GAC Group shows Chinese carmakers are at forefront of mobility

Amid the sweeping changes transforming the automotive industry, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co Ltd is exploring the future of mobility at the 2017 Fortune Global Forum in Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

The Guangzhou-based carmaker will host a roundtable on Thursday to discuss current mobility developments and draw up a blueprint for the future. Participants include senior executives from Honda Motor Co, Bosch, internet giant Tencent Holdings Inc, and experts from the automotive industry.

The discussion is being held at a time when digitalization, automation and new business models are transforming the way people and goods move from A to B, with electric cars, autonomous driving and car-sharing as the catalysts.

Experts said the move by GAC Group, as a representative of Guangzhou's manufacturing strength, reflects the city's innovative, pragmatic and international image.

GAC Group said it will seize the opportunities of the new era and drive its business forward with innovation to take China's intelligent manufacturing onto the global stage.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, GAC Group has been one of the first Chinese companies to gear up for the changes in the automotive industry, positioning itself as a value creator of mobility instead of simply a carmaker.

The company said it is giving priority to new energy vehicles and will develop a lineup of electric cars and plug-in hybrids by 2020. The whole-year sales of such models will reach 200,000 vehicles, said its chairman Zeng Qinghong.

It has set up a wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to new energy vehicles and started construction of a 45 billion yuan ($6.8 billion) industrial park that will specialize in research and development, as well as the manufacturing of internet-connected new energy vehicles and their core components.