On December 7, the "2024 China-UK Automotive Cooperation Forum and the Annual Conference of the UK Chinese Society of Automotive Engineers" was held at the University of Birmingham. The event became a platform for industry professionals to discuss further strengthening China-UK automotive cooperation. Researchers, market experts, and government representatives from both countries discussed current opportunities for collaboration in the automotive sector and the future direction of development.
"After the European Cup this year, BYD's market influence in Europe has significantly increased, and consumer acceptance has also risen noticeably. This is a critical moment for BYD to further enhance its brand influence," said Ge Hongde, BYD's National Manager for the UK and Ireland, in an interview with reporters.
At the same time, BYD has brought economic and social benefits to the UK. "We are able to provide better technology and more cost-effective products to the British public. Our pure electric buses and energy storage products have achieved great success in the UK. We are confident that we can offer better electric vehicle products to the UK public," said Ge Hongde.
Chris Mason, CEO of the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés des Ingénieurs des Techniques de l'Automobile (FISITA), pointed out in a video address at the forum that the Chinese automotive industry is in a leading technological position in the transition from internal combustion engines to electric vehicles, with rapid technological innovation. The UK, being a traditional automotive powerhouse, has a strong foundation for cooperation with China in the automotive sector. Promoting cooperation between the two countries' automotive personnel in areas such as R&D, innovation, and market promotion will lead to new achievements in both nations' automotive industries.
Councillor Ken Wood, Mayor of Birmingham, stated in his speech that strengthening China-UK cooperation in the automotive sector would achieve a win-win situation and that he would be committed to further advancing China-UK cooperation in the automotive field in the future.
Professor Xu Hongming, President of the UK Chinese Society of Automotive Engineers (UKCSAE) and the Global Alliance of Overseas Chinese Automotive Engineers (GAOCSAE), and a professor at the University of Birmingham, told Xinhua that China-UK automotive cooperation holds vast prospects in areas such as new energy technology innovation and market expansion. By strengthening cooperation, both sides can leverage their respective advantages to jointly face challenges and drive the upgrading and development of the automotive industry. In the foreseeable future, there will be more fruitful outcomes from China-UK automotive industry cooperation, contributing to the global goal of carbon neutrality.
At the forum, experts including Professor Karl Dearn, Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Birmingham, Professor Zhao Hua, Vice-Chancellor of Brunel University, Jon Caine, Technical Director at AVL, and Roger Cracknell, Senior Principal Science Expert at Shell, discussed the future development of zero-carbon emissions and carbon-neutral powertrain technologies, as well as the role of alternative fuels in transportation. They analyzed the challenges and opportunities faced by the global automotive industry as it transitions to decarbonization and electrification.
The forum, organized by the UK Chinese Society of Automotive Engineers, attracted 130 participants who braved hurricane-level weather to attend in person. More than 30,000 people viewed the event online through a live streaming platform provided by Gasgoo. In his opening speech, Professor Xu Hongming, President of the UK Chinese Society of Automotive Engineers, reviewed the association's achievements over the past five years and looked forward to the future of China-UK automotive cooperation. "As an annual event for the China-UK automotive industry, this forum not only provides an effective platform for exchanges and cooperation but also promotes in-depth cooperation between China and the UK in automotive engineering and related fields by discussing the latest technologies and policy developments. The UK Chinese Society of Automotive Engineers will continue to promote multinational cooperation and technological innovation to contribute to the sustainable development of the global automotive industry," Xu said.
