China's auto executives speak out over future of transport

Senior figures from automakers call for technological and policy focus to promote intelligent vehicles

As one of the pillar industries of China's economy, the automobile industry is experiencing varied market challenges and uncertainties. As a result, motions submitted by deputies from the country's leading automakers to the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, have attracted attention. The motions cover the new energy vehicle industry, intelligent vehicles, intelligent driving, clean burning fuel and developing overseas markets. These are deemed to exert a massive influence on the industry by insiders.

1. Li Shufu, founder of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group

Methanol is a clean-burning fuel. It can be made from coal or biomass resources that are extensive in China. It is a promising alternative fuel that is widely regarded as renewable and clean. Methanol should be promoted at a national level and access to methanol vehicles should be improved. With methanol-fueled vehicles approaching commercialization, more efforts are needed in China to gain the advantage worldwide.

The automobile refitting market should be standardized to promote the development of automobile consumption, especially in terms of industry laws and regulations, quality and service standards and encouraging colleges and universities to set up relevant studies.

2. Yin Tongyue, chairman of Chery Automobile Co

As a zero-emission and pollution-free new energy, hydrogen fuel is an inevitable choice for China to conserve energy, cut emissions and develop the automobile industry. Hydrogen energy should be promoted as a national development strategy to aid its industrial development. While the United States, Japan and other developed countries have made strategic decisions to develop hydrogen energy, there is still a lack of unified planning and layout in hydrogen energy production, storage and transportation in China. Auxiliary testing and inspection institutions are yet to be perfected. In addition, to support the research, development, take-up and application of intelligent vehicles, the relevant laws, regulations and policies are needed by the industry.

3. Zhu Huarong, president of Changan Automobile

One of the barriers to the development of the country's intelligent automobile industry is the lack of a specialized project team and industry laws and regulations. To solve this problem, a national intelligent automobile innovative agency should be founded to plan the development of the whole industry. We should accelerate the establishment and improvement of laws and regulations on automatic driving, put forward strict access conditions for the mass production of autonomous vehicle and promote China's automatic driving to be in line with international standards.

4. Wang Fengying, vice-president and CEO of Great Wall Motor

With Chinese independent automobile brands entering overseas markets, some automakers need to ask for policy support from the country. The government is expected to establish a comprehensive overseas investment protection system, strengthen bilateral, multilateral and regional trade and investment cooperation and participate in the formulation of international investment rules. These would aim to regulate and guide Chinese enterprises' commercial behaviors in their overseas investments and protect their legitimate interests. The government departments should accelerate the transformation of their functions to offer more services to private companies and small and medium-sized enterprises, including finance and commercial law support, assisting them in expanding overseas markets.

5. Fang Yunzhou, chairman of Hozon New Energy Automobile

We hope that by taking full advantage of policies, technology and resources, the popularization of new energy vehicles can be accelerated, so that more people can enjoy smart and clean mobility. The popularization of new energy vehicles, especially intelligent electric vehicles, will not only allow more people to enjoy the transport dividends, but also upgrade the supporting industrial chain and promote employment in non-first-tier cities. In the future, the development of the new energy automobile industry chain should focus on intelligent technology and promote the integration of big data, artificial intelligence and manufacturing.

6. Tang Yuxiang, president of Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co

As an important part of strategic emerging industries, intelligent driving is in the commanding heights of the world's new round of economic and technological development. Intelligent driving is of great significance to national science and technology, the economy, society, security and national strength. From the perspective of technology development, intelligent driving has laid the foundation for its promotion and application in the fields of urban public transport and sanitation vehicles. Applying intelligent driving technology in the fields of urban buses and sanitation vehicles will not only promote the healthy development of the industry, but also help reduce pollution and traffic congestion. The application can start with the establishment of pilot routes for intelligent buses and supporting a raft of innovative companies with research and development capabilities on intelligent driving technology.

(China Daily 03/11/2019 page19)