Yichang's automotive industry puts its foot to the floor

By Yan Wanqin, Yichang International Communication Studio

GAC’s Yichang plant is working at full capacity to prepare the official sales launch of the company’s all-new GS3 SUV next month.
 

All New GS3

 

The GS3 was unveiled at the 20th Guangzhou Auto Show at the end of 2022. Its novel exterior design and intelligent operating system are attracting interest from the market. Priced at around 100,000 yuan (US$14,577), it is considered good value for money.

The new subcompact crossover model will be manufactured exclusively at GAC Motor's intelligent Yichang plant, located in the automotive industrial park area of Xiaoting District, where 1,200 employees are hard at work.

“Mass production started at the end of January. The preliminary plan for the GS3 in March is 6,000 units.” said Ye Shaojian, deputy general manager of GAC Motor's Yichang branch.

“Each time we start mass producing a new model, there’s a lot to do. The research institute, the technical department and the quality department have to work closely together,” said Ye Shaojian, deputy general manager of GAC Motor's Yichang branch.

GAC Motor has more than 1,000 outlets nationwide, and each outlet needs to have at least three units in stock before a new model is launched. Time presses.

GAC Motor Yichang factory

Welding workshop of GAC Motor Yichang factory

Downstream support companies and components suppliers are hard at it too.

At an auto parts manufacturing company in Zhongji Tiangu Yichang Auto Parts Industrial Park, dashboard beams, fuel tank doors and other parts are rolling off the production line.

“Our four production lines are all at full capacity. This month we will produce more than 3,500 units for the GS3, and next month more than 6,000 units,” said He Changtai, the leader of Yongshan Auto Parts.

Companies in the Zhongji Tiangu Yichang Auto Parts Industrial Park are buoyed by the new growth opportunities.

“Last year the park’s output value reached 800 million yuan, and this year we expect to exceed 1 billion yuan," said Zhang Li, administrative director of Zhongji Tiangu Yichang Auto Parts Industrial Park.