Sun Ya, Deputy Mayor of Wuhan: Automobiles Surpass Iron and Steel into Wuhan's Primary Industry
October 08 11:05:28, 2025
Changchun, China News Service – July 15th (Reporter Wu Zhaofei) At the 5th Changchun Motor Show, Sun Ya, vice mayor of Wuhan, shared insights into the city's booming automotive industry. He revealed that in 2006, the output value of Wuhan’s auto sector reached 54 billion yuan, marking a historic milestone as the automobile industry surpassed the steel industry to become the city's top economic pillar.
Wuhan has long been known for its strong steel manufacturing base, with the Wuhan Iron and Steel Group, established in 1958, being one of the largest steel complexes in New China. However, the city's automotive journey began in 1992 with the establishment of a joint venture between Citroën (a subsidiary of the French PSA Group) and Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. This marked the beginning of Wuhan's rapid growth in the auto sector.
In 2003, the city further solidified its position by welcoming the Dongfeng Nissan joint venture, which was then the largest in the Chinese automotive industry. The relocation of Dongfeng’s headquarters to Wuhan helped establish the city as a key player in China’s automotive triangle. In August 2006, Wuhan was honored as one of the first national auto parts production bases, signaling its growing importance in the industry.
Sun Ya emphasized that Wuhan holds a unique advantage in developing its automobile industry. Its strategic location, just 1,000 kilometers from major cities like Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing, gives it a strong market reach and distribution capability. Additionally, the national strategy to promote the development of central China offers Wuhan a golden opportunity to become a key economic hub in the region.
With a solid industrial foundation, Wuhan is home to major enterprises like Wuhan Iron and Steel, which provide essential raw materials for the auto parts and components industry. Looking ahead, the city aims to build a one-million-vehicle production capacity by 2010, with an output value exceeding 70 billion yuan, further cementing its status as a leading automotive center in China.