China’s Changchun unveils auto revamp plan, seeks BYD and Xiaomi to boost EV push

BEIJING, (Reuters) – China’s northeastern city of Changchun, home to the country’s oldest automaker ​FAW Group, has released a draft ‌plan through 2030 to revamp its decades-old auto sector, aiming to attract electric-vehicle makers ​such as BYD and Xiaomi.

Here are ​key points from the draft plan:

  • China’s ⁠domestic auto industry is expected to ​consolidate significantly, with the number of automaker ​groups projected to fall to about 15 by 2030 from the current 71, according to the ​draft released earlier this week by ​the city’s industry and information technology bureau.
  • FAW Group ‌has ⁠experienced a decline in production and sales in recent years, increasing the likelihood of restructuring pressure on the state-owned enterprise.
  • Changchun ​plans to ​leverage FAW’s ⁠headquarters presence to attract partners such as Leapmotor to introduce ​new vehicle models.
  • The city is targeting ​high-growth ⁠automakers including BYD and Xiaomi to set up northern production bases, smart vehicle ⁠R&D ​centres, or key component ​projects to diversify its industrial base.

Reporting by Qiaoyi Li ​and Liz Lee; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips