Auto CEOs have their say

The Beijing International Automotive Exhibition 2020, or “Auto China 2020”, the automobile industry’s premier event, unfolds Saturday, six months behind schedule following COVID-19 crisis.

Sino-US trade frictions have cast a shadow on the world’s largest car market that is China where incremental growth, the industry’s hallmark in recent times, had made way for reliance on replacements since 2018. COVID-19 exacerbated the situation, testing global auto players’ agility, resilience and patience.

Far from caving in, the auto world decided to stand up and be counted as supporters of community initiatives, reinforcing the modern definition of corporate social responsibility. Carmakers, particularly in China, helped ease the epidemic’s burden on their employees, suppliers and dealers alike.

What’s more, they adapted their facilities to the needs of society, making face masks and other medical supplies for epidemic-stricken communities. They swiftly tapped online channels for marketing and services to provide safer transportation solutions.

As of late September, most parts of the world appear optimistic of going back to normalcy. That’s not all. Industries like auto are keen to draw useful lessons from recent experiences, deepen an incipient recovery and make a fresh start. There’s no place more appropriate than Beijing to do that.

For, the Chinese auto market accounted for 32 percent of global sales in the first half of this year. It also recovered relatively quickly to post year-on-year growth from the second quarter on.

But, in the world’s most populous nation of 1.4 billion, per-capita car ownership is still 75 percent of that in developed economies. This suggests there’s massive room for growth. Yet, it is China that is driving the global auto industry’s transformative transition from vehicles powered by fossil fuels to electric, intelligent and connected mobility.

The coming paradigm shift has been creating a sense of anticipation, excitement and cheerful mood in the industry. The Beijing Auto Show will capture its essence.

In this eight-page special spread, China Daily features heads of Chinese market operations of as many as 18 global makers of cars and auto parts. They share stunning stories of how their companies are fighting the pandemic. They also shed light on the art of embracing a more efficient, inclusive, and cooperative approach to shared development amid a crisis.

Enjoy and benefit from their profound insights. Owing to space constraints, the print edition features snapshots; but China Daily’s online avatars carry their views in full. Just scan the QR code alongside for free access.

The author is director of China Daily Motoring Media Hub.