GAC Motor Yichang plant experiences busy first half
2023-08-16 17:08:52
By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio
GAC Motor’s Yichang Plant is having a successful 2023 with a busy first half. Sales volumes are up 76 percent from last year and production volume in car units has increased 46 percent from the corresponding period of 2022.
Since they are part of the listed GAC Group, they could not release any further sales information, but the plant is now pumping out nearly 500 units per day to meet market demand.
"Our orders reached more than 12,000 units in August," said Peng Dingchang, head of the manufacturing department at GAC Motor's Yichang Plant.
GAC Motor’s Yichang Plant is having a successful 2023 with a busy first half. Sales volumes are up 76 percent from last year and production volume in car units has increased 46 percent from the corresponding period of 2022.
Since they are part of the listed GAC Group, they could not release any further sales information, but the plant is now pumping out nearly 500 units per day to meet market demand.
"Our orders reached more than 12,000 units in August," said Peng Dingchang, head of the manufacturing department at GAC Motor's Yichang Plant.
Assembly workshop at GAC Motor's Yichang Plant. Photo by Pei Xiao.
The GS3 SUV, a new model launched in March, is key to this strong growth. In the first half of the year, this model’s sales exceeded 23,000 units, all of which were made in Yichang.
"Our production in March and April was about 3,000 units per month, and in May and June it doubled to nearly 6,000 units per month," said Liang Weibiao, general manager of GAC Motor's Yichang Plant.
Not only has the plant had a strong demand in the domestic market, but the demand from foreign markets is also soaring. Made-in-Yichang cars are now sold to parts of Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America.
"The GAC GS3 and Empow models are popular abroad, and the GS4 and GA6 models are also exported. This year, 15 percent of cars are expected to be exported, compared to only 3 percent last year," he said.
"Our production in March and April was about 3,000 units per month, and in May and June it doubled to nearly 6,000 units per month," said Liang Weibiao, general manager of GAC Motor's Yichang Plant.
Not only has the plant had a strong demand in the domestic market, but the demand from foreign markets is also soaring. Made-in-Yichang cars are now sold to parts of Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America.
"The GAC GS3 and Empow models are popular abroad, and the GS4 and GA6 models are also exported. This year, 15 percent of cars are expected to be exported, compared to only 3 percent last year," he said.
The GAC Empow. Photo by Pei Xiao.
GAC Motor's Yichang Plant is in the automobile industrial park area of Xiaoting District, Yichang City. It is planned to serve as a "smart manufacturing" benchmark factory.
GAC Motor Yichang factory. Photo by Pei Xiao.
In June 2019, GAC's Yichang plant was put into operation. Four years later, the 200,000th vehicle rolled out.
A new car rolls off the production line at GAC Motor’s Yichang factory every 52 seconds, a leading speed in the world of automotive manufacturing.
A new car rolls off the production line at GAC Motor’s Yichang factory every 52 seconds, a leading speed in the world of automotive manufacturing.
Ma Lin and Huang Dongsheng contributed the original Chinese story for this report.
