East China’s Anhui Province - which has emerged as an innovative powerhouse over recent years -- has met a historic milestone in its operation of the automotive industry, with annual vehicle exports exceeding one million units for the first time, according to local customs data.
The Customs in the provincial capital city of Hefei reported that the province's annual auto exports surpassed the 1-million mark in late November. Of the total, nearly 30 percent were electric cars.
Customs data reveal that vehicles manufactured in Anhui have been shipped to 156 other countries and regions worldwide. In addition to sustained growth in export volume, the industry has also witnessed a strategic diversification into overseas markets and a clear shift towards "new" and "green" auto exports
Home to seven major automobile manufacturers, Anhui boasts impressive production capabilities. At one intelligent manufacturing facility in Wuhu City, a new car rolls off the assembly line approximately every minute.
In recent years, the provincial government has encouraged leading automakers to accelerate their global expansion. This includes establishing overseas production bases for complete vehicles and knock-down kits in Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) countries, South America, Central Asia, as well as regions and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.
"Since the start of this year, the Hefei Customs has issued over 12,000 certificates of origin for vehicle exports, with a total value exceeding 16.9 billion yuan (about 2.4 billion U.S. dollars). This has allowed Anhui's car exporters to enjoy tariff reductions of more than 800 million yuan," said Shen Yue, head of the Tariff Department, the Hefei Customs.
To support the sector's international expansion, the provincial authorities have sponsored Anhui Province Auto Parts Industry Fairs in multiple countries. The event in Paris in October featured the participation of 38 companies from across Anhui's automotive supply chain, showcasing a collective effort to explore new markets.
"We have been implementing the 'Anhui Going Global' initiative for years. So far this year, we have held themed exhibitions for the Anhui automotive and parts industry in multiple regions, including the EU, ASEAN, and Central and South America. We have also established dedicated service teams for automakers. Through coordinated rollout of support policies and tailored solutions for companies in a one-on-one manner, we are addressing import and export challenges and facilitating global market access for the automotive and parts industry of Anhui. Currently, the export scale of Anhui's auto industry has surpassed 120 billion yuan," said Zhang Sai from the Department of Mechanical, Electrical, and Technology Industries under the Anhui Provincial Department of Commerce.
