Foreign car makers eager for Chinese market, cooperation with Chinese NEV partners

Aiming to consolidate their position in China, the world's most competitive and largest auto market, foreign car makers came to this year's Beijing auto show with their latest new energy vehicles and are eagerly digging into the opportunities for cooperation with Chinese NEV producers.

The auto show, also knowns as 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, an A-list event continuing through May 4, has showcased an unprecedented number of new energy vehicles (NEVs), with 278 distinct NEV models on display, reflecting the growing dominance of NEVs in the auto industry.

The impressive display of NEVs also highlights the eagerness of car makers to meet market demand for environmentally friendly products, whether they are Chinese or foreign manufacturers.

At the show, the German auto giant Audi unveiled its first fully-electric model tailored for the Chinese market, while Mercedes-Benz also debuted its all-electric SUV.

In addition to rolling out new models, foreign automakers are enthusiastically seeking for Chinese partners and announcing a series of groundbreaking tie-ups with Chinese tech groups to adapt to market shifts.

Japan's leading carmaker Toyota last week at the show unveiled its partnership with Chinese technology company Tencent to improve the artificial intelligence, cloud computing and big data for its electric vehicles sold in China.

Meanwhile, Japanese carmaker Nissan and China's leading search engine Baidu have agreed to carry out research on AI and explore the feasibility of commercial cooperation, according to a memorandum they two signed on April 25. The memorandum will also allow the Japanese carmaker to use Baidu's AI solutions in its vehicles sold in China.

Foreign car makers eager for Chinese market, cooperation with Chinese NEV partners

Foreign car makers eager for Chinese market, cooperation with Chinese NEV partners

Foreign car makers eager for Chinese market, cooperation with Chinese NEV partners

Foreign car makers eager for Chinese market, cooperation with Chinese NEV partners

Foreign car makers eager for Chinese market, cooperation with Chinese NEV partners

Foreign car makers eager for Chinese market, cooperation with Chinese NEV partners

The restricted rescue capacity of the local civil defense department due to the war has compelled local residents to rescue their loved ones trapped beneath the debris with their bare hands in Zeitoun Neighborhood in the south of Gaza City.

Israeli military operations in Gaza led to widespread destruction of buildings and a significant rise in civilian casualties.

In Zeitoun, no intact buildings remain in sight. Amidst the wreckage, survivors painstakingly comb through ruined buildings and debris, desperately searching for their lost homes and families.

The continuous bombs from the Israeli army impeded the evacuation of local people.

"We couldn't contact my child's family or his neighbors at all. After the situation calmed down, we came here and tried to rescue them from the ruins, but we couldn't make it. Today, we brought some simple tools, but only one child was rescued. We couldn't save the rest because the situation here is too difficult," said a local resident.

Israeli army's prolonged military operations weakened Gaza's civil defense, resulting in restricted capabilities. A total of 69 rescue workers died in Israeli attacks by far.

The lack of fuel recently further hampers civil defense and rescue efforts.

"Due to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, there is currently an obvious shortage of civil defense personnel. The biggest problem we face is the lack of equipment, which prevents us from rescuing missing people under the ruins. The Israeli army usually bombs the roofs of buildings (leading to building collapse), which requires professional large machines and equipment such as trucks and excavators," said Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for the Civil Defense Service in the Gaza Strip.

With no other option, some survivors had to save their family members and friends by their own hands.

"Young people volunteer for rescue, using the simplest tools such as hoes, axes and pliers. We can at least lift out the bodies, including women and children, so that their families can identify and bury them," said another local resident.

People in Gaza exhaust efforts in rescuing family members in Israel-ruined buildings

People in Gaza exhaust efforts in rescuing family members in Israel-ruined buildings