China: Chinese automakers expand globally with full value-chain deployment abroad.

Storyline Chinese automakers expand globally with full value-chain deployment abroad Chinese automakers are accelerating their business models—moving beyond simply exporting vehicles to building full overseas industrial chains. Official figures show China exported more than 2.2 million vehicles in the first quarter of this year—an annual increase of nearly 57 percent. Overseas markets are now a key growth driver. Wei Haigang, president, GAC International： "Going overseas today is no longer just about exporting products. Building on product exports, we are advancing industrial deployment and ecosystems abroad. In the Asia-Pacific region, we have made Thailand a pacesetter, including the building of manufacturing bases, sales networks, energy ecosystems, and mobility services there to ensure that our products reach out, our industry settles down locally, and our brand goes high." The Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group) reported an 86-percent surge in overseas sales in Q1 this year, with five assembly plants and nine parts hubs overseas. Meanwhile, Changan Auto is stepping up its full-chain overseas expansion from R&D to logistics, with a target of producing 800,000 units overseas by 2030. Zhao Fei, president, China Changan Automobile Group: "We are pacing up the construction of key links across the full automotive industrial chain overseas, including design, research and development, manufacturing, marketing channels, logistics and transportation. By 2030, we plan to achieve an overseas production capacity of 800,000 units." Chinese EV maker XPeng, meanwhile, has a presence in over 60 countries. Its chairman said they stand out by pursuing a technology-driven, differentiated strategy. Still other Chinese carmakers are focusing on specific markets like Southeast and Central Asia. SAIC-GM-Wuling, a joint venture between SAIC Motor, General Motors and Liuzhou Wuling Motors, has built a vehicle assembly plant in Indonesia with an annual capacity of 120,000 units. They also introduced 17 Chinese suppliers into Indonesia and plan to expand this model to other ASEAN countries. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]