Unmanned era beckons auto sector

WITH technological and industrial transformation being the driving forces, China’s automotive industry is becoming more automated and intelligent.

An automobile logistics company in southwest China’s Chongqing, an industrial city and automobile production hub, is using driverless tractors to transport goods.

These tractors can help improve transfer efficiency by 30 percent, saving around 3 million yuan (US$460,000) each year for the company.

“In recent years, our company has been transforming and upgrading itself into a smart logistics enterprise. Efficiency has since increased by over 30 percent, thanks to multiple unmanned operation technologies, including automated forklifts,” said Li Xiang, Intelligent Equipment R&D Manager of Changan Minsheng APLL Logistics Co.

In addition to transportation, the manufacturing industry is also embracing the unmanned era. In the Liangjiang No.2 Factory of Chinese automaker Changan Automobile, robots and robotic arms dominate the floor, with few workers responsible for running and maintaining the equipment.

The latest technologies have helped the factory double its production efficiency while cutting the labor force by nearly 50 percent. “The product quality has dramatically improved with the help of automatic welding robots and other equipment,” said Chen Keqi, a staff member at the factory. “The advent of technologies has also enhanced the safety of our vehicles.”