Dong Yang: Joint Development of Technology

　　Editor's Note: With the coming of the 57th anniversary of Chinese auto industry, the Seventh Changchun International Auto Show embraced a grand opening on July 15. The Society of Automotive Engineers of China will hold its annual meeting during the auto show. As a high-level and comprehensive academic exchange activity in Chinese auto industry, the annual meeting of Society of Automotive Engineers of China has provided an important platform for technology workers who are engaged in automotive industry and other related industries. After years of careful cultivation, the annual meeting has become an international academic event. Sohu Auto held an exclusive interview with Dong Yang, the Secretary General of China Association of Automobile during the annual meeting.

　　Society of Automotive Engineers of China is committed to the mutual exchanges in terms of the development of automotive technologies.

　　Sohu Auto: What do you think about the contributions made by Society of Automotive Engineers of China to the development of Chinese auto industry?

　　Dong Yang: The contributions made by Society of Automotive Engineers of China to the development of Chinese auto industry include several aspects.

　　First of all, Society of Automotive Engineers of China plays a vital role in promoting the development of technologies in China's auto industry. Society of Automotive Engineers of China is an organization for engineers and it is the most important institution or organization in the field of technologies. Therefore over years Society of Automotive Engineers of China is committed to the mutual exchanges in terms of the development of automotive technologies. The exchanges include those ones with other countries and internal communication, publicity, popularization of scientific knowledge, in which the Society plays a very important role.

　　Second, as to some key and core technologies, the Society of Automotive Engineers of China has carried out communication through joint development. Joint development is certainly an effective form. However, joint development only fits in specific conditions. Not all the technologies can be developed via that way. For some technologies, only the former part of research can reach the level of joint development. In the final stage the manufacturer has to rely on itself. Joint development plays a very significant role to promote the development of China's auto industry. For example, joint development has made great contributions to the development of technologies of electronic fuel injection. As to the setting of emission standards, joint development was of great importance as well.

　　Sohu Auto: What kind of level is Chinese automotive parts industry in? Are there any serious problems which have to be dealt with as soon as possible?

　　Dong Yang: At present I think China's auto parts industry should grow stronger. If China aims at becoming an automotive power, we need to have a first-class auto industry. Vehicle industry and auto parts industry should form a strategic relationship of cooperation. We should improve the quality of auto parts, self-development capacity and simultaneous development of vehicles.

　　Government should promote the development of automakers rather than produce products by itself.

　　Sohu Auto: What kinds of roles is government, automakers and research institutions are playing respectively?

　　Dong Yang: In accordance with market economy, government should promote the development of automakers and encourage research institutions to achieve scientific outcomes and transfer the progress into productivity. Government should not produce vehicles by itself. Now China has become the largest auto market in the world. When the market grows bigger, enterprises will enjoy better conditions, which is actually a common sense. We will use this market and help Chinese automakers improve their technological capabilities and competitiveness.

　　Electric car industry should grow bigger.

　　Sohu Auto: Currently Chinese electric car industry grows rapidly. At the same time government has issued a lot of incentive policies. What do you think about the promotion of new energy vehicles?

　　Dong Yang: I think the development of industrialization of Chinese electric vehicles is not that fast. In fact, the development is stuck in a state of disorder. Government has not effectively organized the industrialization and each department just has done its own work. Though thunder is loud, there are little rains. I think our progress is not faster than other countries. However, as to the effects of promotion of new energy vehicles, we have done a good job. As an industry, the first task is to form mass production and sales. Then the technologies will become mature and technical progress will be gained.

　　Now the auto market is in best conditions. The development of market will be stable in the second half of 2010.

　　Sohu Auto: What do you think about the development of auto market in the second half of 2010?

　　Dong Yang: The development of auto market in the second half of 2010 will be stable. In terms of the first half of 2010 I think the situation in June was best with 22% to 23% growth rate. That's the best situation. The growth rates in previous months were too high, which was related to the slump in auto market in 2009. Now auto market is in the best situation. I hope the market can maintain suck kind of trend in the second half of 2010. (Translator: Qinghua/Hanxin)

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