The Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone: Developing new quality productive forces

The Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone (WEDZ), which prospered from the automotive industry, lies in the south of Wuhan, where the Yangtze River flows through. 34 years ago, there was nothing but loess hillock overgrown with weeds.

In May 1991, a Sino-French joint venture project to produce 300,000 vehicles was launched in Zhuankou. The automobile industry in Wuhan has been growing fast since then.

As of today, the WEDZ, known as China's 'Auto Valley', is home to 9 vehicle enterprises, 14 vehicle factories, and more than 1,200 auto parts enterprises, with an annual output of one million vehicles. Wuhan is striving to modernize the industrial system and develop new quality productive forces at a faster pace.

Lotus' global intelligent factory. (All photos from WEDZ Official)

Automotive Innovation

The WEDZ has taken the Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën Automobile Company as a forerunner and has attracted joint ventures such as Dongfeng Motor Corporation Limited, Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co. to settle in Zhuankou. In 2003, Dongfeng Motor Corp. moved its headquarters from Shiyan to Wuhan, making the WEDZ its vehicle production base and R&D (Research and Development) center.

With more Chinese and foreign-funded enterprises, such as Cummins East Asia R & D Centre, Valeo, Dongfeng Lear, and Natixis settled here, the WEDZ has formed an automotive supply chain, becoming one of the automobile production regions in China and one of the innovation centers of the automobile industry.

Over the past 30 years, the annual production of automobiles in the WEDZ has increased by nearly 1,000 times, and the area of the district has expanded by nearly 50 times to 489.7 square kilometers, with significant growth in the economy.

From 1993, when the state-level economic and technological development zone was approved, to 2013, the gross regional product in the WEDZ exceeded 100 billion Yuan in 20 years.

In 2022, the gross regional product of the WEDZ exceeded 200 billion Yuan for the first time. From 100 billion Yuan to 200 billion Yuan, the WEDZ made that growth in less than 10 years.

In 2023, the economic strength of the WEDZ reached a new level, with the gross regional product reaching 215 billion Yuan, a year-on-year growth of 7%, and its ranking in the state-level economic development zones improved significantly.

Fast Growing Economy

During the 2024 Beijing International Automobile Exhibition(Beijing Auto Show), the latest models of intelligent connected new energy vehicles brought by Dongfeng Motor, Lantu Automobile, MHero, Dongfeng eπ, Dongfeng Aeolus, Dongfeng Nammi, Dongfeng Honda, Lotus Cars and other companies bases in the WEDZ were eye-catching.

MHero released the M-HUNTER, the Warrior 917 Highland Lion and Dragon Armor, demonstrating the ambition of Dongfeng MHero to continue to forge ahead in the luxury electric off-roading track.

Lantu Automobile brought two customized models - the new Lantu Dreamer official modification kit and the high-end version of Lantu Dreamer Kunpeng - and announced the progress of its cooperation with Huawei: this year, Lantu will release a new all-electric SUV model created under the cooperation between both companies; in the first half of next year, Lantu will launch the first MPV model equipped with Huawei's Intelligent Automotive Solution.

Lu Fang, CEO of Lantu Automobile, unveils the Lantu 6655's overseas strategy at the Beijing Auto Show. 

Lotus Cars brought its luxury sports cars. The "Made in Wuhan" Lotus Emeya Blossom Collection and Lotus Eletre Type 79 Premium Customised Edition were revealed for the first time. The Lotus Emeya Blossom Collection was limited to 31 units in China, each with an exclusive number.

Dongfeng's three product series brands, Dongfeng Aeolus, Dongfeng Eπ, and Dongfeng Nammi, have made a group appearance at the Beijing Auto Show, launching new models eπ 008, Aeolus L7, and Nammi 01 Co-creation Edition.

Dongfeng Honda, a joint venture, presented its latest electrification and intelligence achievements, debuting two models of Honda China's new electric brand 'Ye', 'Ye S7' and 'Ye GT Concept', and the new energy brand 'Lingxi', with its debut prototype 'Lingxi L'.

These new energy vehicles made in 'Auto-Vally' cover all segments from luxury cars to high-end and mainstream cars.

As the region with the highest degree of automobile industry agglomeration in Hubei, the WEDZ has seized the opportunities of the development of intelligent connected new energy vehicles, aiming at the three major technological directions: all-electric power, hybrid power, and hydrogen energy. With 7 new energy vehicle factories and other automotive supply chain projects, the WEDZ now has state-owned enterprises, private companies, independent and joint ventures, startup companies developing and competing on the same stage.

In 2023, the total output value of regulated industrial output in the WEDZ exceeded 360 billion Yuan, accounting for nearly a quarter of Wuhan's total; It has a new energy vehicle production capacity of 200,000 vehicles, increased year-on-year by 30%.

The photo shows Lantu FREE driving on the streets of Italy.

International Cooperation

32years ago, China and France joined hands to build the earliest and largest automobile joint venture between the two countries in the WEDZ.

At present,the 'Auto Valley' is connecting the world with intelligent connectednew energy vehicles.

On 23rd April, the 2024 Sino-International Entrepreneurs Auto Valley Forum was held in the WEDZ, bringing together more than 400 policymakers, enterprise leaders, top distributors, manufacturers, technology pioneers, industry experts, and investors. About 100 French entrepreneurs attended the forum. Participants discussed the future of the automobile industry.

During the forum, representatives fromFrench and European automotive industry associations and enterprises visited Lantu Automobile and MHero Technology.They were greatly interested in the new energy vehicles made in 'Auto Valley' and the self-driving robotaxis 'Apollo Go'.

Mr. Luc Chatel, Chairman of La Plateforme Automobile(PFA), said in his speech at the forum that China has its advantages in electric vehicles, "We admire and appreciate China's great achievements and progress in such a short period. France and China are complementary. We are partners."

Vice-Chairman and spokesperson for the French Business Union (MEDEF), Fabrice Le Sache, said that a 'closed economy' is not an option, "the automotive industries of China and France should interact regularly and frequently, which is important for the world."

"The development of China's automotive market since its accession to the WTO fully demonstrates that industrial development cannot be done behind closed doors, but can only be achieved in an open and co-operative environment." Long Yongtu, chairman of the Sino-International Entrepreneurs Federation(SIEF), said at the forum.

The person in charge of the WEDZ introduced that the district has made efforts to improve its level of opening up to the world, and established three supply chain platforms to help accelerate the import and export, boosting the 'Auto Valley' industry.

During the forum, Dongfeng Motor Industry Import & Export Co., Ltd. signed a contract with the Paris International Automobile Exhibition. The Dongfeng brand will appear in the 2024 Paris Motor Show. Paris Motor Show is one of the five major international auto shows. With the global influence of the Paris Motor Show, Dongfeng will promote the internationalization of the brand.