​Laiwu accelerates automotive industry growth with smart manufacturing

Laiwu district in Jinan is emerging as a key player in China's automotive industry, having established a relatively comprehensive industrial chain with a growing number of auto companies settling in the area.

At the Laiwu plant of China National Heavy Duty Truck Group, a complete vehicle rolls off the production line every five minutes, according to Lyu Tao, vice-manager of CNHTC Jinan Truck Co. By the end of 2024, the plant is expected to produce over 110,000 vehicles, generating more than 30 billion yuan ($4.13 billion) in revenue.

To accelerate its transformation towards intelligence and green manufacturing, the group's Laiwu plant has implemented technological upgrades and developed an independent smart manufacturing platform. This initiative has enhanced production coordination and management transparency, boosting per capita production efficiency by 15 percent.

Laiwu's industrial growth is supported by a robust ecosystem of key enterprises. Kion (Jinan) Forklift, a leader in smart manufacturing, has enhanced production efficiency while contributing 1.7 million yuan to local fiscal revenue. Haochi Intelligent Vehicles Company is also making strides with its models, including the Orange 01PRO and X7PLUS, which are now being exported to European markets.

The district is actively strengthening its automotive supply chain by attracting major upstream and downstream enterprises. With 18 supporting companies already established, Laiwu is creating a complete chain combining vehicles, parts, and logistics. Its goal is to build a trillion-yuan industrial cluster that not only boosts local economic development but also positions Laiwu as a national leader in the automotive industry.