Volkswagen Photo: CFP

As China moves to adjust its coronavirus management measures, several multinational automobile enterprises recently informed the Global Times that they are arranging for their global senior executives to visit China.

The Global Times learned from multiple sources that Oliver Blume, CEO of Volkswagen Group and Porsche is planning to visit China soon. He is to visit Porsche's China headquarters located in Shanghai on January 31 and then go to Volkswagen's Chinese headquarters in Beijing on February 2.

This will be his first visit to China after he was appointed as Volkswagen CEO. 

Porsche has informed its German headquarters of China's new policies on coronavirus management. This week, Porsche is expected to hold a meeting to discuss matters about its board members' coming to China to attend the Auto Shanghai 2023. Porsche China has already started to apply for visas for its board members.

Similarly, Adrian Mardell, interim CEO of Jaguar Land Rover and his team have put a trip to China on their agenda. Their Chinese team told the Global Times that Jaguar Land Rover's global board of directors has repeatedly expressed their desire to visit China in the past few years to experience the world's most dynamic market in person.

The Global Times also learned that Ola Källenius, chairman of the management board of the Mercedes-Benz Group, has plans to visit China, though details of the visit have not been disclosed. 

A German car parts company also told the Global Times that with the optimization of the COVID-19 policies and the recovery of the automobile industry, the company's senior executives are planning to attend Auto Shanghai in 2023 to keep up with the world's most advanced technologies.

China's automobile market has performed well and showed strong resilience last year despite blows from the coronavirus pandemic. According to data revealed by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China produced 24.6 million cars in the first 11 months of 2022, up 6.1 percent. The country sold 24.3 million cars during that period, up 3.3 percent on a yearly basis.

Staff from Hyundai Motor Group China also told the Global Times that the new policies will make it easier for more senior executives and teams from the company's headquarters to visit China, which will make communication between the company's global headquarters and the Chinese market more efficient.
Shu Jueting, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), told a press conference on Friday that a number of foreign companies are planning their senior executives' visits to China, to resume relevant projects and seek new investment opportunities in China, after the country optimized its epidemic prevention measures.

She also said that China's move to optimize and adjust its epidemic prevention and control measures has been widely welcomed by foreign enterprises and foreign business associations in China. 

"We will continue to expand market access for foreign investors, ensure fair treatment for foreign companies and create more convenient conditions for foreign investment in China," Shu said.

Global Times