The 2019 China Auto Parts Annual Conference and China Auto Parts Forum were held in Laixi, a county-level city in Qingdao, Shandong province from Oct 22 to 24.

About 600 experts and scholars from the vehicle and auto parts industry in China participated in the event, looking to have in-depth discussions, share experience, seize opportunities, and promote the high-quality development of the automobile industry.

Shi Jianhua, deputy secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, presided over the conference and delivered the 2019 work report on China's auto parts industry.

The event was jointly held by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Qingdao municipal government and Laixi government under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the China Machinery Industry Federation.  

Local officials said that the reason that the conference was held in Laixi is due to the city's commitment to the development of the new energy automobile industry.

The 2019 China Auto Parts Annual Conference and China Auto Parts Forum open on Oct 23 in Laixi, a county-level city in Qingdao, Shandong province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In recent years, Laixi has been promoting the development of a new energy automobile industry cluster, the deepening of cooperation with the China Automotive Technology & Research Center, and the construction of a new energy automobile industry system with the most complete industrial chain and most advanced technical level in China.

The Laixi production base of BAIC BJEV, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, which settled in the city in 2015, covers an area of 1,600 mu (about 106.66 hectares) and has a total investment of 5 billion yuan ($708 million) and a designed capacity of 350,000 vehicles.

Its annual output in 2018 reached 98,000, and the second phase of the base went into operation in the first half of this year.

The production base is capable of performing stamping, welding, painting and final assembly, and it is the first base in the country to receive a new energy vehicle production license and national green factory designation.

In 2018, it was recognized as a third-level intelligent manufacturing enterprise by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology due to its work in developing intelligence, automation and information. It has also become the pure electric new energy vehicle manufacturing base with the largest capacity and output in China.

A large number of auto parts and logistics supporting enterprises have settled in the city, which have constantly improved the industrial chain of new energy vehicles.

With a total investment of 3 billion yuan and an annual output capacity of 10GWH, the Qingdao production base of Guoxuan High-tech Company, a major Chinese electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer, has been built into a world-leading intelligent power battery production line.

The production base of Nexen Tire Corporation, a tire manufacturer headquartered in Yangsan, South Korea, possesses an annual output of 21 million steel-belted radial tires. It is an important supplier of Porsche and other famous international automobile brands.

The first batch of 36 industrial projects has settled in the recently-launched Zhongke industrial city, providing continuous technical support for the development of new energy automobile industry in Laixi.

Two auto parts industrial parks are under construction in Laixi, which will offer customized factories.

The conference is expected to further strengthen Laixi's exchange and cooperation with automobile enterprises, local officials said.