FAW-Volkswagen's East China base (Qingdao) marks its 1.5 millionth vehicle on May 21, signaling a new era of industrial scale development for Qingdao. [Photo/Guanhai News]

FAW-Volkswagen's East China base (Qingdao) marked its 1.5 millionth vehicle on May 21, signaling a new era of industrial scale development for Qingdao.

Since its establishment in May 2018, the base has grown to produce 1.5 million units in seven years, generating over 150 billion yuan ($20.83 billion) in output value, contributing more than 11 billion yuan in taxes, creating nearly 50,000 jobs, and attracting over 50 core supporting enterprises. This achievement has formed an industrial cluster worth 100 billion yuan, providing strong support for Qingdao's goal to become a global advanced manufacturing hub.

Beyond its industrial impact, FAW-Volkswagen's influence in Qingdao extends further. The East China base has collaborated with local universities and research institutes, conducting extensive research in intelligent manufacturing. Nearly 200 national patents have been filed, pioneering several process technologies nationally, and gaining recognition as a national-level smart manufacturing factory.

With investments of nearly 100 million yuan, the base has introduced visual recognition and AI algorithms for dynamic optimization of production energy consumption. It has become a national green factory and Qingdao's first zero-waste factory, positioning the city as an industry leader in intelligent manufacturing and environmental protection.

Celebrating the milestone of 1.5 million vehicles produced at the FAW-Volkswagen East China base, Dr. Gu Yunbin, vice-president of Technology at FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co Ltd, outlined the company's future product plans. Starting from 2026, FAW-Volkswagen will produce 11 new models tailored exclusively for the Chinese market by the Volkswagen Group, including 10 new energy vehicle models. FAW-Volkswagen will also focus on design, ensuring products better meet Chinese consumer demands.