Action plan beefs up auto component supplier development

An industrial park in the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone (WEDZ). [Photo provided to en.whkfq.gov.cn]

On Sept 22, the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone (WEDZ) released the 2023-25 Action Plan for the Development of the Core Automotive Parts Industry, which includes four development goals and six major tasks to enhance the overall competitiveness and influence of the industry in the zone.

The supply of auto spare parts is Wuhan's most important industry. After 32 years of development, the zone is now home to nine vehicle production enterprises and 13 vehicle manufacturing factories, boosting vehicle production capacity to 2.5 million vehicles annually. The entire zone has more than 1,200 automotive parts enterprises, forming a complete battery + software + chip + traditional parts layout.

The plan states that by 2025, the total output value of the automotive parts industry in WEDZ should reach 160 billion yuan ($22.29 billion), with 200 national and provincial professional, proficient, special and new small and medium-sized little giant enterprises in the field. Additionally, 120 innovation platforms and 100 corporate R&D centers should be set up and there should be more than 10 well-recognized brands for key automotive parts.

Junshan New City is expected to attract a number of core automotive parts technology innovation platforms and pilot bases; the Smart Manufacturing Industrial Park will focus on the transformation and upgrading of Dongfeng vehicles and related auto parts; the Intelligent Connected and Electric Vehicle Industrial Park will work to attract a number of supporting auto parts enterprises; and the development of intelligent automotive software will be promoted mainly in the Modern Service Industry Park.

Exchanges and cooperation will be carried out in key regions, such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Pan-Pearl River Delta, the Yangtze River Delta, the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt, in multiple areas, including core automotive part design, trade and investment, and infrastructure. Support will be provided for parts enterprises to expand into overseas markets.