In brief
The 10th German‑Chinese Automotive Congress in Wolfsburg drew about 600 participants from both sides and emphasized deeper collaboration beyond vehicle production, extending into batteries and smart‑connection technologies. Leaders highlighted electrification, AI and autonomous driving as key drivers of the industry’s transformation. Future details of joint projects remain to be clarified.
Chinese and German automotive companies gathered in Wolfsburg on Friday, October 30, for the 10th German‑Chinese Automotive Congress, where around 600 representatives from both nations explored ways to deepen cooperation amid a rapidly changing industry landscape. The event followed the International Suppliers Fair, which opened on Tuesday and featured 45 Chinese automotive suppliers.
Olaf Lies, Minister‑President of Lower Saxony, opened the congress, noting that the automotive industry is undergoing “one of the biggest and most rapid transformation processes in its history.” He highlighted electrification, vehicle digitalisation, artificial intelligence in manufacturing and autonomous driving as the main forces behind this shift, urging stronger links between German and Chinese firms.
Thomas Schmall, CEO of Volkswagen Group Technology, echoed this call for partnership, stating that “it is very important that German and Chinese companies maintain dialogue and establish reliable and solid partnerships.” Schmall added that dialogue should extend beyond vehicle production into areas such as battery technology, engine efficiency and smart‑connectivity solutions.
Liu Minqiang, Director‑General of the Investment Promotion Agency of China’s Ministry of Commerce, framed competition positively, arguing that “competition is not detrimental for the automotive industry when transformation is speeding up.” He urged companies to focus on improving their technologies, products and services to offer customers better outcomes.
Lin Dong, Consul General of China in Hamburg, announced that cooperation has “now gone beyond the conventional domain of complete vehicle production, expanding to areas including batteries, intelligent connection and technological innovations.” His remarks underscore a growing trend toward cross‑border collaboration in critical components and software.
The congress also served as a platform for industry specialists to assess the future of autonomous driving in a cross‑border context. While specific joint projects were not announced, several firms signalled a willingness to collaborate on autonomous driving software, data sharing protocols and battery technology R&D.
Meanwhile the International Suppliers Fair, which opened in Wolfsburg on Tuesday, allowed Chinese suppliers to showcase advances in electronic control units, electric drive systems and battery management, further widening the scope for supply‑chain integration. Representatives from German OEMs expressed interest in these technologies, with potential follow‑up meetings slated to explore partnership frameworks.
Although the event set a positive tone and generated enthusiasm for joint ventures, several questions remain unresolved. These include the exact mechanisms for sharing intellectual property between the two sides, how regulatory differences in safety and emissions compliance will be harmonised, and the timeframe for any formal investment commitments. The extent to which these cooperative initiatives will translate into concrete joint product launches or shared manufacturing facilities is yet to be clarified.