The Fourth "Global Connection of Overseas Chinese Automotive Engineers" Successfully Opens

On November 9, 2024, the fourth "Global Connection of Overseas Chinese Automotive Engineers" event opened grandly, attracting automotive technology experts and scholars from around the world. The event focused on the latest trends and future directions in the automotive industry. It was jointly organized by several associations of Chinese automotive engineers across Europe, North America, and Asia, marking an unprecedented scale and receiving widespread attention.

The event was hosted  by the Global Alliance of Overseas Chinese Society Automotive Engineers (GAOCSAE),, co-organized by PASCO (Professional Association of Chinese Scientists and Technology in Austria), Association of Chinese Automobile Engineers in France;  Japan Chinese Society of Automotive Engineers; North American Association of  Chinese Propulsion System Engineers; North American Chinese Society of  Automotive Engineers; Promotion Association for scientific and technical Cooperation between Austria and China; UK Chinese Society of Automotive Engineers; Association of Chinese Automotive Engineers in Germany.

This two-day online event attracted over 40 global automotive technology experts and scholars. They engaged in in-depth discussions on current hot topics in the automotive field, covering the latest trends and future development directions for the automotive industry's expansion into Europe.

The opening was hosted by Mr. Zhu Zhentao, Vice President of PASCO. He reviewed the four-year development journey of the global connection event, highlighting its growing influence and its role as a high-quality platform for industry interaction and knowledge exchange beyond geographic limitations. This was followed by opening remarks from Mr. Guan Qi, the former president of PASCO and chairman of this year’s organizing committee, and Professor XU Hongming, President of UK Chinese Society of Automotive Engineers and President of the GACSAE.   Mr. Zou Daqing, President of the North American Chinese Society of  Automotive Engineers; Mr. Tang Jian, President of the North American Association of  Chinese Propulsion System Engineers; Mr. Zhang Ruizhao, Secretary General of Association of Chinese Automobile Engineers in France; Mr. Qin Yuxue, President of Association of Chinese Automotive Engineers in Germany; and Mr. Xin Ping, President of Japan Chinese Society of Automotive Engineers, also sent their greetings for the event.

Chris Mason, CEO of the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies. (strategic partner FISITA), Kiran Patel, Senior Director of the China-Britain Business Council, and the China Society of Automotive Engineers sent congratulatory videos wishing for the event's success.

During the opening, two distinguished keynote speakers, Ms.Cara Tredget, Vice President of Shell Mobility and Lubricants Technology, and Mr.Andrea Conti, Vice President of ADAS/AD Engineering at AVL List GmbH, delivered insightful opening speeches. They discussed transformative shifts within their respective companies under the industry’s development wave, inspiring change in response to new energy and intelligent automotive trends.

In the following thematic reports session, hosted by Ms. Man Xin, President of the Japanese Association of Chinese Automotive Engineers, Dr. Li Hexuan, an expert in ADAS from Germany OEM, discussed intelligent modeling dimensions in automotive scenarios; Dr. Yang Yu, an automotive semiconductor analyst from Yole Group in France, focused on critical semiconductor technology for intelligent driving assistance; Dr. Zhang Ziqian, professor from Graz University of Technology, Austria, addressed the challenges and opportunities facing electric vehicles and power infrastructure; Dr. Fan Bin, Deputy Chief Engineer of the China Automotive Technology and Research Center's New Energy Vehicle Testing Center (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., shared research and applications in EV charging system testing for user experience improvement; and Dr. Chen Fei, CTO of Shenzhen Shifang  Technology Co., Ltd., analyzed mass production processes for UV printing on cell insulation coatings from a technical perspective. These experts and scholars offered profound insights into current industry trends, technological innovation, and future development from various perspectives, drawing significant audience engagement and interaction.

On the second day, sessions were hosted by Ms. Zhao Le, Secretary General of North American Association of  Chinese Propulsion System Engineers. Prof. Sam Akehurst from the University of Bath opened with "Future Propulsion and Energy Solutions for Hard-to-Electrify Vehicles." Dr. He Xin, Head of Transportation Strategy at Aramco’s Detroit Research Center, presented "Transportation Policies and Regulations in the U.S."; Dr. Mao Ling, Chief Scientist at Steel Research Huapu, discussed the "Development Status and Trends of PEM Electrolysis"; and Dr. Tang Huayin, Head of Electric Products at Li Auto, analyzed the "5C Supercharging and Energy Supplement Experience" of Li Auto MEGA. These high-quality reports pushed the event to its peak, with broad, cutting-edge technical insights and industry development analysis, fostering dynamic audience interaction in the comments.

A key segment followed with the China-Europe roundtable forum, moderated by Dr. Wang Shanjin, President of the Association of Chinese Automobile Engineers in France. Mr. Qiang Shunqiang, General Manager of Xpeng Europe; Mr. Rex Tursun, General Manager of FEST Auto in France; Dr. Yang Yu, Chief Analyst of Automotive Semiconductors at Yole Group in France; Mr. Li Huibin, Asia-Pacific Engineering Director at Aptiv Central Electric (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.; Mr. Liu Yiran, Director of the UK Chinese Society of Automotive Engineers; and expert from Chinese automotive production companies  in European, discussed key issues in automotive manufacturing, export trade, and regulatory policies, particularly on market strategy, technical standards, and brand image.

At the forum's conclusion, participants reached a consensus: China's overseas automotive expansion represents not just commercial growth but also a global showcase of China's manufacturing strength. The European market's high demand for intelligence, electrification, and environmental sustainability aligns with the strengths of Chinese brands. Experts recommended that Chinese automotive companies further collaborate with local European companies and institutions to better adapt to market shifts.

At the close of the event, Ms. Zhou Xiaoying, President of Gasgoo, a strategic partner of this event, attended in person and delivered a speech. She expressed strong support and high praise for the event's role in helping overseas Chinese automotive engineers integrate into the broader development of China's automotive industry. With confidence, she also looked forward to the promising prospects for future cooperation.

The event concluded with a closing speech from Mr. Xu Hongming, Global Alliance President, who emphasized that the event was not only a platform for technical exchange but also a vital driver of international industry cooperation. Guests agreed that the event strengthened global connections in automotive engineering, and they looked forward to more cross-border collaborations in the future. Some corporate representatives expressed their intention to enhance international technical cooperation, accelerate technological upgrades, and meet the complex demands of global markets.

The successful conclusion of this event, which received over 67,000 attendance world-wide, marks a new milestone in global technical exchange for the automotive industry. The organizers expressed their commitment to promoting more global connection events in the future, creating opportunities for industry professionals to learn about cutting-edge technologies and fostering collaboration, thereby supporting sustainable development and intelligent transformation in the global automotive industry.

Edited by the PASCO Professional Association of Chinese Scientists and Technology in Austria