Xinhua News Agency Changchun, August 15, title: Automobile "cradle" continues to innovate into the future

Xinhua News Agency reporters Xu Chang and Li Dian

In August, the weather was clear, and the factory area of China FAW Group Co., Ltd. (formerly the First Automobile Factory) in Changchun City, Jilin Province was full of greenery. Shortly after FAW’s 70th birthday, the factory area was in full swing, with machines roaring and freight vehicles passing through the factory area and workshop.

The picture shows that on July 15, the 55.77 million car produced by FAW was held at the 70th anniversary celebration of FAW in China. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yan Linyun

Here is the starting point of New China’s automobile industry. On July 15, 1953, the first automobile factory was laid in Changchun, Jilin, and the automobile industry of New China began. The first car "Liberation", the first car "Dongfeng", and the first high-end car "Hongqi" rolled off the production line here one after another, and one "first" in the history of New China’s automobile industry was born.

The picture shows the first Jiefang brand car driving off the assembly line on July 13, 1956 (file photo). Xinhua News Agency

Walking on Dongfeng Street in Changchun Automobile Economic and Technological Development Zone, in front of the "No. 1 Gate of the First Automobile Factory", you will see the white marble cornerstone engraved with the words "Memorial to the Founding of the First Automobile Factory", as well as the surrounding bucket arch cornices, blue tile red bricks, and beautiful jujube buildings.

The picture shows "Gate 1 of the First Automobile Factory" (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Nan

These early FAW buildings were affectionately called "red houses" by the locals. For FAW people, this was not only their place of residence, but also a place of struggle and growth. It reflected the labor scene of "one side of production, one side of life" in the early days of FAW’s construction, and also witnessed the great changes in the development of the automobile industry in New China.

The picture shows the living area of FAW’s "red house" (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Chang

In 2018, the First Automobile Factory was included in the first batch of China’s industrial heritage protection list.

Over the years, the old factory with a history of 70 years has not been eliminated. Over the years, the old factory has been renovated many times to meet the needs of modern production, adding new production lines, new equipment, and upgrading new technologies, giving it a new lease of life.

Walking into the FAW Jiefang stamping workshop where the die fitter Feng Bin works, the production lines are running at high speed. According to the introduction, this stamping workshop was built in 1954. In the fifth compartment, an old-fashioned press with a sense of age stands out. This press was installed in the body factory of the First Automobile Factory in 1955 and put into use in July 1956. It has been nearly 70 years.

At first, this press produced front fenders and other products for the first generation of liberation cars, and now it is used to produce interior panels for existing models such as the J6. It is in good working condition. In 2010, the press was refurbished and updated in line with the current production process.

The picture shows Feng Bin (left) checking the working status of the stamping machine. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xu Chang

Old equipment refurbishment, automation transformation… Although the Jiefang stamping workshop is still in the old factory, earth-shaking changes have taken place inside, and the equipment and technology are constantly innovating.

In the final assembly workshop of Hongqi Factory H, which was not far from Jiefang Stamping Workshop and completed the renovation and upgrade in 2019, the mechanical arm on the production line is waving and operating, and the AGV handling robot passes through it. There are intelligent machines in all production processes. According to the relevant person in charge, the workshop currently has 80% intelligent workstations, and the production efficiency and product quality have been improved.

The picture shows the welding robot welding the body on the production line in the welding workshop of FAW Hongqi Prosperity Factory. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yan Linyun

After 70 years of development, FAW has established five production bases in Northeast China, North China, East China, South China and Southwest China. It has its own brands such as Hongqi, Jiefang and Pentium and joint venture brands such as FAW-Volkswagen and FAW Toyota. The cumulative production and sales of automobiles exceed 55 million. At present, FAW is keeping up with the development trend of electrification and intelligence in the automobile industry, and driving the development of enterprises with high-level technological self-reliance.