Gasgoo Munich- What were the major developments in the global automotive industry this week?
Geely's 2030 Global Strategy: More Than 10 New Energy Models Planned
On April 21, Geely Auto outlined its global strategy at the 2026 International Business Partner Conference, setting a core target for 2030: launch more than 10 new energy models abroad. The automaker aims for overseas sales to account for over a third of its total volume, capture a 5% share of the market, and establish itself as a technology-driven brand internationally.
Image Source: Yang Xueliang, Senior Vice President of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group's Weibo account
The 2030 strategy is grounded in specific market foundations. Geely has set a total sales target of 3.45 million vehicles for 2026, with exports pegged at 640,000 units — a 52% jump from the 420,000 projected for 2025. Internally, however, the company has set a more aggressive export goal of 750,000 units for 2026, aiming to surpass 1 million the following year.
To support this global push, Geely has identified three key priorities. First, it will treat Southeast Asia as a strategic hub. Using the AHTV industrial park in Malaysia as a beachhead, it plans to build an integrated manufacturing and service complex capable of producing 500,000 vehicles annually. This facility is designed to radiate across the ASEAN market and solidify the company's regional foundation.
Second, the company will focus on developed markets like Europe and the United States. By leveraging Volvo's established distribution channels and Renault's presence in South America, Geely aims to drive volume growth in these premium regions.
Third, Geely is adopting a diversified global expansion model. By combining product exports, brand building, resource integration, and technology transfer, it intends to establish localized operations in key markets. This approach aims to transform the company from a Chinese manufacturer into a truly global brand.
Gasgoo Comment: Geely is betting heavily on more than 10 new energy models to crack overseas markets. Behind those sales targets lies a bold ambition — and a formidable challenge — to transform from an exporter of products into a global brand powerhouse.
Report: Changan Automobile Considers Plant in Spain
Changan Automobile is considering building a plant in Spain, following other Chinese automakers in establishing production bases in the European country, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg.
Image Source: Changan Automobile
The facility will likely be located in northern Spain, the people said, noting that the Aragón region is under review. The sources did not disclose the scale of the project and cautioned that no final decision has been made.
The talks between Changan and Spanish officials suggest that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's push to attract Chinese investment is gaining traction. During a visit to China last week — his fourth in just over three years — Sánchez met with Zhu Huarong, chairman of Changan Automobile, among other executives.
China is currently seeking new partners to help navigate policy negotiations at the EU level, particularly on trade issues. Sánchez has stated that deepening ties with Asia's largest economy could serve as a key pillar for Spain's economic growth, brushing aside concerns from other European capitals about the risks of opening markets too widely to China.
Last month, the European Commission unveiled the so-called "Industrial Accelerator Act," designed to support European companies hit by a surge in Chinese exports since the pandemic. During discussions in Beijing, Chinese officials reportedly asked Sánchez to help block the policy's implementation.
A spokesperson for Changan, which recently began selling cars in Spain, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Spanish government also declined to comment.
Gasgoo Comment: Changan's potential move into Spain is a microcosm of how Chinese automakers are digging into Europe. It also aligns with deeper trade synergies between China and Spain, though the final outcome will hinge on the interplay between policy and cost.
BAIC Group Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Bosch China
On April 23, BAIC Group and Bosch China signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement. Building on a long-standing partnership, the two sides will deepen their strategic alignment and make forward-looking moves together in future mobility.
Image Source: BAIC Group
Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate closely across core areas to build a more efficient and stable supply chain. In passenger vehicles, they will focus on joint R&D and innovation for next-generation smart mobility technologies, aiming to boost product intelligence and market competitiveness. In commercial vehicles, they will deepen existing ties and accelerate the transformation of related businesses around new energy and smart technologies. Additionally, the partners will enhance cooperation in industrial automation and work together to support BAIC's international expansion.
BAIC and Bosch China have a history of collaboration, with deep ties in both passenger and commercial vehicles. In February 2023, the two signed a strategic agreement to co-develop advanced autonomous driving products.
Gasgoo Comment: By deepening their strategic partnership in smart tech and new energy, BAIC and Bosch are effectively binding an OEM to a core supplier — a move designed to weather the risks of industry transformation together.
Desay SV Signs Global Strategic Partnership Agreement with Changan Automobile
On April 21, at Changan Automobile's global strategy conference, Desay SV formally signed a global strategic partnership agreement with the automaker. The two companies pledged to deepen technical collaboration and embark on a new phase of global expansion together.
Image Source: Desay SV
Competition in the new energy vehicle market has intensified. At the event, Changan unveiled its "1445 Strategy" for 2030, which prioritizes innovation and ecosystem restructuring. Intelligence is set to be the thread running through all business units. Under this strategy, the automaker will double down on new energy and accelerate its global footprint.
Desay SV and Changan have a long history of cooperation. Since Changan's globalization strategy shifted into high gear in 2025, their partnership has spanned everything from mainstream to luxury segments. Guided by Changan's strategic initiatives — including "Shangri-La," "Haina Baichuan," and "Beidou Tianshu" — the two have engaged in joint technical development on smart products, strengthening Changan's competitive edge.
Gasgoo Comment: Desay SV's deeper global alignment with Changan fits squarely with the automaker's 2030 strategy. It is a critical move for a Tier 1 supplier to lock in with an OEM and share in the growth of the smart new energy vehicle sector.
Cao Ziyue to Lead Marelli's Global Lighting Business as Acting President
On April 21, Marelli announced a major executive change. Cao Ziyue, currently general manager of the lighting division for Asia-Pacific, will expand his role to oversee Marelli's global lighting business. He has been appointed acting president of the lighting division and has joined the company's global executive committee.
Image Source: Marelli
Cao has worked in the automotive lighting industry for over two decades. Since joining Marelli in 2005, he has played a central role in building and transforming the company's lighting business in China. During his tenure, he led the establishment of production bases in cities including Wuhu, Foshan, Xiaogan, and Changchun, creating a nationwide manufacturing network that supported significant business expansion.
Appointed China general manager in 2017, he led the division's shift from a manufacturing base to an innovation center, strengthening local R&D and elevating China's role in global product development. After becoming Asia-Pacific general manager in 2023, he deepened regional integration, turning China into a key hub connecting global markets and technology networks. In 2025, Cao took charge of global core technology and forward-looking innovation for the lighting division, streamlining technical platforms and cross-regional collaboration to boost efficiency and scalability.
In his new role, Cao will focus on execution, operational performance, and client relationships to ensure the stable, high-quality growth of Marelli's global lighting business. Drawing on his extensive experience in China and Asia-Pacific, he aims to drive further global synergies, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen the company's leadership in intelligent lighting technology.
Gasgoo Comment: Putting Cao Ziyue, a veteran with over two decades of experience, at the helm of Marelli's global lighting business signals the rise of local Chinese talent. It also reflects Marelli's strategy of leveraging Chinese expertise to seize a first-mover advantage in intelligent lighting.
Suzhou Hangsheng Autoliv Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd. Officially Unveiled
A ceremony marking the launch of Suzhou Hangsheng Autoliv Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd. was recently held at Hangsheng's East China high-end smart manufacturing base in Changshun Economic and Technological Development Zone. The event signals that the strategic partnership between Hangsheng Electronics and Autoliv has moved into a new phase of substantive operations.
Image Source: Hangsheng Electronics
This launch marks a critical step for Hangsheng and Autoliv as they move from strategic alignment to actual operations, combining local automotive electronics expertise with world-class safety technology. Amid the industry's "CASE" transformation, the two companies are integrating resources and complementary strengths to fill gaps in technology and the supply chain, driving high-quality industry development.
As a major automotive hub in the Yangtze River Delta, Changshun Economic and Technological Development Zone offers a favorable business environment and a robust industrial ecosystem, providing a strong foundation for the joint venture. The project also injects new momentum into the local automotive electronics cluster, pushing the regional industry toward higher-end and smarter manufacturing.
The joint venture will focus on innovation in automotive safety electronics. It will combine Hangsheng's local strengths in smart cockpits, connected vehicles, and new energy control systems with Autoliv's global leadership in safety technology to create solutions tailored for both Chinese and international markets.
Gasgoo Comment: Hangsheng and Autoliv's shift from strategic alignment to actual operations, with a focus on safety electronics, is a decisive move to navigate the industry's transformation. It also provides fresh impetus for upgrading the regional industrial base.
