GM China President Julian Blissett

Q1, What are your expectations for the auto show?

A1: The Beijing auto show is among the biggest exhibitions across the globe. It’s additional proof that the industry has got back on track. We expect to see the exciting products on display further boost consumers’ confidence in the market and economy. We look forward to seeing a continued rise in consumer demand.

Q2, With the pandemic slowing down, China’s automotive market has started to recover in the second quarter. What do you predict for China's auto market in the near future? The current recovery trend shows a “V” shape in sales, what do you think would be in the next stage? A “√” shape, a “W” shape, an “M” shape, or a “√¯” shape?

A2: We have full confidence in the China market’s near-term resilience and long-term growth. It’s supported by the established capability and can-do spirit of the people working in and with this industry. GM will continue to deliver the right products for today’s consumers while developing cutting-edge technologies for the future to help sustain industry growth over the long term.

Q3, Can you use a few keywords to describe your predictions for the Chinese and global automotive industries in the next five years?

A3: They would be an interestingly contradictory pair.

The first word is anchor. The automotive industry will remain a key driving force as the world navigates through a highly fluid economic situation.

The second word is self-disruption. The changes we have been seeing and making in recent years will exceed what the industry has gone through in the past decades.

Q4, The virus has drastically affected people's lives. It has also caused people to rethink many aspects of life, including their way of traveling, and business management. From your perspective, what are the most important lessons we can take away from this pandemic? Can you also use a few keywords to summarize the impact?

A4: It is sad that the pandemic has separated us physically. Many big industry events have had to be cancelled, many face-to-face meetings switched to virtual, and people’s personal interactions reduced to a minimum.

It has been a time of great uncertainty, but also a time of great empathy, a time when we value the continued trust and support of our partners, suppliers and customers more than ever.

Q5, What do you think about the social responsibilities that the automotive companies have taken during the epidemic?

A5: I am really proud of how automakers around the world rallied to develop and produce life-saving items in short supply. Leveraging the industry’s manufacturing prowess, flexibility in retooling and ability to scale up, the quick switch from making vehicles to making masks and ventilators was a tremendous success. Since February, our SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venturemanaged to produce about 200 million face masks, including more than 20 million for overseas countries.

Q6, In the post-epidemic era, how will China's position and role be affected in the global automotive industry? What do you think the players should do next?

A6: GM envisions a future with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. As the largest global automotive market, China certainly has a crucial role to play to unleash the promised future. We look forward to seeing more incentivized infrastructure to enable a faster transformation toward electrification, intelligent driving and connectivity. We also look forward to building an integrated automotive ecosystem to enable the development of services that will make consumers’ entire experience of mobility safer, better and more sustainable.