In brief
The 10th German‑Chinese Automotive Congress in Wolfsburg drew about 600 participants to talk about deepening cooperation amid rapid changes in electrification, digitalization, and autonomous driving. Leaders highlighted the need for joint work beyond vehicle assembly, including batteries and smart technologies, as the industry faces intense competition that can also drive improvement.
The 10th German‑Chinese Automotive Congress finished on Friday in Wolfsburg, drawing roughly 600 delegates from China and Germany to discuss deeper cooperation amid a swiftly changing auto industry.
Lower Saxony’s Minister‑President, Olaf Lies, said the sector is experiencing one of its biggest and most rapid transformations, driven by electrification, digitalization, artificial intelligence in manufacturing and vehicles, and autonomous driving.
"The automotive industry is undergoing one of the biggest and most rapid transformation processes in its history," Olaf Lies said.
Volkswagen Group Technology chief Thomas Schmall stressed that in the current climate dialogue and solid partnerships are essential.
"In the auto industry’s current climate, it is very important that German and Chinese companies maintain dialogue and establish reliable and solid partnerships," Thomas Schmall said.
Liu Minqiang, director‑general of China’s Ministry of Commerce Investment Promotion Agency, noted that competition can boost industry improvement and deliver better products and services, urging firms to focus on technology upgrades.
"Competition is not detrimental for the automotive industry when transformation is speeding up. Rather, it contributes to the upgrading of the industry and plays a positive role in providing customers with better products and services," Liu Minqiang remarked.
China’s Consul General in Hamburg, Lin Dong, highlighted that cooperation now extends beyond vehicle production to batteries, intelligent connectivity, and technological innovation.
"Cooperation between Chinese and German auto companies has now gone beyond the conventional domain of complete vehicle production, expanding to areas including batteries, intelligent connection and technological innovations," Lin Dong said.
The congress followed the International Suppliers Fair, where 45 Chinese automotive suppliers showcased their offerings.
