Beijing holds seminar on auto industry innovation
By chinadaily.com.cn (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2004-04-13 12:12

The importance of innovation in China's automotive industry was addressed in a high-level seminar attended by both veteran experts from Europe and senior research and development (R&D) managers of domestic auto manufacturers in Beijing yesterday.

"The independent research and development of automotive products has become a hot issue in China," said Li Qing, general manager of the China National Automotive Industry Consulting and Development Corp at the opening ceremony of the China Automotive Industry Innovation Seminar.

"The meeting has been arranged to give new and serious consideration to the issue, promote technological innovation in China's automotive industry and sound development of the auto industry."

While cooperating with international automotive industries, China's production capacity, level and product variety have been greatly enhanced in recent years, according to Chinese participants at the event.

But as the automotive market expands rapidly and the automotive industry becomes a pillar industry in China, with its total auto production ranking fourth in the world last year, China still lags far behind developed nations in terms of auto development and technological innovation, Li noted.

"And this problem has caught the attention of central government departments in charge of the automotive industry, automotive enterprises and research institutes around the country" Li added.

The seminar attracted senior representatives from domestic automotive manufacturers, including R&D directors from Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd, Dandong Huanghai Automobile Co Ltd, FAW Car Company Ltd and Jiangling Motors Company Ltd.

This is the first in a series of seminars to be held in Beijing to introduce new concepts, address the issues and challenges of industry innovation for the automotive sector and push forward innovation among Chinese auto manufacturers.

Key speakers at the seminar included Pierre Beuzit, vice president of research at the Renault Group; Vooker Gaertke, customer director of Delphi Holding (China) Ltd; Jean-Luc Fallou, chief executive officer of Stratorg and chairman of the Stratorg Bertin Innovation, which jointly sponsored the meeting with the Development Research Center of the State Council and the China National Automotive Industry Consulting and Development Corp.

Veteran European experts presented a briefing on the importance and benefits of innovation to OEMs, suppliers and equipment manufacturers, reviewed the history and evolution of innovation in Europe, and addressed the issues and challenges of innovation in the automotive industry and the Renault experience in technological transfers and co-innovation with partners and suppliers.

Chinese experts, including Chen Xiaohong, director and senior research fellow of the Enterprise Research Institute under the Development Research Center of the State Council, and Jia Xingguang, chief analyst with the China National Automotive Industry Consulting and Development Corp, gave keynote speeches on the experience and lessons acquired by Chinese automotive enterprises in International cooperation projects, and innovation issues concerning Chinese enterprises and the current situation.

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