Li Zhanshu inspects Dayun Automobile, a company already invested in by Hebei and Central China, and test drives it, giving it a thumbs-up.
On the afternoon of November 16, 2020, Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, visited Dayun Automobile Co., Ltd.'s Yuncheng New Energy Vehicle Production Base, a company invested in by China Zhongji Investment. He learned about Dayun's production and operation and personally test-drove Dayun's self-developed and manufactured new energy MPV passenger vehicle.
Chairman Li Zhanshu visited Dayun's new energy vehicle stamping, welding, and assembly workshops, walking from south to north, observing, and listening to the report from Chairman Yuan Qinshan. Li Zhanshu asked Chairman Yuan, "Where are you from?" Chairman Yuan replied, "I'm a native of Yuncheng, my hometown is right next to the factory." Li Zhanshu then asked, "How long has your company been established, and how has it developed?" Chairman Yuan said, "In the 1990s, the company started in Guangzhou making motorcycles. In 2004, to give back to my hometown, we built a heavy truck production base in Yuncheng. Later, we also built light and medium truck production bases in Chengdu and Shiyan. In recent years, under the national call for 'green development' and with the strong support of various energy revolution policies issued by the Shanxi Provincial Committee and Provincial Government, we started developing new energy vehicles in the Yuncheng base. Now we have completed the layout of a full range of automotive products, and we're doing pretty well among private auto companies. We have to thank the reform and opening up for the good development opportunities it has given us."
In the new energy vehicle assembly workshop's offline area, looking at the pure electric passenger vehicles coming off the assembly line, Li Zhanshu asked Chairman Yuan, "What's your view on the development of new energy vehicles? Do you think (new energy) trucks or cars will develop faster?" Chairman Yuan replied, "With the strong support of the government and the increasing market demand, new energy vehicles will definitely develop better and better. As for new energy trucks and cars, I think as long as the charging infrastructure is in place, new energy trucks will develop faster because trucks are commercial vehicles bought to make money, and new energy trucks are more economical." At this point, Chairman Yuan did some calculations: "For example, for the same fuel-powered heavy truck and electric heavy truck, running the same mileage (about 200,000 kilometers) a year, the fuel vehicle might cost 500,000 to 600,000 yuan, while the electric vehicle only needs 150,000 to 200,000 yuan. So the market consumer demand for electric trucks is very strong. With the rapid development of charging piles and other infrastructure, electric vehicles can quickly replace fuel vehicles." Li Zhanshu then asked, "What do you think of the government's support for new energy?" Chairman Yuan replied, "Without the strong support of the government, our company would not have developed so rapidly. Western countries have been working on fuel vehicles for decades or even centuries, and their engine technology is very advanced. It is very difficult for us to surpass them in a short period of time. However, new energy vehicles are just starting out abroad, and everyone is essentially on the same starting line in this new track. As long as we firmly grasp the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the CPC, the national new energy vehicle industry development plan, and other policy support for new energy vehicles, and strive for innovation ourselves, we can overtake on a different track, surpass our competitors, and quickly bring our products to the world."
