Introduction

　　The dream of the auto industry and the dream of a megacity

　　On May 16, 2013, a cooperative project was officially signed by the Municipal Government, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd., Yichang Base of ZX Auto Co Ltd, which signified the formal settlement of these two companies in Yichang. Meanwhile a SUV rolled off the assembly line on the same day. On Dec. 21, 2013, the first ZX C3 (made in Yichang) was released in Hubei, Chongqing, Henan, Hunan, Guangxi, and other places synchronously, which is a real breakthrough in Yichang’s automobile industry.

　　Today, the rise of Yichang’s automobile industry has undoubtedly become a powerful catalyst for economy development and a strong pillar for the “Golden Triangle” of automobile industry in Hubei Province.

　　Experts settled in Yichang for the development of the automobile industry

　　Zhao Zhixing, one of the founders of Hebei ZX Auto Company who has been working in the company for over 40 years and came to Yichang for the establishment of new branch in 2010, said that there were only several small hills and around 20 workers in total when he first came to the construction site.

　　He said the local company finally developed into a large manufacturer with a staff of 1500 by the unremitting efforts of 20 workers. Now he has already shifted from production to technical guidance.

　　Zhao Zhixing guided the reporter through the first production line which is divided into four workshops-pressing workshop, welding workshop, painting workshop and assembly workshop. All the workers are skillful. One screen showed the total output of that day was 55 cars, which was the statistical cars rolled off the production line. “The production line is very advanced in China; it can produce one car in every 3 minutes if it operates at full load.” Zhao said.

　　He also told the reporter, after the launch of C3 (made in Yichang) on Dec. 21, 2013; the production quotient continues to rise. Recently, more than 2000 cars would be released.

　　Yichang is full of confidence about the automobile industry

　　Before Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. and ZX Auto Company established their branches in Yichang, this city was not included as one of the automobile industry bases (Shiyan, Xingfan, Wuhan) planned by Hubei Province,

　　Automobile and auto parts industry has already become the true “Primary Industry” in Hubei Province. High economic output and the tax contribution along with it brought the whole province confidence to develop their own automobile industry.

　　Yichang, neighboring to Hubei Province automobile industry, the true “Primary Industry” in Hubei Province which brought high economic output and tax contribution, giving whole province the confidence to develop their own automobile industry, began to engage in automobile manufacturing in 2010 when Yichang Yangtze River Vehicle Limited Company invested 2 billion yuan to build the Yangtze River Automobile Industrial Park where a special automobile production line with annual output of 100,000 cars was built, starting the first step of Yichang’s auto industry. The Project of ZX Auto Company Base ranked as “Major Project to Change Yichang’s Industrial Structure” by Yichang Municipal Committee and Government.

　　Yichang is building its six “One Hundred Billion Industries” at present. Will automobile industry become the 7th “One Hundred Billion Industry”?  Yichang is full of confidence in this.

　　The automobile industry development road is the road to the megacity dream

　　ZX Auto Company’s moving into Yichang filled the blank of no automobile manufacturing. The win-win co-operation of Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. and ZXauto Co Ltd will become a milestone in the automobile industry of Yichang and even of Hubei Province.

　　Up to present, all famous automobile manufacturers in China have gathered in Hubei province such as China FAW Group Corporation, the Second Automobile Works, the Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation and the Guangzhou Auto Group Co.

　　Automobile industry has become a new source of economic growth for Yichang, contributing new driving force to building a modern megacity of Yichang, accelerating the development of equipment manufacturing industry, adjusting and optimizing industrial structure and enhancing the building of sub-central city. Yichang will become a strong pillar of the “Golden Triangle” of the automobile industry in Hubei and strengthen the city competitiveness.

　　For the people striving in this city, it has brought not only new job opportunities but also broader life space.

　　Pioneering and innovation in the development of the automobile industry has left deep footprints in realizing the Yichang Megacity Dream.

　　Being energetic and innovative is the most charming stance of the city.