At the headquarters of China’s First Automobile Works (FAW) NBD in Changchun, a self-driving car developed independently by FAW has drawn considerable attention. Pakistani media operations expert Bakhtawar Mahmood was thrilled to live-stream the event, showcasing the impressive capabilities of “Made in China” technology to online viewers.
The ongoing “Stories of the Communist Party of China” special session in Northeast China attracted over 200 leaders from political parties across more than 50 countries, along with several foreign diplomats and business representatives in China. During their visit to Changchun, some foreign guests explored the development of the automotive manufacturing industry in the region.
Jilin Province is a major automotive hub in China, with Changchun being referred to as the “Automobile City.” The groundbreaking ceremony for the First Automobile Manufacturing Plant took place on July 15, 1953, marking a significant step in the development of China’s automotive industry. Today, prominent automakers like Volkswagen, Audi, and Toyota have joint ventures with FAW in Changchun.
At the FAW Hongqi Cultural Exhibition Hall, a wealth of detailed texts, images, and vehicles provided a comprehensive overview of the development history of the national brand, Hongqi. Guests toured three exhibition areas: “Striving for Excellence,” “Leading New Journeys,” and “Championing National Vehicles.” In front of the majestic Hongqi L5 sedan, visitors paused to take photos.
Sapurl, an energy advisor at the Turkmenistan National Oil and Gas Company, expressed his excitement, stating, “I am particularly fond of cars and this visit has allowed me to focus on technologies related to energy conversion.” In an interview, Sapurl mentioned that economic exchanges between Turkmenistan and China are robust, and he hopes to see deeper cooperation in infrastructure development, which could bring significant changes to Turkmenistan’s progress.
As one enters the FAW NBD headquarters, the bold phrase “New Era, New Hongqi” captures attention. Inside, the display area for future vehicle models has become a popular attraction, featuring electric vehicles and self-driving cars that leave a lasting impression on visitors. Bakhtawar Mahmood remarked, “I am truly amazed by such a powerful automotive industry. Some of the concept cars I saw today were astonishingly new to me.” He emphasized that FAW’s automotive technology has reached a leading level.
In recent years, Changchun has been accelerating its development as an international automobile city. Major projects, including the Hongqi New Energy Prosperity Factory, Jilin Linglong Tire, and Fusay Electronics, have been successfully launched, with leading initiatives like Audi FAW’s new energy vehicles also taking shape. The local government highlighted that it is actively pursuing advancements in the next generation of new energy and smart connected vehicles while fully supporting the technological applications and digital transformation of automotive parts companies.
In the assembly workshop of the Hongqi Prosperity Factory, robots have replaced manual labor, enabling high-quality and high-precision work, with new vehicles rolling off the production line. Haruko Noyama, Vice President of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, remarked after her visit that she firmly believes in the promising future of China’s automotive industry, particularly in the realm of new energy vehicles.
