Expats delve into city’s NEVs, smart driving tech

　　The event, titled “Explore Future Transportation — A Field Trip on Intelligent Driving,” was held in Pingshan District on Dec. 18. It was hosted by the Shenzhen Municipal Science, Technology, and Innovation Bureau, the Shenzhen Municipal Foreign Experts Affairs Bureau and the Pingshan District Science, Technology, and Innovation Bureau. A group of 10 expats, including scholars, experts, and entrepreneurs, visited Pingshan District to explore Shenzhen’s growing new energy vehicle (NEV) industry and intelligent driving technology.

　　The first stop was the Bay Area Intelligent Connected Test Field, a land-and-air testing facility designed to provide services and equipment for intelligent connected vehicles and low-altitude aircraft. Shenzhen ranks among the top in China for intelligent connected vehicles. Functional autonomous vehicles have been seen put into pilot operations in various scenarios within the city. “I’m always amazed by the rapid development across so many industries in China. Take Pingshan, for example — they’ve built the large test zone specifically for self-driving cars and other emerging technologies,” Jose Antonio Vigara Alvarez de Perea, a Spanish architect, said. 

　　Their second stop was BYD’s headquarters, where the group viewed its latest NEV models and learned about the SkyRail (BYD’s straddle-beam monorail system) and cutting-edge technologies like the blade battery. This year marks the 30th anniversary of BYD's establishment. Its spirit of daring to think and act boldly, alongside a pursuit of excellence, vividly reflects Shenzhen's pioneering and innovative spirit. “By attending this tour, I was able to see BYD’s manufacturing process firsthand, getting to know the features of different types of cars and their technological innovations,” said American George Allen Griffin Jr., founder of Deng Griffin Consulting. He also mentioned that he gained a deeper understanding of the entire automobile supply chain through demonstrations of four technologies: sheet metal press forming, welding, coating, and general assembly. “I was fascinated by the development of autonomous vehicles,” he added.

　　The final stop was Shenzhen Technology University, where the group attended a presentation by Li Heyan, a professor from the university. The visitors also toured the college’s labs, where they were shown how students build their own electric racing cars.

　　At BYD, the Bay Area Intelligent Connected Test Field, and Shenzhen Technology University, collaborations among enterprises, universities, research institutes, and innovation platforms can be seen in various initiatives. This integration of industries, academia, and research catalyzes ongoing innovation.  

　　As one of the three leading industries in Pingshan, the new energy and ICV sector has seen significant growth and huge potential in recent years. As a national-level new energy vehicle industry base, Pingshan has attracted companies such as BYD, Ebusbar, and Capchem, establishing a complete industrial chain in research and development as well as manufacturing. As China’s first district to enact a district-level regulation on whole-region access for ICVs, Pingshan offers favorable conditions for the development of the ICV industry. Furthermore, Pingshan’s special support for key industries’ innovation has led to notable industry clustering.

　　The event aimed to enable foreign talents to further experience Shenzhen's technological innovation and immerse themselves in the city's research and development progress in the fields of new energy and intelligent driving. It also aimed to promote mutual communication and spark international cooperation by organizing visits for foreign talents to local enterprises and universities, as well as facilitating face-to-face exchanges.