's total.

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Zhou Lingkun, China Automotive Consulting Partner, Deloitte:

"When we look back at the development of China's new energy vehicles over the past ten years, the Chinese government has played a very timely role in guiding the development of the industry, providing policy support and expanding the opening up of the industry. We should also give credit to the role played by the market and enterprises."

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As one of the first Chinese carmakers to launch an EV platform, GAC AION says its push for self-innovation followed Chinese President Xi Jinping's instructions in 2014, when he called for making the new-energy vehicle sector a new growth point, transforming China from a large manufacturer of cars, into a strong one.

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Gu Xiaoyu, Senior Manager, Traction Battery R&D Department, GAC AION Research and Development Center:

"GAC Group always bears in mind President Xi's guidance. To speed up innovation, it established the GAC Intelligent Connected New Energy Automobile Industrial Park, to focus on new energy automobile production."

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Xu Hua, Reporter:

"From the moment I stepped into GAC AION's facility, we were timing the assembly of a new energy vehicle. It takes fifty-three seconds for each work station to complete its unique task. How is that possible? We need to find out from one of the engineers."

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Sun Tao, Assembly Engineer, GAC AION:

" 'Fifty-three seconds' represents our production beat, it's the assembly time for a new energy vehicle to pass from one station to the next station. With such an efficient production beat, our daily output can exceed 1,000 units."

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In 2023, the cumulative carbon emission reduction of new energy vehicles in China exceeded 80 million tons, and the number is expected to exceed 100 million tons in 2024.

Experts attributed this new energy buildup to the country's green policies, as it aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. They say it is also a boost for the global low-carbon transformation.

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Zhou Lingkun, China Automotive Consulting Partner, Deloitte:

"As China has established a technological advantage in the electric vehicle supply chain, and in terms of costs, it can play a very positive role in helping the EU to achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050."

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To tap into the global market, leading Chinese players like BYD, NIO and GAC AION are seeking closer cooperation with international partners by sharing advanced technologies, integrating supply chains, creating job opportunities and training talents abroad.

Despite this, China-built electric vehicles were recently hit by EU tariff increases of up to 37.6 percent over so-called "unfair subsidies" and "overcapacity".

China hopes the EU will stay committed to free trade and oppose protectionism.

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Xiao Yong, Deputy General Manager, GAC AION:

"I believe China's new energy vehicles showcase the world's most advanced technology. So, there's no reason to restrict China's auto industry from taking its more advanced technology and products to the people of other countries in the world."

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Starting from scratch, innovating to become strong, experts say the robust growth of China's new energy automobile industry marks a successful case of optimal resource allocation, policies, strategic planning, and innovation, marking a clear contribution to the green transformation. And as the entrepreneur Xiao Yong puts it, there's no way to stop consumers' desire for more advanced products, and a better life.

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