多家德国汽车公司与中国展开合作
Top German carmakers including BMW and Volkswagen have inked a series of deals to continue developing electric and self-driving cars in China. The flurry of commitments coincides with a trip to Berlin by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, but it also reflects a growing recognition that China holds the key to the auto industry's future. Factories in China produced about 25 million passenger cars last year, according to the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. China is already the top market for many global car brands, and its drivers purchase more electric vehicles than any other country. BMW and Volkswagen have announced a total of six new deals this week alone. Volkswagen committed 15 billion euros to research in China on topics such as e-mobility, connectivity and autonomous driving. CEO Herbert Diess said the company would be "systematically expanding its partnerships" in the country. BMW, meanwhile, has finalized plans to produce electric Minis in the country through a joint venture with Great Wall Motor. It's also joining the board of Apollo, an autonomous driving project from Chinese internet firm Baidu. Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler extended a deal with Tsinghua University to continue the development of automated cars. German auto parts firm Continental also inked a new partnership with Uber rival Didi Chuxing to develop autonomous and electric cars. |