The author learned from the Xingtai City Industry and Information Bureau that in the 218th batch of new car catalogues issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Hongqi HQE, which is known as "representing the highest level of domestic sedans," was included. The filter for this Hongqi car is custom-made by Yili Group in Xingtai.
Relying on the foundation and advantages of equipment manufacturing, Xingtai City has been making efforts to revitalize its automotive industry during recent structural adjustments. On one hand, it actively introduces related projects and develops strategic cooperation with state-owned enterprises such as China Aviation Industry Corporation, vigorously developing markets for commercial vehicles, special-purpose vehicles, and new energy electric vehicles; on the other hand, it extends the automotive industry chain, developing components products such as steel cables from Qinghe, seals from Renxian, parts from Weixian, and rubber plates from Xinhe. Currently, the city has two whole vehicle production enterprises: Hebei Changzheng Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Hebei Hongxing Automobile Manufacturing Co., Ltd., as well as six modification vehicle manufacturers including Jinhoudun, Fuyu, Huaqi, Huatong, Yujia Ma, and Xingqì. Their products include heavy off-road vehicles, small sedans, specialized vehicles like oil tankers, bulk cement trucks, refrigerated vehicles, low-speed electric vehicles, and over 2,500 automotive component production enterprises. In 2010, Xingtai produced 12,282 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 277%; achieving an industrial total output value of 860 million yuan, up 196.6% year-on-year; and realizing sales revenue of 780 million yuan, up 151.6% year-on-year. Among the city's 200 key ongoing projects this year, 20 involve the automotive industry, with a total investment of more than 7 billion yuan.
Xingtai Mayor Liu Daqun believes that the automotive industry has a long industrial chain, high relevance, broad employment opportunities, and significant consumption-driven effects, playing an important role in national economic and social development. With the country having already issued the "Automotive Industry Adjustment and Revitalization Plan," Xingtai must seize the opportunity, leverage local resource and industrial foundation advantages, formulate and implement supportive policies for the automotive industry, support leading enterprises to grow stronger and larger, and drive related industries to develop faster.
It is understood that during the "12th Five-Year Plan" period, Xingtai will promote parts manufacturers to transition from producing single parts to becoming specialized, modularized, integrated component producers, even mechatronics products, accelerating the upgrading of the industrial chain, moving from parts manufacturing and assembly to core components and chip manufacturing, and radiating into areas such as body, frame, seats, chassis, tires, axles, crankshaft connecting rods, and air conditioning. While enhancing its ability to supply parts to domestic and international automakers, developing high-value-added products, and expanding market share, Xingtai will also establish an automotive parts technology research and development center, increase joint ventures and cooperation with domestic and foreign large enterprises, strive to make companies within the industry excel in their specialties, and build a relatively large automotive parts production base in North China.
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