China's manufacturing fuels global tech innovation

At Volkswagen Anhui's MEB plant, highly intelligent production lines have made the factory one of the group's most advanced worldwide.

"By 2030, we'll launch around 50 all-electric and electrified models in this market. All intelligent. All connected. All equipped with the latest driver assistance and automation tech," said Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen Group. "Backed by close partnerships with strong local players, we can move 30 percent faster from idea to product. The result: We're not just planning. We're delivering."

For multinational auto parts supplier Marelli, China's strong manufacturing and innovation capabilities are enabling both local and global growth.

"China's manufacturing and innovation capabilities allow us to provide customized and fast-to-market solutions for local customers, while also leveraging China's innovation and manufacturing strengths to support global projects," said Stefano Petrilli, global head of operations at Marelli Propulsion.

Since entering China in 1999, Marelli has built eight R&D centers and 17 factories across the country, employing about 5,000 people in areas ranging from propulsion systems to lighting.

Today, advanced manufacturing is becoming a major driver for foreign investment in China. In 2024, the country's actual use of foreign direct investment totaled 826.25 billion yuan (about $116.16 billion), with high-tech manufacturing accounting for 96.29 billion yuan of that total, or 11.7 percent, according to the Ministry of Commerce of China.

China's advanced manufacturing capacity has become a key magnet for global industrial innovation and a vital engine for high-quality global industrial growth, said Zhang Xianfeng, a professor at Hefei University of Technology's School of Economics.