Changchun turns automotive heritage into new source of growth
Changchun in northeast China's Jilin Province, known as the cradle of the country's automotive industry, is using its old factories and workers' neighborhoods as a foundation for new growth.
In 1956, China's first domestically built vehicle, the Jiefang CA10 truck, rolled off the production line in the city. Seventy years later, many of the original factory buildings remain and have been given new uses.
Production at FAW has changed significantly. At the Hongqi Prosperity Factory, stamping operations are more than 70 percent automated, and a new vehicle can roll off the line roughly every minute.
The company is also investing in electrification, intelligent driving, smart cockpits and intelligent chassis. Workers say AI-based systems are increasingly replacing some traditional manual processes and improving efficiency.
At the same time, old residential areas around the factories are being upgraded with improved public spaces, transport links, green areas and community facilities.
In 2024, the city also launched an automotive heritage tourism route linking historic factory buildings, museums and modern production lines.
According to CCTV+, Changchun is seeking to preserve its industrial heritage while turning it into an asset for technological development, urban renewal and tourism.
