摘要：At a sprawling Changan Automobile factory in southwestern China's Chongqing, over 140 robotic arms moved in perfect synchrony, wel
At a sprawling Changan Automobile factory in southwestern China's Chongqing, over 140 robotic arms moved in perfect synchrony, welding car parts with minimal human input. Automated guided vehicles zipped freely through the factory floor, weaving between workstations and enhancing both delivery speed and productivity.
Robotic arms operate at the welding factory of Changan Automobile in southwestern China's Chongqing, May 20, 2025. [Photo provided by Changan Automobile]
Changan is one of China's automotive giants headquartered in Chongqing, a city once best known as the world's largest producer of laptops and a key mobile phone manufacturing base. In recent years, the inland metropolis has been building out a new industrial cluster centered on automobiles. Leading this shift are local champions like Changan and Seres Group, a private carmaker and partner of tech giant Huawei.
"Chongqing has established a complete vehicle production system led by Changan and Seres," said Mayor Hu Henghua during a group interview on May 19. In 2024, the city produced 2.54 million vehicles, ranking third nationwide, said Wang Zhijie, director of the city's economy and information technology commission.
Of these vehicles, 953,200 were new energy vehicles (NEVs), representing a year-on-year surge of 90.5% - nearly 60 percentage points above the national average.
This explosive growth was no accident. The city implemented the "Chongqing Cars Go Global" campaign last year to boost auto export. As a result, exports of NEVs skyrocketed 96.5% last year, according to Hu.
Cars are awaiting export at Chongqing Dry Port along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, May 20, 2025. [Photo by Liu Jianing/China.org.cn]
One of Chongqing's key advantages lies in its logistics capabilities. Strategically located at the intersection of the Belt and Road Initiative and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, the city has developed a multidirectional, multimodal transportation network, Hu said. For example, in 2024, the land-sea trade corridor connected Chongqing with 555 ports in 127 countries and regions, according to him.
Chongqing's strategy does not stop at export. It is also investing heavily in innovation. "We have established a collaborative innovation ecosystem that integrates industry, academia, and research, led by key enterprises and supported by coordinated efforts across the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain. And in the field of intelligent and connected NEVs, companies like Changan and Seres are leading the efforts," Wang said.
For example, Changan has more than 18,000 engineers from 31 countries and regions, building a global R&D network connecting 10 cities in six countries, each with its own focus, according to the company. The carmaker has enhanced vehicle intelligence through its self-developed modular vehicle architecture and improved battery efficiency with its proprietary e-drive system.
Last year, Chongqing's investment in industrial technology upgrade grew by 24%, and it rose another 27.4% in the first quarter of 2025, Wang said. Seven Chongqing-based firms - including Changan and Seres - were selected for China's first batch of national-level smart factory program. The city is also actively guiding suppliers to pivot from making auto parts for gas vehicles to NEV components.
In the high-end segment, a premium model co-developed by Seres and Huawei dominated China's luxury EV market in 2024, particularly in the price range above 500,000 yuan (US$69,403), Wang said.
On May 16, Changan's plant in Rayong, Thailand, officially commenced production with an annual capacity of 100,000 NEV units, further strengthening Chongqing's global foothold.
来源：中国网