Gasgoo Munich- On April 11, the Intelligent Electric Vehicle Development Forum 2026, Wang Lang, vice president of Chery Automobile, delivered a keynote on the high-quality globalization of China's auto industry. His speech focused on the historic transformation of Chinese auto exports, outlining the direction of industrial evolution and the path toward global implementation.
Wang noted that China's auto exports are currently at a historic inflection point. This is not merely a matter of growing export volumes, but a generational leap from trade expansion to structural ascension.
Image Credit: China EV100 Research Institute
In the era of smart electric vehicles, the rules of competition have fundamentally shifted. The traditional barriers centered on engines and transmissions have given way to new arenas like electronic-electrical architecture, software, and new materials. By leveraging a model of full-stack in-house R&D combined with tech integration, Chinese automakers have developed efficient manufacturing capabilities. Going global is no longer just a choice to chase profits or avoid risks. It has become an inevitable path for climbing the value chain.
Wang proposed that Chinese automakers must undergo a profound identity shift: evolving from "Chinese companies operating abroad" into local companies with Chinese DNA. This transformation is essential for navigating trade barriers and achieving long-term, sustainable growth.
Regarding its global layout, Chery has outlined five core directions. First, advancing panoramic manufacturing by accelerating the overseas deployment of Chinese capacity and technology. This boosts supply chain resilience. Second, exporting the entire industrial chain rather than just finished vehicles. Third, shifting from price-based competition to value-based competition, anchored in technology and quality. Fourth, strengthening overseas compliance governance to adapt to a normalized environment of trade friction. Fifth, leveraging national support systems for systematic guarantees in standards, data regulation, export credit insurance, and logistics.
On the operational front, Chery is transitioning from trade-based exports to globalized operations. The company is adopting a "China R&D, global collaboration" model. It is building a supply chain system combining regional circulation with localized sourcing. Chery is also replicating integrated ecosystems like "vehicle + power + grid + cloud" overseas. This creates a comprehensive framework for high-quality global expansion.
He emphasized that realizing high-quality global expansion over the next decade hinges on building three key capabilities. These include establishing globally recognized brand premium and creating a global collaborative operations system. It also involves deeply integrating into the industrial ecosystems of host countries.
