On July 11, the 23rd Changchun International Auto Expo (hereinafter referred to as the Changchun Auto Expo) will kick off at the Changchun Northeast Asia International Expo Center. This year's Changchun Auto Expo coincides with the 70th anniversary of China's first automobile rolling off the assembly line. Under the theme "Together Towards Innovation," the keyword "together" precisely captures the essence of this "Automobile City": it embodies the deep bond, symbiosis, and mutual prosperity between Changchun and the auto industry, as well as the commitment of China's auto industry to moving forward hand in hand with global partners.

Together with the History

From Rolling Wheels to Urban DNA

On July 13, 1956, China ended its days of being unable to manufacture automobiles independently.

On the final assembly line of the First Automobile Works (FAW), the first Jiefang truck slowly rolled out. The next day, the first batch of 12 Jiefang trucks, ceremonially decorated, paraded through Changchun's streets to bring the good news to local citizens.

"Red flags lined the streets amid the thunderous sounds of gongs and drums. Crowds gathered along the roads, showering the trucks with sorghum, corn, and millet, symbols of a bumper harvest," recalled a former FAW employee who witnessed the event firsthand.

The whole nation yearned for the completion of FAW, and crowds flocked to admire the Jiefang vehicles. Such universal anticipation and public excitement are an expression of gratitude for Changchun's support for FAW's construction, and a vivid testament to the deep integration between the city's development and its automotive industry.

Over the past seven decades, Changchun's automotive spirit originating from a single factory has become embedded in the city's DNA.

From the first Jiefang truck, and the first Dongfeng sedan to the Hongqi state limousine and today's hundred-billion-yuan industrial cluster, this city has not only created automotive memories, but also nurtured a humanistic spirit woven into its fabric.

Thanks to its profound strengths, the Changchun Auto Expo has grown from a 35,000-square-meter exhibition in 1999 to a grand 170,000-square-meter industry event—an annual festival cherished by local residents.

Together with the Industry

From the Cradle of China's Auto Industry to a Hub of Innovation

"Together" is not merely about the time-honored automotive tradition, but more about the confidence to embrace the future.

Changchun is propelling a vast industrial cluster of 1,034 auto parts enterprises toward becoming a leading hub for intelligent connected new energy vehicles (NEVs). Named a "national advanced manufacturing cluster", the Changchun Automotive Cluster is China's only comprehensive automotive cluster based in a single city.

At the Audi FAW NEV Company's Plant, located in Changchun International Automobile City, 824 robots work in coordination in the body shop, achieving 100 percent welding automation. In its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–30), Changchun sets out a clear vision to accelerate the transformation of its auto industry into new energy and intelligent connected vehicles, with new energy vehicle expected to account for 60 percent of the city's total automobile output, contributing to a world-class advanced automobile manufacturing cluster by 2030.

The solid industrial foundation will be demonstrated at this year's Changchun Auto Expo, where 53 leading automakers and more than 1,000 vehicles will gather. Over 20 new models will make their Northeast China debut, while three new automotive brands will make their first appearances in Changchun.

Meanwhile, the China FAW Museum, scheduled to open in July, will showcase 150 classic models and more than 1,000 pieces of historical artifacts, tracing the remarkable journey from Jiefang trucks to Hongqi cars, and from traditional to intelligent manufacturing.

Inside and outside the expo, Changchun is demonstrating to the world—through cutting-edge technologies and profound industrial strengths—that its identity as an "Automobile City" remains as strong as ever.

Together with the Automotive Culture

The Changchun Auto Expo Drives Citywide Celebration

Culture is the soul of the industrial infrastructure. The Changchun Auto Expo serves as the most vivid testament to Changchun's automobile culture, and the finest vehicle with which the concept of "together" extends from the exhibition halls to the city's streets and neighborhoods.

Since its debut in 1999, the Changchun Auto Expo has been not just an exhibition, but rather an automobile-themed carnival drawing citywide participation.

Although the first expo covered only 35,000 square meters, it attracted nearly 500,000 visitors and hosted the China Rally, which was a top-level motorsport event in Asia at that time. From then on, "going to the auto show" became a habit for Changchun residents and a major draw for visitors from other cities to travel to Changchun.

The Changchun Auto Expo has also become an annual celebration that links automobiles and local residents.

This year, the Changchun Auto Expo has added the Arbitrarily River sub-venue for the first time. It combines vintage car displays, RV camping experiences, trunk markets, and a pink beach leisure area, turning automobile culture from something merely to be "seen" into something to be truly "experienced." A classic vintage car parade will once again roll through the streets of Changchun.

Seventy years ago, a celebration motorcade drew huge crowds out into the streets. Seventy years later, these historical vehicles will once again roll down the familiar streets and lanes, evoking shared emotions across generations of Changchun residents.

Together with the World

Driving to the World from Changchun

"Together" ultimately means mutual prosperity across the globe.

During this year's expo, the organizing committee will bring together representatives from 15 Belt and Road Initiative partner countries and more than 60 leaders from overseas chambers of commerce, building a bridge for transnational auto industry cooperation and facilitating targeted matchmaking in complete vehicle export, distribution of automotive parts, and cultural tourism promotion.

From "the over 500 people sent abroad for training" in 1956 to products exported to more than 100 countries and regions today, and from the cradle of China's automotive industry to a powerhouse of the global automotive landscape, Changchun's "partnership network" keeps expanding, and the road that we share grows ever wider.

Together, we keep moving forward.

From "the whole nation yearning for the completion of FAW" to "Together Towards Innovation," the times have changed, but what remains unchanged is the inseparable bond between Changchun and the automobile industry.

The city and the industry empower one another, advancing side by side in shared glory. This represents the deep-rooted tradition of Changchun, the "Automobile City," and its unwavering confidence as it strides toward the future.

Source: Xinhua News App  Editor: Liu Jiadi