Dongfeng sets out roadmap for greener, safer global growth

Dongfeng Motor on Monday unveiled three new plans covering green mobility, vehicle safety and global expansion at its 10th Science and Technology Innovation Week in Wuhan, Hubei province.

Yang Qing, chairman and Party secretary of Dongfeng Motor, said the automaker will expand the use of artificial intelligence during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), while developing its green and low-carbon businesses and strengthening supply chain security and product competitiveness.

Dongfeng's green mobility plan focuses on smart electric vehicles, mobility services and energy solutions. The automaker plans to work with partners to build a network covering more than 10 million charging and battery-swapping facilities, while using an energy management platform to connect vehicles, charging networks and the power grid.

The plan aims to reduce carbon emissions by more than 1 million metric tons a year, according to the company. Its energy management platform is scheduled to go online this year, while models equipped with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology and hybrid solid-liquid batteries are set to enter mass production. Dongfeng said the V2G technology will allow vehicles to participate in electricity trading.

New smart electric vehicles are due to debut in 2027. Dongfeng has also set targets including a driving range of more than 1,000 kilometers and the ability to add 500 km of range in five minutes of charging.

Dongfeng also announced a safety plan that broadens the scope of vehicle safety to include batteries, intelligent systems, data privacy and digital assets.

You Zheng, deputy general manager of Dongfeng Motor, said vehicle safety is shifting from isolated safeguards to coordinated protection across multiple systems as vehicles become increasingly intelligent.

The automaker is also stepping up its overseas expansion, with China serving as its global manufacturing and export hub. Its passenger vehicle business will focus on Europe and the Americas, while commercial vehicles will target the Americas and Central and North Asia.

Dongfeng said vehicles developed in line with global standards will be introduced in overseas markets starting in 2028. The automaker is moving from adapting products for export to developing vehicles from the outset for global markets.

Dongfeng aims to sell 1.5 million vehicles overseas by 2030. It plans to invest a total of 50 billion yuan ($7.44 billion) in overseas markets, introduce more than 50 models, and build 10 overseas production bases and five research and development centers.

The company also launched a new customer service brand covering vehicle purchases, deliveries, maintenance and trade-ins. It has established a direct feedback channel between customers and the company and plans to involve vehicle owners more closely in product and service development.

Dongfeng released a white paper on vehicle safety and signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Wuhan University of Technology.