Global Automotive Forum in China hosts over 1,000 participants

The fifth edition of the annual Global Automotive Forum (GAF), which begins today in Wuhan, China, promises to be bigger and better than before.

According to the organisers, there will be over 1,000 participants, including the media, from 18 countries at the 2-day conference (October 16-17). GAF is hosted by the automotive committee of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. The theme for this year’s edition is ‘The Vision for the Transformation of China’s Automotive Industry’.

Given China’s position as the world’s largest producer of automobiles and its growing importance in the global automotive business, key executives from both domestic and international vehicle OEMs and suppliers find it worthwhile to participate in the event, designed especially for the industry.

“The big industry and production base of China helped GAF become so big so fast,” says Wang Xia, chairman, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Automotive Sub-Council. Executives from 15 multinational OEMs are expected to participate in the event.

Top executives of companies like Volvo Cars, Magna, Honda R&D, Toyota (China), Dongfeng, Lear and Valeo will be speaking in the conference. Not surprising then that GAF has grown to be the topmost auto industry conference. “GAF has become one of the top 10 conferences in China and the topmost auto industry conference,” says Wuhan Municipal Government’s senior official, Li Zuoqing. He is also bullish about Wuhan’s growth as an industrial hub. It is already home to 8 automobile OEMs and 300 component makers.

China has seen significant growth in the automotive industry. From a production level of 500,000 vehicles annually around 20 years ago, it has grown to be the world’s largest producer of automobiles. But the country is also finding ways to transform its players to be global. And that is not as easy as expanding production capacity by setting up plants.

Participants at GAF 2014 will come together to find ways to transform the Chinese auto industry. “GAF topics are not only important for the Chinese auto industry but for the global auto industry also,” says Jack Perkowski, founder and managing director, JFP Holdings, an organisation which partners the host body to put together the conference. Not many will doubt that China’s automotive industry has a direct link to the fortunes of the global auto industry.

Autocar Professional, an official media partner of GAF, will bring you all the information from Wuhan. Keep watching this space.