Baoneng Motor to kick off production at self-built vehicle plant in Xi’an

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Baoneng Motor, the automotive unit of Chinese property conglomerate Baoneng Group, will soon start production at its smart vehicle plant in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, the company announced on Nov. 5.

The Xi' an-located plant is Baoneng's first self-built vehicle manufacturing base. Moreover, the group has already got two plants in Changshu and Shenzhen by investing in Qoros and Changan PSA.

Baoneng Motor's Xi'an plant; photo credit: Baoneng Motor

Baoneng Motor began building the Xi'an plant in March 2018. After the capacity fully ramps up, the plant is expected to generate annual output value of 45 billion yuan ($6.717 billion), contribute over 2.5 billion yuan ($373.151 million) and add roughly 10,000 jobs for local residents.

Baoneng said the Xi'an plant boasts highly flexible assembly lines that support mixed-model production. Aside from conventional workshops for stamping, welding, painting and assembly, the plant also possesses facilities for manufacturing batteries, electric motors and electric control units, coupled with a logistics center.

At the Auto China 2020, Baoneng Motor unveiled its self-developed xEV platform that is compatible with multiple power solutions like BEV (battery electric vehicle), PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) and REEV (range-extended electric vehicle). The first vehicle based on the platform will roll off the production line while the Xi'an plant is launched.

Baoneng Group is vigorously expanding its automotive business. Changan PSA Automobiles Co., Ltd.(CAPSA), formerly a 50:50 joint venture between Chongqing Changan Automobile and Groupe PSA, has been renamed Shenzhen Baoneng Motor Co.,Ltd., and its investor changed to Shenzhen Qianhai Ruizhi Investment Co.,Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baoneng Motor.

Following the change of name, Shenzhen Baoneng Motor was inaugurated on May 30 at Longhua District in Shenzhen, where Changan PSA Automobiles Co., Ltd. (CAPSA) was previously located. Baoneng said it aims to build there its global headquarters for automotive business.