On November 29, the Spotlight Automotive Project jointly invested by BMW Group and Great Wall Motors was officially launched in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province. It is another milestone in innovative cooperation between the two sides following the signing of the 50-50 joint venture agreement in the presence of the leaders of China and Germany in 2018.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held with the attendance of Fan Jinlong, Member of the Standing Committee of Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Executive Deputy Governor, Lan Shaomin, Member of the Standing Committee of Jiangsu Provincial Committee of CPC and Secretary of Suzhou Municipal Party Committee, Li Yaping, Mayor of Suzhou, Shen Guofang, Secretary of Zhangjiagang Municipal Party Committee, Pan Guoqiang, Mayor of Zhangjiagang city, and Jack Wey, Chairman of Great Wall Motors, as well as Directors of BMW Group, Dr. Nicolas Peter and Klaus Fröhlich, and Zhao Guoqing, Senior Vice President of Great Wall Motors and Chairman of Spotlight Automotive Ltd.. In addition, Hao Jianjun, Chairman of Baoding Great wall Industry Co. Ltd, Dr. Rainer Feurer, Senior Vice President of BMW Group and Vice Chairman of Spotlight Automotive, Jochen Goller, President and CEO of BMW Greater China and Director of Spotlight Automotive Ltd., Hu Shujie, Senior Vice President of Great Wall Motors and Director of Spotlight Automotive Ltd., Dr. Udo Hänle, Senior Vice President of BMW Group and Director of Spotlight Automotive Ltd., Meng Xiangjun, Vice Production President of Great Wall Motors and Director of Spotlight Automotive Ltd, together with other leaders of BMW Group, Great Wall Motors and Spotlight Automotive witnessed the launch of the Spotlight Automotive Project.
The new and distinct joint venture mode is embodied in not only in the production, but also in the joint development of pure electric vehicles in China, the world’s largest market for new energy vehicles. It is expected that the MINI fully electric vehicles and new products of Great Wall Motors will be produced here.
Spotlight Automotive Project enjoys a total investment of RMB 5.1 billion and expects to have 3000 employees with the new plant’s annual standard production capacity of 160,000 units.
“The Spotlight Automotive Project will be one of the most qualified, innovative and influential models of Sino-foreign cooperation in the history of Chinese automotive development,” said Jack Wey, Chairman of Great Wall Motors, at the ceremony, “The joint venture established by Great Wall Motors and BMW Group is a strong support for the globalization strategy of Great Wall Motors, which is an alliance between key players. We will work with BMW Group and the government to fulfill our commitment, drive the construction of the factory, boost the project into production and maintain operation and development.”
“China has become a driving force of innovation, especially in the areas of electrification and digitalization, China is leading the global market,” R&D Director of BMW Group Klaus Fröhlich said, “Today, we have opened a new chapter in our cooperation. As a leader in the e-mobility, BMW Group has rich experience, and will make the most of the advantages together with Great Wall Motors, the leader in Chinese automobile industry, to propel the development and production of new products.”
At the press conference, Dr. Nicolas Peter, Finance Director of BMW Group, expressed that “today is an important day for further cooperation between China and Germany to promote the development of high-end compact electric vehicles. Spotlight Automotive will enable us to further increase our capacity and build more attractive MINI pure electric vehicles.” “At the same time, MINI brand also took a key step of the electric strategy. The joint venture with Great Wall Motors underlines the importance of the Chinese market for BMW Group and our firm confidence in the robust development of the Chinese automobile industry.” he added.
Fan Jinlong, Member of the Standing Committee of Jiangsu Provincial Committee of CPC and Executive Deputy Governor, expressed the Spotlight Automotive Project has created a new model of opening up and cooperation in Chinese automobile industry, and will certainly promote the industrial transformation and upgrading in Suzhou and even Jiangsu Province. “Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government will give full support to the construction of the Spotlight Automotive Project, treat all enterprises in Jiangsu as local enterprises, and create an international, law-based and convenient business environment for all enterprises,” he said.
Please click here to view the full press release.
SOURCE: Great Wall Motors
