On July 22, BAIC FOTON held its Overseas Light-Duty Commercial Vehicle Supplier Forum in Zhucheng, Shandong, under the theme “Connecting the World, Sharing the Future.” The event was hosted by Wu Xiangqiu, Deputy Director of BAIC FOTON’s Procurement Center, and aimed to bring together key supplier partners to discuss the future of the overseas light-duty commercial vehicle business and jointly build a global supply chain ecosystem.Company leaders, including Dai Hongkai, Party Secretary of BAIC FOTON Overseas, and Yu Zhiguo, President of the Truck Manufacturing Center, attended the forum alongside representatives from 80 core suppliers in the light commercial vehicle sector.
Seizing a Historic Opportunity, Shaping a Global Vision
As the global automotive industry undergoes profound transformation and China enters a historic window for vehicle exports, BAIC FOTON, guided by its “GREEN 3030” strategy, is working hand-in-hand with its supplier partners to achieve remarkable progress in overseas markets. In 2024, overseas sales exceeded 153,000 units, with three major production hubs in Thailand, Brazil, and South Africa now fully operational. Construction of six additional bases in regions including Europe and South America is also set to begin soon.
As a key growth driver in BAIC FOTON’s global strategy, the light-duty commercial vehicle business continues to lead among Chinese brands in sales of light and mini trucks. With expanding market opportunities ahead, BAIC FOTON is striving to evolve from a “market participant” to a “co-creator of value” by leveraging a diversified product lineup and accelerating the adoption of new energy technologies.
Strategic Guidance and Collaborative Innovation
At the forum, Jiang Yanlei, Vice President of BAIC FOTON Overseas, delivered the Overseas Light-Duty Commercial Vehicle Business Strategy Report. He provided an in-depth analysis of BAIC FOTON’s global market strategy, multi-platform product portfolio, and roadmap for new energy technologies. Jiang emphasized key priorities such as network expansion, direct sales and service models, and localization of the supply chain—demonstrating BAIC FOTON’s strategic focus and innovative drive as it moves from being a leading Chinese brand to a world-class player.
Yu Zhiguo, President of the Truck Manufacturing Center, delivered a report on Factory Quality and Delivery Performance, outlining BAIC FOTON’s robust efforts to meet the diverse quality demands of overseas markets. These include building a differentiated quality management system, implementing “one item, one code” error-proofing, establishing 37 anti-corrosion process standards, and enforcing the “Three 100%” control measures for KD parts procurement—resulting in a 100% order fulfillment rate.Yu also addressed ongoing challenges, candidly highlighting areas where supplier partners need to improve, such as lab certification, process assurance capabilities, and KD parts management. He called for closer collaboration to overcome these hurdles together.
Uniting Partner Strengths to Explore New Global Frontiers
During the business exchange session, representatives from over ten supplier partners spoke candidly, engaging in direct and meaningful dialogue with BAIC FOTON’s management team. They shared their collaboration experiences with BAIC FOTON and offered insights on future global business opportunities—highlighting the strength of synergy within the supply chain ecosystem.
Sun Wenyu, Deputy Director of the Quality Management Department, shared BAIC FOTON’s expectations for its partners from a quality management perspective—covering quality, technology, and delivery performance. He emphasized the importance of a global mindset among suppliers, urging them to proactively address extreme environmental challenges and adapt to varying regulations across countries.To meet these demands, suppliers are encouraged to strengthen their testing capabilities, upgrade their three-tier validation systems, and establish market-oriented mechanisms. He also called for the formation of quality alliances in key markets to build fast-response feedback loops and to strictly adhere to change management protocols.”Quality is the cornerstone of BAIC FOTON’s globalization strategy,”Sun said. “Success in global competition can only be achieved through joint efforts and shared commitment from all partners.”
Charting the Course, Embarking on a New Journey Together
In the closing remarks of the forum, Dai Hongkai, Party Secretary of BAIC FOTON Overseas, delivered a keynote speech. Framing BAIC FOTON’s overseas light-duty commercial vehicle strategy within the broader context of the global automotive industry’s transformation and the historic opportunity presented by China’s export growth, he positioned BAIC FOTON’s development goals under the lens of the national “dual circulation” strategy and its own ambition of reaching global sales of one million units.Dai outlined a clear transformation path centered on full internationalization, full electrification, and full intelligence.
Regarding the light commercial vehicle business, Mr. Dai emphasized several key initiatives:In terms of refining the product strategy, BAIC FOTON will significantly expand its lineup of specialized vehicles, actively developing products such as dump trucks, sanitation vehicles, and tow trucks. By offering differentiated configurations, the company aims to capture a larger share of the market.On building a benchmark after-sales ecosystem, BAIC FOTON plans to create a comprehensive lifecycle service system that covers after-sales service and spare parts, operational leasing, financial services, loV, and used vehicle operations, ensuring strong customer experiences and driving brand loyalty.Mr. Dai also stressed that suppliers must tackle persistent quality issues at the root, ensuring timely delivery and smooth project execution. BAIC FOTON aims to build a partnership model based on shared risk and mutual benefit. Outstanding suppliers will be given priority access to BAIC FOTON’s overseas growth opportunities, working together to expand in global markets.
In the afternoon, the forum continued with three breakout sessions focused on key areas: Product/Orders/Quality, Service & Parts, and Procurement. These sessions allowed for more in-depth discussions and targeted collaboration.
The success of this forum was not only a reflection on the achievements of past strategic partnerships but also a significant milestone in deepening mutual trust and shared understanding between BAIC FOTON and its global supplier partners. It marks the beginning of a new chapter in BAIC FOTON’s journey toward global expansion.Looking ahead, BAIC FOTON remains committed to a customer-centric approach and guided by its core values of”To Do, To Try, To Win”. With the strategic vision of becoming a world-class enterprise, BAIC FOTON will continue to work hand-in-hand with global partners—using innovation as the brush and quality as the ink—to write a powerful new chapter of Chinese intelligent manufacturing in the global commercial vehicle landscape.
