The "Made-in-Wuhan, Global Journey" event takes place in Paris on April 14, 2026 (local time). Photo: screenshot from People's Daily Online

Nearly 200 guests from the Chinese and European vehicle industries gathered in Paris on Tuesday local time at an event called "Made-in-Wuhan, Global Journey" to engage in in-depth discussions on green transformation, technological innovation, supply chain optimization, and industrial chain collaboration.  

A number of major cooperation agreements and overseas orders were signed on the spot, according to media reports on Wednesday.

More than 10 Wuhan-made new-energy intelligent connected vehicles were displayed at Paris International University City. Companies including Dongfeng Motor, XPeng Motors, and Lotus presented their brands and showcased their latest EV and intelligent vehicle models and technologies, according to Hubei Fabu, an official account of Central China's Hubei Province. Wuhan is the capital city of Hubei.

Significant cooperation outcomes were achieved on the spot. Dongfeng Motor secured a batch order for more than 1,000 vehicles, while Lotus signed a formal cooperation agreement with a European dealer, according to Hubei Fabu.

The Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone also reached cooperation agreements with leading European automotive supply chain companies including Valeo, German global automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen AG, and FIAMM Energy Technology, further expanding China-Europe collaboration in the automotive industry chain.

"This successful batch export of Wuhan-made vehicles and deepened cooperation with leading European parts suppliers sets a benchmark for building a stable and mutually beneficial new automotive ecosystem between China and Europe," Zhang Xiang, a visiting professor in the engineering department of Huanghe Science and Technology University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The event also held the "Electric Vehicle Forum and Exhibition seeking Sino-European Cooperation and Partnerships," which focused on deep integration between the Chinese and European automotive industries.

Liu Ziqing, an official of the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone, stated in his speech at the forum that "holding this event in Paris aims to deepen industrial ties and promote practical cooperation between China and Europe."

Recently, Stellantis Vice Chairman Robert Peugeot visited Wuhan and expressed his intention to explore a new paradigm for China-France joint ventures, said Liu.

Clara Ingen-Housz, global corporate affairs and communication officer at Stellantis, said at the forum that China has become an important leader in global automotive industry development, bringing broad opportunities for growth and cooperation between China and Europe, according to a report by people.com on Wednesday.

Wuhan has proven to be a highly competitive export base for the group, per the report.

Representatives from ZF and other companies expressed their commitment to deepening their presence in China and advancing joint research and development (R&D), according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former French Prime Minister, highlighted at the forum the significant potential for cooperation between France and China in the fields of new energy and intelligent connected vehicles. He encouraged Chinese companies to expand their operations in France and European companies to become more integrated into China's open value chains, according to media reports.

Zhang noted that China-Europe automotive cooperation is shifting from traditional manufacturing to comprehensive collaboration in new-energy, intelligence, and supply chain security, with strong complementarity between the two sides.

Mark Raoul, head of operations of Lotus West Europe, said that the majority of vehicles currently sold by the brand in Europe are manufactured in Wuhan, according to people.com. Lotus was acquired by Geely in 2017 and established a production base in Wuhan.

In terms of technology, such as the 1,000-volt high-voltage architecture, advanced driver assistance systems, and platform development, the company benefited greatly from Geely's expertise. In terms of the industrial ecosystem, Wuhan serves as a vital technology hub for the company. The factories in Wuhan feature world-class automation levels and manufacturing processes, said Raoul.

According to Hubei Fabu, France is a major European industrial and technological hub with world-renowned brands such as Peugeot and Citroën, boasting strong advantages in automotive design, R&D, high-end manufacturing, and low-carbon transformation. 

Wuhan is the city with the densest French investment and closest economic ties in Central China. Its automotive industry is one of Hubei's five trillion-yuan ($146.6 billion) pillar industries.

Known as China's "Auto Valley," the Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone serves as a key platform for China-France automotive cooperation. Wuhan has attracted 11 complete vehicle manufacturers, 15 vehicle production plants, and more than 1,000 automotive parts suppliers, including Dongfeng Peugeot-Citroën, Dongfeng Honda, Voyah, M-Hero, and SAIC-GM.