On June 26, a cruise convoy of Liberation trucks drove down Renmin Street in Changchun City. Photo by Zhang Nan, a reporter from Chinese Society
Xinhua News Agency reporters Zhai Wei, Zhang Xinxin, Zong Wei, Duan Xu, Zhang Jian
Here is known as the cradle of New China’s automobile industry: the development and manufacture of the first car, the first Dongfeng brand car, the first Red Flag brand high-end car, FAW ushered in a new era of new China’s automobile industry from scratch, marking a solid step towards an automotive powerhouse.
Here is the expression of the hard work of several generations of Chinese automakers: building factories in the wasteland, laying the foundation for a business, and making independent innovations. Behind the development history of FAW is the fighting spirit of courage to explore and not afraid of difficulties.
When the General Secretary of the Supreme Leader inspected FAW in 2020, he stressed: "We must master the key core technologies in our own hands, and we must set up this ambition to promote the national automobile brand."
After 70 years, FAW and China’s automobile industry, which have stood at a new starting point, have advanced together, anchoring high-quality development and moving forward steadily.
Industry serves the country, 70 years of hard work to revitalize the automotive industry
Changchun Dongfeng Street, China FAW old factory area. More than a hundred red buildings with Chinese-style eaves and Western-style balconies stand quietly. Here, two national car brands, Red Flag and Liberation, were bred, witnessing the historical process of the new China automobile industry from scratch and from weak to strong.
Automobiles, an important symbol of modern industrial civilization, are a symbol of a country’s manufacturing strength and a powerful engine for national economic development.
In the early days of the founding of New China, there was nothing to be done. "When can we get on the car we built ourselves?" The simple words carried the industrial dream of a country. The party listed the construction of FAW as one of the 156 key projects during the "First Five-Year Plan" period. On July 15, 1953, 10,000 builders from all over the country gathered in the southwest suburbs of Changchun and laid the first foundation pile on the vast wilderness. The road to FAW’s entrepreneurship was paved, and the new Chinese automobile industry began from then on.
"China’s man-made cars started under poor and white conditions!" Wang Fengge, a 90-year-old veteran employee, recalled the early days of the factory’s construction. At that time, there was a frenzy of support for FAW across the country. "Repair roads to FAW, connect gas to FAW, and transfer cadres to FAW…" In 1954, 95% of Changchun’s municipal construction costs were invested in the construction of FAW.
Drawing on the strength of the whole country, it will be completed and put into operation in three years; starting from scratch, it will open up the beginning of the new Chinese automobile industry.
On July 13, 1956, the first domestic Jiefang truck rolled off the assembly line, bringing an end to the history of China’s inability to build cars; on May 12, 1958, the first domestic car, Dongfeng Jinlong, drove out of the trial production workshop and started the process of self-made cars…
In the FAW Hongqi Cultural Exhibition Hall, an oil painting recreates the days in full swing: several craftsmen gather together to make a mud model of a Hongqi car by hand.
"In order to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of New China, we took over the task of manufacturing high-end cars." Dou Shuxiang, a retired veteran employee, clearly remembers that time was tight and the drawings were too late to draw. At that time, the factory manager Rao Bin discussed with the designers and made a bold decision – to hit it directly with a hammer!
Summon the country’s top sheet metal masters, work day and night to knock out the body; hang up more than 2,000 spare parts pictures, and skilled craftsmen grab the pictures for trial production… On August 1, 1958, the first Hongqi brand high-end car was successfully trial-produced, which took only more than a month.
Today, when modern production has been widely popularized, it is difficult for people to imagine how the car was built in a closed technology and difficult conditions. However, entrepreneurship is difficult, and the journey from building a car to building a good car is still long –
In the early 1980s, the indicators of Jiefang brand cars were obviously lagging behind. In three years, more than 20,000 sets of process equipment were updated, and 79 new production lines were built. After six years, China’s second-generation truck Jiefang CA141 was put into production. FAW withstood huge pressure and completed the replacement and production without stopping production or reducing revenue, realizing the "second business".
The reform and opening up quickly opened up the automobile market. At that time, the domestic automobile production capacity was less than one million units, and the products were "less heavy and less light", and transformation and upgrading were imminent. Following the pace of the industry, FAW began its "third venture": building a modern production base, vigorously developing light vehicles and cars; establishing joint ventures with Volkswagen, Toyota, etc., to rapidly improve manufacturing capacity… Through structural adjustment and joint venture cooperation, the enterprise grew rapidly. In 2001, the output and revenue increased by 3.2 times and 13.4 times compared with 1988.
China’s entry into the WTO has accelerated the process of automotive globalization. Faced with the sudden influx of foreign brands, local enterprises that do not have an advantage in technology and brands were once in crisis. The passivity of market competition made FAW realize that only reform and innovation can keep up with the rhythm.
Separation of main and auxiliary, taking the step from "plan" to "market"; shareholding reform, completing the transformation from a single state-owned sole proprietorship to a multi-investment entity.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, FAW has pressed the reform fast forward button.
On September 18, 2017, a "four-energy reform" in which cadres can go up and down, employees can come in and out, salaries can be high and low, and institutions can increase and decrease their capacity was fully launched.
"At that time, I had just arrived in Beijing for training, and the next morning I received a notice that everyone’stood up ‘and re-competed for jobs. How could I have the heart to stay, so I quickly bought a ticket and returned." Liu Jun, director of the FAW Reform Office, recalled the scene at that time.
Clear goals, with the strength of the whole group to develop the Hongqi brand; Highlight innovation and improve the independent research and development system; Survival of the fittest, breaking the "iron chair" to set jobs with goals and pay for performance… Radical reform has restructured the system and mechanism, and stimulated innovation vitality. The "new entrepreneurship" marked by reform and innovation has also given FAW a new life –
It has grown into a world-renowned automobile manufacturer and ranked among the top 500 companies in the world; by the end of 2022, the cumulative production and sales of automobiles exceeded 54 million, and the operating income was 7.9881 trillion yuan; in the past 5 years, the sales volume of the Hongqi brand has increased by 65 times, and the brand value has reached 115.50 billion yuan; for 12 consecutive years, the brand has been liberated to lead the industry, and the brand value has reached 118.70 billion yuan.
It was born because of the national automobile industry and developed with the tide of the times. FAW has opened a new page in China’s automobile industry, witnessed the hardships and achievements of car manufacturing in a big country, trained a large number of industrial talents who understand technology and management for China’s automobile industry, promoted the growth and expansion of the industrial chain, and made due contributions to building an automobile power.
In 70 years, from the "15th Five-Year Plan" to the "14th Five-Year Plan", FAW, which used to be like a child, has entered its prime. China’s auto industry has achieved leapfrog development through hard work and independent innovation: today, China has become the world’s largest automobile production and sales country for 14 consecutive years, and the scale of new energy vehicles production and sales has been the world’s largest for 8 consecutive years.
"Only by unswervingly following the beat of the market and the drumbeat of reform can we have lasting vitality and momentum." Wang Guoqiang, deputy secretary of the FAW Party Committee, lamented that this is the inspiration of FAW’s development and the portrayal of China’s automobile industry.
Climb the peak bravely and strive to master the key core technologies
The maximum power reached 560 kilowatts, and the performance index achieved international leadership – at the beginning of this year, the trial production of the V-type 12-cylinder direct injection engine developed by FAW was launched.
The engine is the "heart" of the car, and the manufacturing process is superb. The V12 engine, which has a complex structure and is difficult to develop, represents the highest level of passenger car engines. As a latecomer, China has long been blank in this field.
"This is the hard work of several generations of Hongqi people!" On the day the product was launched, Zhao Huichao, acting vice president of FAW Research and Development Institute, had mixed feelings. After continuous scientific and technological research, this engine broke the decades-long technical barriers of international suppliers and took the initiative in power manufacturing.
The key core technology is the "life gate" of industrial development. Once upon a time, domestic vehicle production relied on external imports. High technology transfer fees and strict negotiation conditions hindered both production and product development.
During the FAW inspection, the Supreme Leader General Secretary emphasized that to promote the high-quality development of our country’s automobile manufacturing industry, it is necessary to strengthen the independent research and development of key core technologies and key components.
Basic materials, key components, advanced technology… With the growth and expansion of China’s automobile industry, generations of FAW people have begun to work hard on core technologies.
0.015Mm, which is equivalent to 1/5 of the diameter of a hair, was "carved" by Yang Yongxiu, the chief technical master of FAW Research and Development Institute, and his team for 13 years.
This is the "Chinese precision" of the engine block. Yang Yongxiu told reporters that there are more than 100 holes in the engine block, which are easily deformed during processing. In order to ensure performance, the precision of the cylinder hole must be controlled to the limit. But the core parameters of the fine processing of numerical control milling machines have always been regarded as secrets by foreign companies.
"Since you want to do it, you have to achieve a level of refinement that is difficult for others to achieve." After more than ten years of sharpening the sword, after repeated overthrow and repeated trials in countless codes, Yang Yongxiu and his team finally cracked the core parameters and mastered the "key" of precision manufacturing.
Diving deep into the "stuck neck" field, keep taking solid steps –
Set up a special project working group for the transmission, establish a powertrain factory, and carry out comprehensive independent research and development for more than ten years to achieve comprehensive independent control;
Focusing on power batteries, innovating a series of technologies such as low-temperature batteries and battery pack thermal insulation to achieve trial production of Ah-level all-solid-state batteries;
From system integration and intelligent networking to forward-looking modeling and key materials, we will continuously target 41 key directions…
In 2017, the FAW R & D General Institute was inaugurated, integrating the technical forces formerly scattered in various departments, and implementing awards for listing, project contracting, and technical achievements in proportion to profits.
The optimization of the system and mechanism has released the vitality of innovation, and FAW has accelerated its charge in key frontier technology fields: breaking through the key technologies of high-efficiency hybrid systems, completing the application development of autonomous vehicle operating systems…
"Our R & D staff has grown from 2,360 to more than 4,500, and the new car development cycle has been reduced from 48 months to 24 months," said Wang Deping, executive vice-president of FAW Research and Development Institute. In the past three years, 494 key core technologies such as high-efficiency high-speed electric drive, intelligent wire-controlled chassis, and L3-level autonomous driving have been broken through.
Today, the global automotive industry is accelerating its transition to electrification and intelligence, and the transformation of production methods has put forward more urgent requirements for the safety and control of the industrial chain and collaborative innovation.
"This requires the joint efforts of domestic peers to make up for each other’s shortcomings," Zhou Shiying, acting vice-president of FAW’s R & D General Institute, told reporters. As a chain-leading enterprise, FAW must open up its ecology and achieve joint research and co-creation. "This is a matter of one prosperity and one loss."
Cooperate with China Resources Microelectronics and others to deepen the industrial chain of electronic components; gather leading software companies to strengthen algorithm development and verification… FAW and leading units have established 38 collaborative innovation laboratories and 5 basic research laboratories, and strive to promote industrial chain upgrades and breakthroughs. "In the future, we will continue to open up capabilities such as vehicle-end delivery, and together with our industrial chain partners, we will advance into the’no man’s land ‘of automotive technology." Zhou Shiying said.
Self-reliance and independent innovation, FAW’s exploration is a portrayal of China’s automobile industry. After 70 years of industrialization abroad, China’s ups and downs of car manufacturing are full of thirst and climbing for core technologies.
Today, China’s automotive industry has a stronger foundation and strength, with the world’s leading market size and industrial chain advantages for new energy vehicles, standing on the same starting line as the global automotive industry.
To change lanes and overtake cars requires innovation and breakthroughs. "Always take independent innovation as the foundation, strive to control key core technologies and enhance the competitiveness of the whole chain, and the confidence to deal with risks will be stronger, and the driving force for industrial development will be stronger," said Fu Bingfeng, executive vice-president of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
Anchor the course, take advantage of the trend to let national brands stand at the forefront
On July 3, with the 20 million new energy vehicles rolled off the assembly line, China’s automobile industry reached a new milestone. In this wave of electrification and intelligent transformation, Chinese automobiles have accelerated into the center of the world stage, and national brands have ushered in historical opportunities.
"This gives us a rare window of time. What we need to do now is to anchor the high quality and accelerate the brand upward!" Wang Guoqiang said.
Walking into the prosperous factory area of Hongqi Manufacturing Center, the experience of intelligent manufacturing is coming: the integrated robot cluster is orderly, the ultrasonic equipment is accurately inspected, and a Hongqi car "drives" to the market every minute. "Through data sensing, every detail here will be’moved ‘to the virtual’twin factory’, which will improve the quality and efficiency of production and provide support for innovation," Xiu Junyi, deputy general manager of Hongqi Manufacturing Center, told reporters.
It is a factory and a data platform; it is production and supply chain management. With advanced manufacturing as the driving force, we will continue to transform to high-end, intelligent and green.
Take the "steering wheel" of the industry and firmly promote the strategic layout.
"Two All" – On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the factory, the Hongqi brand announced that all investment in technological innovation will be used for new energy vehicles, and all new production capacity will be used for new energy vehicles.
Established new energy development institute, intelligent network development institute, etc., forward-looking reserve the technical direction of the next ten years, and build independent and controllable core capabilities; in the next three years, 15 Hongqi new energy intelligent products will be launched intensively, covering all market segments; by 2025, FAW new energy vehicle sales will reach 1.45 million, and Hongqi brand will exceed 500,000…
"This is the core track of industrial development." Qiu Xindong, general manager and deputy party secretary of China FAW, said that by fighting the tough battle of new energy transformation, it is necessary to drive the all-round transformation of enterprises from concept to operation.
Strengthen its own brand and accelerate its integration into the global industrial landscape.
Recently, at the railway port of Changchun Xinglong Comprehensive Bonded Zone, new Hongqi cars were packed in an orderly manner and set sail for Europe. Riding the "wave" of new energy vehicles going to sea, the Hongqi brand accelerated "going out" – from January to June, the export of 5003 vehicles was completed, an increase of 172% year-on-year.
"We want to break the outdated concept that Chinese brands are’cheap ‘," Yang Dayong, chairperson of FAW Import and Export Co., told reporters that Hongqi has chosen foreign developed regions as its target market from the beginning, and has opened up sales channels in 17 countries including Saudi Arabia and Norway. "If the Middle East and European markets can do well, it means that it can establish a high-end image in the global market."
The combination of headlights that symbolizes the round sky and the grille design that symbolizes the mountains and waterfalls… The Hongqi brand, which contains strong oriental aesthetics and Chinese culture, has accelerated its entry into the international market and has also entered the homes of ordinary people.
After 300,000 consecutive "barriers", domestic sales are expected to exceed 400,000 this year.
"Hongqi used to be regarded as a’national car ‘, but today we want to make it a’national car’," Mr. Qiu said. Hongqi needs to become younger, more fashionable, more technological and move up the value chain. "We have brand confidence and cultural confidence!"
Coming from the horn of war on the black land, FAW has marked the entire development process of the automobile industry in New China.
70 years of prosperity, with self-made indomitable progress, difficulties in the face of thousands of tempering, generation after generation of autobots passed down the fighting spirit, condensed into the Chinese auto industry unremitting forward power source.
Today, our country has grown from a country with a lack of industry to the world’s largest automobile producer and consumer. From "bringing in" to "going out", China has contributed to the electric transformation of the global automobile industry.
Don’t forget the blue strands when you come, and move forward without fear of wind and rain. On the journey from an automobile power to an automobile power, we will unswervingly promote high-quality development, and China’s automobile industry will move forward all the way!
Xinhua News Agency, Changchun, July 14
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