Dongfeng Motor, Sokon step up cooperation for greater resource sharing

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Dongfeng Motor Corporation (Dongfeng) and Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Stock Co.,Ltd. (Sokon) agreed on April 23 to deepen their strategic cooperation for a better resource integration involving technologies, R&D, purchase, manufacturing business and market expansion.

Under the cemented partnership, Sokon is allowed to develop its complete vehicles based on Dongfeng’s mid- to large-sized conventional vehicle platform and modular NEV architecture. Both parties will share with each other the resources of engines, transmissions, batteries, electric motors and electronic control units (ECUs).

Besides, two companies will co-develop the iterative vehicle models on the foundation of Dongfeng's existing electronic framework, jointly carry out a larger scale of procurement so as to lower the unit cost, and coordinate their production capacities by sharing resources and technologies.

Jinkang New Energy, a NEV subsidiary of Sokon, is permitted to name its mid-level and premium product brand “Dongfeng SERES”, according to the agreement.

In the meantime, both Dongfeng and Sokon struck a deal with Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Management Committee. The tripartite collaboration is aimed at helping Jinkang New Energy develop into a benchmark to China’s mid-level and upscale NEV manufacturers, and accelerating the industrialization process of ICVs.

Leveraging the deployment in NEV field, Dongfeng will export its technologies to Sokon, attempting to help Jinkang New Energy elevate its technical merits in NEV platform, powertrain, battery, electric motor, ECU and electronic architecture, and enhance its product competitiveness, the Wuhan-headquartered automaker said.

Additionally, under a framework agreement signed by Dongfeng and Chongqing municipal government on the same day, two parties aim to assist Sokon in becoming a complete vehicle manufacturer with 1 million units of annual outputs or sales.