The Sino-International Entrepreneurs Auto Valley Forum opens in WEDZ on March 16. [Photo provided to en.whkfq.gov.cn]

The Sino-International Entrepreneurs Auto Valley Forum opened in the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone (China's Auto Valley) in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, on March 16, aiming to facilitate the zone's intentions to go global.

Long Yongtu, former vice minister of commerce in China, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former French Prime Minister, and more than 300 representatives from Fortune 500 companies, top technology companies, and related investment institutions participated in the forum. They exchanged views on the automobile industry's current status as well as its future directions.

The 2022 Auto Brand Communication Influence Index Report shows that in 2022, the sales volume of the new energy vehicle market reached a new high, selling a reported 6.89 million units. This indicated a year-on-year increase of 93.4 percent, while market shares reached 25.6 percent.

You Zheng gives a speech at the forum, March 16. [Photo provided to en.whkfq.gov.cn]

You Zheng, deputy general manager of Dongfeng Motor Co, said at the forum that Dongfeng Motor's export volume reached 240,000 vehicles in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 58 percent.

Last year, Dongfeng Voyah entered the Europen market and opened its first overseas flagship store in Norway. Throughout the year, 15,000 vehicles were sold there.

Earlier in January, Voyah introduced its brand in Israel, and completed delivery on the first batch of Voyah FREE in February.

In terms of expanding automobile consumption and opening up international markets, WEDZ-based Dongfeng Motor Co will further expand its industrial chain and strengthen its development in batteries, chips, software controllers and other fields throughout the current year.

The event also saw the start of preparation work for the Sino-International Entrepreneurs Federation Wuhan Center, which will further boost the opening-up in the auto valley once it is completed.