Summary:
Along with automotive business leaders, political decision-makers, economists and experts, the Human Capital Partners (HCP) team recently attended the 5th Annual Global Automotive Forum in Wuhan, China.
Release:
With over 900 hundred automotive industry professionals from 20 countries and regions attending, the 5th Annual Global Automotive Forum (GAF) in Wuhan, China has been heralded a huge success. Over 82 distinguished speakers including Alan Mulally, former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Ford Motor Company, and Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Chief Executive Officer and President of Volkswagen Group China shared their knowledge and experience in 16 sessions on key topics affecting the automotive industry.
Delegates from Human Capital Partners (HCP) included Rachel Yin, Head of Project Execution; Jerry Sun, Head of Chongqing; Pan Lee, Deputy Head of Project Execution; and Sharon Zhang, Head of Wuhan. All HCP delegates actively networked and debated with the participants in the sessions, contributing industry insight and expertise on topics such as: connectivity and self driving cars, the environment, energy conservation and new energy vehicles, and rethinking ‘going global’. Additionally, many of the sessions focused on the way in which the Chinese automotive industry can achieve true globalization in terms of regulatory and policy issues, improving supply chain efficiency and expanding manufacturing operations into global markets.
These debates and reflections are all coming at a point where there has been significant growth in the Chinese automotive industry for years. From a production level of 500,000 vehicles annually, around 20 years ago, it has grown to be the world’s largest producer of automobiles, with China producing over 18 million passenger cars in 2013 according to OICA (International Organization of Motor Vehicle) statistics.
The GAF event is recognized for its holistic approach to the global automotive industry. Over the years, it has provided unparalleled insights into the economic, societal, technological and trade developments in an industry which prides itself on innovation.
The conference also gave HCP and the LIASE Group the opportunity to network with key clients such as BMW, IVECO, Dana, Brose, Continental, Lear, Delphi and Valeo.
Key highlights from the GAF included:
- General Motors Executive Vice President and President of GM China, Matt Tsien shared details of the next generation 2010 Electric Networked-Vehicle (EN-V) concept – the Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 which was designed, engineered, and built in Shanghai.
- Chen Lin. Commercial Counselor, Department of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation, encouraged Chinese enterprises and Chinese auto companies to make “going global” an important part of their strategy, with the government actively creating favorable investment conditions.
Editors Notes:
Human Capital Partners is a retained executive search and talent management consultancy, which specializes in the global automotive sector. We provide CEO and top management placements & succession expertise across multinational automotive suppliers. Our expertise is our in-depth understanding of conventional and unconventional automotive companies with sector expertise including OEM’s, importers, auto financing, auto leasing, auto dealers, private equity firms and tier 1 suppliers.
PR Contact: Vanessa Moriel, Managing Director Asia info@hcp-china.com
Patrick Steinemann, Managing Director and Co-Head of Asia Industrials at Bank of America Merrill Lynch talking with Rachel Yin, Head of Execution, HCP China.
Cheng Qian, Group Vice President of Corporate Strategy & International Business, Weichai Power Co, Ltd, in discussion with Rachel Yin, Head of Execution, HCP China.
Cao Jianwei, Assistant President of Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co., Ltd, talking with Sharon Zhang, Head of the Wuhan office, HCP China.
Members of the HCP team who attended the event, from left to right: Rachel Yin, Head of Execution; Sharon Zhang, Head of the Wuhan office; Jerry Sun, Head of South West China; Pan Lee, Deputy Head of Execution.
Fan Gang, Director of the National Economic Research Institute, Chairman of the China Reform Foundation, made a Keynote Speech on: The Opportunities and Challenges of China Economic Growth in 5 to 10 Years. He remarked that although the government is bound to eventually impose stricter environmental standards over the industry, there is a recognition of the important leading role the automotive industry is playing in the national economy.
Nicholas Speeks, President and CEO of Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Service Co., Ltd, talked about the evolution of self-driving smart cars.
Chen Lin, Commercial Counselor, Department of Outward Investment and Economic Cooperation of Ministry of Commerce, Silvio Angori, Chief Executive Officer of PININFARINA S.P.A, Eric Sentus, Executive VP Sales and Marketing, Incadea Group, Ellis B.Chu ,Director, Head of China M&A, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Daesung Yoon, Executive Managing Director, Korea Automobile Importer & Distributors Association(KAIDA) participated in a panel titled: Rethinking “Going Global.”
Ricky Lau, Partner of TPG Capital, speaking during a panel on the Role of Capital Markets for Growth of the Automotive Industry. Also speaking on the panel were: Qian Cheng, vice president of corporate strategy and international business of Weichai Power Co., Ltd; China Rundong Automobile Group Co., Ltd. joint company secretary Zhou Jian; and Gordon Shaw, general manager of Baring Private Equity Asia.
Qian Cheng, vice president of corporate strategy and international business of Weichai Power Co., Ltd., said that the new round of China’s market-oriented reforms and equity diversification will create a lot of opportunities for listed companies to raise capitals. It will also lead to greater global intergration and technology convergence as companies leverage the effect of scale in their operation.
