Sachsen, Germany, 7:00 PM, April 12th(CET)——BAIC BJEV, a leading new energy automaker in China, signed a strategic cooperation agreement for Sino-German Automotive Light Weighting Technology Joint R&D Center with Dresden University of Technology (TUD) in the Council Chamber of the state of Sachsen. Wan Gang, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC and Minister of Science and Technology of China, and Tillich, Governor of Sachsen, Germany, witnessed the significant moment. Meanwhile, Academician Hufenbach, known as the “Father of Light Weighting in Europe” at TUD, was granted the position as the chief scientist in lightweight technology for BAIC BJEV. At the ceremony, the two sides also entered into a letter of intent on the establishment of Sino-German Automotive Light Weighting Technology Engineering Center Co., Ltd.

Minister Wan Gang noted that electric, smart, and lightweight cars represent the three main directions to future of automobiles. He expressed his hope that the cooperation between BAIC BJEV and TUD will establish benchmarks for the industry. The minister also stressed that Sino-German cooperation in light-weighting should be future-oriented, and academic institutions and enterprises of the two countries go beyond joint production to embrace joint innovation, make good use of their resources, and cultivate young professionals.

TUD and Academician Hufenbach’s team, as long-term partners of such world-renowned automakers as BMW, VW, and Porsche, and the aero-engine maker Rolls-Royce, are the global leaders in the light-weighting segment. The team, with its specialized test validation centers for aviation and automotive composite materials, has undertaken a number of light-weighting R&D programs well known in the industry. In addition, it also owns world-leading techniques in light-weight materials, and their construction and manufacturing. They boast rich and brilliant R&D experience and outcomes, especially in light-weight new energy cars made of carbon fiber composite and multi-materials.

Aligned to the Thirteenth Five Year Plan (13th FYP) of the Chinese government, BAIC BJEV is increasing investment in new efforts. For example, Sino-German Light Weighting R&D Center will become the company’s fifth oversea one of its kind. Before that, BAIC BJEV has begun to build its global R&D network in its core areas, i.e. electric and smart technologies, by establishing oversea R&D centers in Silicon Valley, USA; Aachen, Germany; Detroit, USA; and Barcelona, Spain. Meanwhile, light-weighting has already been regarded as a core strategic technology as important as those for electrification and intelligentization, which was designated as one of the company’s key objectives in technological breakthroughs in 13th FYP.

At that time, the Sino-German cooperation in light-weighting, led by BAIC BJEV, will bring the advanced light-weighting technologies to China and demonstrate their huge potential to the Chinese automotive industry. That will propel the fast development of light-weighting technologies in the new energy automotive industry in China, providing better and more environmental-friendly new energy cars and mobility solutions for the people in China and the world at large.