Geely setting new benchmarks

Highly automated and flexible assembly lines alongside a consumer-centric strategy have enabled automaker Geely's factory in Guiyang, Guizhou province, to build a unique product portfolio and make inroads in overseas markets, according to a senior manager.

The production plant's first batch of exports－a seven-seat SUV model catering to Filipinos' demands for spaciousness－was exported to the Philippines in October, said Gu Jiangang, deputy general manager of Guizhou Geely Automobile Manufacturing Co Ltd.

"About 700 such cars have been exported there as of recently, and about 600 more are expected to arrive in the Philippines by the end of Jan," Gu said.

"We are also aiming to make a foray into the Middle East in June. Compared to foreign competitors, Geely automobiles will stand out in terms of advanced designs and reasonable prices," he said.

The optimism regarding overseas sales is bolstered by the automaker's robust and versatile production capability, according to the company.

The company's futuristic Guiyang plant is spread over across 68 hectares. It broke ground in late 2015 and went into operation in April 2018. It contains four major facilities responsible for stamping, welding, assembling, painting and final assembly.

"The stamping plant, containing 257 automated machines, has an automation rate of about 75 percent," Gu said. "Altogether, the entire production line can churn out 45 cars per hour."

A hallmark of the factory is its flexibility in producing different types of automobiles at more or less the same pace, he added.

"We are able to manufacture conventional gasoline-powered vehicles as well as cars running on methanol and hybrids. Many Geely factories in the country are designed to produce one specific type of automobile, but we are aiming for a diversified product portfolio from the very beginning at this facility."

To survive and thrive in an industry where technological upgrades, big or small, are being invented and employed rapidly, Gu said the plant has also intensified efforts devoted to research and development, including decoding emerging trends in the market and improving hardware.

When the COVID-19 pandemic halted production at the plant for a brief period last year, Gu said more attention was devoted to hammering out details in the design and production of new models, paving the way for the smooth rollout of a new model in June.

"Thankfully, the factory began to resume production on Feb 20 and fully returned to normal by March," he said.

Nestled in the picturesque and pristine hills of Guiyang, Gu said the company is envisioning partnerships with colleges in the region to nurture more local talent in the automobile industry. At the moment, there are about 2,500 employees at the plant, with 90 percent of them natives of Guizhou province.