The automobile industry in the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WHDZ) has completed its transformation and upgrade from traditional manufacturing to intelligent manufacturing, according to WHDZ officials.
They said the output value of the auto industry in the WHDZ has accounted for more than 70 percent of the total industrial output value there of manufacturers of a designated size -- those with annual revenue of 20 million yuan ($2.81 million) or more -- for several years.
In 2016, Wuhan was officially selected as one of the first group of six smart car and smart transportation applications demonstration cities in China, when the WHDZ became one of the core zones for the construction of smart cars and smart transportation applications.
Now the WHDZ is home to the National Intelligent Connected Vehicle (Wuhan) Test and Demonstration Zone, which is the only demonstration zone for multi-scenario smart car applications in China.
A new 28-kilometer test road for intelligent road network vehicle demonstrations and applications has been completed in the test and demonstration zone. This is the first intelligent network-connected vehicle demonstration area in China, based on full coverage by the 5G communications technology V2X vehicle road coordination system.
Officials said that in September 2019, the world's first commercial license for self-driving vehicles was issued in Wuhan.
The WHDZ's next-generation vehicle development goals are that in the next five years it will be supported by new energy and intelligently connected vehicle industries -- to build a high-quality development demonstration zone in the Yangtze River Economic Belt that integrates intelligent transportation, intelligent travel and smart cities.
The zone will take steps in three areas: the development of “auto plus”, the promotion of a next-generation automotive industry cluster and recruiting top professionals,
In terms of the advancement of auto plus, in the era of intelligence cars are no longer just a means of travel. Experts say that by designing more user applications, automobiles will bring more convenience to people's daily lives.
To help drive its development as a next-generation automotive industry cluster, the WHDZ currently has six resident vehicle manufacturers -- including Dongfeng Honda -- with an annual output of more than 1 million vehicles.
At present, the WHDZ has promoted the establishment of an autonomous driving city demonstration and industrial collaborative innovation alliance, as well as the establishment of the Wuhan Intelligent Networked Automobile Innovation Center. Nearly 100 leading autonomous driving technology innovation companies have taken the lead in the cross-border alliance.
The zone is also looking at bringing in fresh and innovative minds and to further its hiring drive, the zone has launched a new recruitment policy and launched a new recruitment service called the Chedu (Auto City) Talent Card on Alipay.
All kinds of outstanding people engaged in innovation and entrepreneurship events in the WHDZ, as well as students staying in Wuhan within five years of graduation, can now apply for the Chedu Talent Card on Alipay to enjoy the high-quality services and incentives being offered by the zone.
In addition, the WHDZ has set up a next-generation auto industry development guidance fund to attract innovative and entrepreneurial talent.
