The Intelligent Connected and Electric Vehicle Industrial Park (West Zone) of the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone was officially unveiled and began construction on August 25 in Makou Town, Hanchuan City. The park is jointly built by the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone and Hanchuan City. It aims at a target output value of 10 billion yuan and is designed to strengthen regional industrial coordination, accelerate the development of the Chegu industrial innovation corridor, and add new momentum to cross-regional collaborative development within the Wuhan metropolitan area. The launch places electric vehicle industry collaboration, electric vehicle component manufacturing, and electric vehicle supply-chain integration at the center of a new cross-regional platform.
The park is located in Makou Town, Hanchuan City, about a 30-minute drive from the core industrial area of the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone. It has a planned area of 1.84 square kilometers and will be built in phases. The first opening area carries a total investment of about 1.5 billion yuan and will be developed in two construction phases. The first phase is planned to include production workshops, an research and development office building, living services, and other supporting facilities, with the goal of creating an industrial park with a complete and integrated supporting system. These elements are intended to serve electric vehicle enterprises, electric vehicle parts suppliers, and related electric vehicle technology firms.
The project is not simply a new industrial site. It is a practical example of industrial chain coordination within the Wuhan metropolitan area and a new carrier for electric vehicle industry cooperation between Wuhan and Hanchuan. As an important node in the Han-Xiao-Sui-Xiang-Shi trillion-level automotive industry corridor, Hanchuan is close to Wuhan and connected to Xiaogan. It serves as an important bridgehead for the westward radiation of the Wuhan metropolitan area. By combining the industrial radiation of the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone with the location and cost advantages of Hanchuan, the park explores a collaboration model described as “Wuhan research and development, Hanchuan manufacturing” and “Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone empowerment, Hanchuan bearing.” This model is directly relevant to electric vehicle companies seeking both innovation resources and efficient manufacturing space.
| Project name | Intelligent Connected and Electric Vehicle Industrial Park (West Zone) of the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone |
| Location | Makou Town, Hanchuan City |
| Joint partners | Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone and Hanchuan City |
| Distance from the core industrial area | About a 30-minute drive from the core industrial area of the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone |
| Planned area | 1.84 square kilometers |
| Construction approach | Phased planning and construction |
| First opening area investment | About 1.5 billion yuan in total |
| First phase contents | Production workshops, research and development office building, living services, and other supporting facilities |
| Target output value | 10 billion yuan |
| Core electric vehicle-related fields | Smart cockpit functional materials, automotive interior and exterior trim, electrical system components, body lightweight materials, and chassis system structural parts |
| Same-source emerging industries | Advanced materials, automotive semiconductors, industrial robot components, new-type energy storage equipment, and digital-intelligent home |
| Collaboration model | “Wuhan research and development, Hanchuan manufacturing” and “Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone empowerment, Hanchuan bearing” |
| Operating structure | A joint command center, Hubei Chegu Jinma Investment Co., Ltd., and a working pattern of “one system, one team, integrated operation” |
| First enterprise occupancy | June next year |
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A new electric vehicle industrial platform takes shape in Hanchuan
The unveiling and start of construction mark the beginning of a new electric vehicle industrial platform in Hanchuan. The project is jointly advanced by the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone and Hanchuan City. Its stated purpose is to strengthen regional industrial coordination and support the construction of the Chegu industrial innovation corridor. For the electric vehicle sector, the park offers a dedicated space where electric vehicle parts production, electric vehicle research and development, and electric vehicle-related enterprise services can be organized within one cross-regional framework.
The park is positioned as a carrier for electric vehicle industry collaboration rather than an isolated manufacturing site. Its planned area of 1.84 square kilometers provides room for phased development, while the first opening area is designed to establish the initial production and service functions. The total investment of about 1.5 billion yuan in the first opening area reflects the scale of the initial construction effort. The first phase includes production workshops, a research and development office building, living services, and other supporting facilities. These functions are intended to create a comprehensive industrial park that can accommodate electric vehicle enterprises with different needs, from electric vehicle component manufacturing to electric vehicle-related research and development and enterprise support.
The location in Makou Town, Hanchuan City, places the park about a 30-minute drive from the core industrial area of the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone. This distance is important for electric vehicle companies that need to maintain close links with Wuhan’s industrial resources while using Hanchuan’s location and cost advantages. The park therefore supports a practical division of work in the electric vehicle supply chain: research, development, and coordination can remain connected to Wuhan’s industrial base, while manufacturing and production capacity can be deployed in Hanchuan.
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Electric vehicle component clusters define the industrial layout
The industrial layout of the park focuses on new energy and intelligent connected vehicle parts. It identifies five core fields: smart cockpit functional materials, automotive interior and exterior trim, electrical system components, body lightweight materials, and chassis system structural parts. Each of these fields is closely related to electric vehicle development. Smart cockpit functional materials support the interaction between passengers and electric vehicle systems. Automotive interior and exterior trim contributes to electric vehicle comfort, design, and product differentiation. Electrical system components are central to electric vehicle power distribution, control, and connectivity. Body lightweight materials help electric vehicle developers address weight and efficiency considerations. Chassis system structural parts support electric vehicle safety, stability, and driving performance.
By concentrating on these five core fields, the park aims to build a focused electric vehicle component cluster. The intention is not only to gather electric vehicle suppliers in one place but also to encourage coordination among them. Electric vehicle manufacturers require a wide range of parts and materials, and a focused park can make it easier for electric vehicle companies to find suppliers, test new materials, and shorten communication paths. The park’s emphasis on electric vehicle component manufacturing also supports the broader goal of building a more complete local electric vehicle supply chain.
The park also plans five same-source emerging industries: advanced materials, automotive semiconductors, industrial robot components, new-type energy storage equipment, and digital-intelligent home. These industries are described as same-source because they share technological or industrial foundations with the core electric vehicle fields. Advanced materials connect with lightweight materials and functional materials. Automotive semiconductors connect with electric vehicle electrical systems, intelligent connected functions, and smart cockpit technologies. Industrial robot components connect with advanced manufacturing and automation in electric vehicle production. New-type energy storage equipment connects with electric vehicle energy systems and broader new energy applications. Digital-intelligent home connects with intelligent connected technologies and user-facing digital services. Together, these fields are intended to expand the electric vehicle innovation ecosystem beyond conventional parts manufacturing.
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An electric vehicle supply chain designed for coordination
The park aims to build a “automotive plus” industrial ecosystem that links vehicle and parts coordination, manufacturing and research and development, and industry and innovation. For the electric vehicle sector, this approach reflects the fact that electric vehicle products depend on close cooperation across materials, electronics, software, components, and manufacturing processes. An electric vehicle is not only a mechanical product but also an intelligent connected product. Its development requires coordination among electric vehicle parts suppliers, material providers, semiconductor companies, software and control system developers, and manufacturing service providers.
The park’s industrial design responds to this reality by placing electric vehicle component fields alongside emerging industries that can support them. Smart cockpit functional materials and automotive semiconductors can support intelligent connected electric vehicle functions. Body lightweight materials and chassis system structural parts can support electric vehicle performance and efficiency. Electrical system components can support electric vehicle power and control systems. New-type energy storage equipment can support energy-related applications linked to electric vehicle use. Industrial robot components can support automated production. Digital-intelligent home can support intelligent connected applications that extend beyond the vehicle itself. The result is an industrial ecosystem in which electric vehicle development is connected to a wider set of advanced manufacturing and technology fields.
The phrase “vehicle and parts coordination” is central to this strategy. In the electric vehicle industry, vehicle developers and parts suppliers must work together from the early design stage. Electric vehicle architectures, battery systems, electronic controls, and smart cockpit features often require customized parts and materials. A park that brings together electric vehicle parts manufacturers and related technology firms can support faster coordination and more efficient problem-solving. The park’s focus on manufacturing and research and development linkage further reinforces this goal. By combining production workshops with a research and development office building, the park is designed to support electric vehicle enterprises that need both pilot production and applied research.
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Wuhan research and development and Hanchuan manufacturing create an electric vehicle collaboration model
The collaboration model of “Wuhan research and development, Hanchuan manufacturing” is one of the most important features of the project. Wuhan has a strong industrial and innovation base in the automotive and electric vehicle sectors. Hanchuan offers location advantages and cost advantages while remaining close to Wuhan. The park uses this combination to support electric vehicle companies that want to keep research and development close to Wuhan’s innovation resources while locating manufacturing in Hanchuan.
The model of “Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone empowerment, Hanchuan bearing” further clarifies the division of roles. The Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone contributes industrial radiation, resources, and coordination capacity. Hanchuan provides space, location, and cost advantages for carrying industrial projects. For electric vehicle enterprises, this model can reduce the gap between innovation and production. Electric vehicle research and development often requires close contact with suppliers, testing resources, and technology partners. Manufacturing requires efficient land use, production facilities, and logistics. The collaboration model seeks to connect these requirements across the two locations.
Hanchuan’s position as an important node in the Han-Xiao-Sui-Xiang-Shi trillion-level automotive industry corridor strengthens the logic of the model. The corridor provides a broader industrial context for electric vehicle development. Hanchuan is close to Wuhan and connected to Xiaogan, making it an important bridgehead for the westward radiation of the Wuhan metropolitan area. The park can therefore serve as a link between Wuhan’s electric vehicle innovation and industrial resources and the wider manufacturing network along the corridor. This link is expected to support electric vehicle supply-chain coordination and provide electric vehicle companies with a practical base for production and collaboration.
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Governance structure supports electric vehicle park development
Hanchuan City and the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone have established a joint command center for the cooperative development area. They have also established Hubei Chegu Jinma Investment Co., Ltd. The working pattern is described as “one system, one team, integrated operation.” This structure is intended to coordinate park planning and construction, investment promotion, enterprise services, and other full-chain work.
For an electric vehicle industrial park, governance coordination is important because electric vehicle projects often involve multiple stages and multiple partners. Planning must align with industrial needs. Construction must match the timelines of electric vehicle enterprises. Investment promotion must target the right electric vehicle component and technology fields. Enterprise services must respond to the practical needs of electric vehicle companies after they move in. The joint command center and the investment company are designed to support this full-chain approach.
The park is planned to welcome its first batch of enterprises in June next year. This timetable gives the project a clear near-term milestone. The first batch of enterprises is expected to begin occupying the park after the initial construction and supporting facilities make progress. For electric vehicle companies considering the park, the first enterprise occupancy milestone is an important signal of the project’s transition from planning and construction to actual industrial operation. The governance structure is therefore not only an administrative arrangement but also a practical mechanism for moving electric vehicle projects from planning to production.
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Strategic location links electric vehicle clusters across the metropolitan area
The park’s location in Makou Town, Hanchuan City, is a key part of its electric vehicle value proposition. The site is about a 30-minute drive from the core industrial area of the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone. This proximity supports regular interaction between electric vehicle research and development teams, component suppliers, and manufacturing operations. It also allows electric vehicle companies to use Wuhan’s industrial ecosystem while benefiting from Hanchuan’s location and cost advantages.
Hanchuan is adjacent to Wuhan and connects to Xiaogan. It is described as an important bridgehead for the westward radiation of the Wuhan metropolitan area. In the context of electric vehicle industry development, this location can support the movement of technology, components, and production capacity across the metropolitan area. Electric vehicle supply chains require efficient logistics and close supplier relationships. A location that connects Wuhan with surrounding manufacturing areas can help electric vehicle companies organize production and distribution more effectively.
The park is also part of the broader Han-Xiao-Sui-Xiang-Shi trillion-level automotive industry corridor. This corridor provides a regional framework for automotive and electric vehicle industry development. As an important node in the corridor, Hanchuan can play a role in linking electric vehicle component manufacturing with the wider automotive industry. The park’s electric vehicle focus therefore fits into a larger regional effort to strengthen industrial chains, improve coordination, and support cross-regional development within the Wuhan metropolitan area.
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Industrial focus covers electric vehicle materials, electronics, and lightweighting
The five core fields of the park are closely connected to electric vehicle product requirements. Smart cockpit functional materials are relevant to electric vehicle interior design, user interaction, and intelligent connected functions. Automotive interior and exterior trim is relevant to electric vehicle product quality, comfort, and brand differentiation. Electrical system components are essential to electric vehicle power distribution, control, and connectivity. Body lightweight materials are relevant to electric vehicle efficiency and driving range considerations. Chassis system structural parts are relevant to electric vehicle safety, stability, and vehicle dynamics.
These fields also support a broader electric vehicle parts ecosystem. Electric vehicle manufacturers need materials that can meet functional requirements while supporting efficient production. They need electrical components that can handle electric vehicle power and control systems. They need lightweight materials that can contribute to vehicle performance. They need chassis structural parts that can support safety and durability. By focusing on these areas, the park aims to build a supplier base that can serve electric vehicle developers at multiple points in the value chain.
The park’s industrial focus is not limited to conventional automotive parts. It explicitly includes new energy and intelligent connected vehicle parts. This reflects the convergence of electric vehicle technology, intelligent connected technology, and advanced materials. Electric vehicle development increasingly involves smart cockpit systems, electrical and electronic architectures, lightweight structures, and integrated thermal and energy management. The park’s focus on materials, electrical components, lightweight materials, and chassis structures places it close to these electric vehicle technology trends.
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Emerging industries expand the electric vehicle innovation ecosystem
The five same-source emerging industries are intended to broaden the park’s electric vehicle innovation base. Advanced materials can support electric vehicle lightweighting, functional materials, and component performance. Automotive semiconductors can support electric vehicle electronic controls, intelligent connected functions, and smart cockpit systems. Industrial robot components can support automated manufacturing and intelligent production in electric vehicle plants. New-type energy storage equipment can support energy storage applications linked to electric vehicle use and new energy systems. Digital-intelligent home can support intelligent connected applications and digital service ecosystems that overlap with electric vehicle user experiences.
These industries are described as same-source because they share foundations with the core electric vehicle fields. This sharing can create opportunities for technology transfer and cross-sector collaboration. For example, advanced materials developed for other industries may be adapted for electric vehicle components. Automotive semiconductors can serve both electric vehicle control systems and intelligent connected functions. Industrial robot components can improve the efficiency of electric vehicle parts production. New-type energy storage equipment can connect electric vehicle energy systems with broader energy applications. Digital-intelligent home technologies can contribute to intelligent connected user experiences.
By including these emerging industries, the park aims to build an electric vehicle ecosystem that is broader than a traditional parts park. Electric vehicle innovation often comes from the intersection of different technologies. A park that brings together materials, semiconductors, robotics, energy storage, and digital-intelligent applications can support electric vehicle companies seeking cross-sector solutions. The “automotive plus” ecosystem is therefore intended to encourage collaboration between electric vehicle parts manufacturers and technology providers in adjacent fields.
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Supporting facilities aim to serve electric vehicle enterprises at every stage
The first phase of the first opening area is planned to include production workshops, a research and development office building, living services, and other supporting facilities. These facilities are designed to create a comprehensive industrial park. Production workshops provide space for electric vehicle parts manufacturing and related production activities. The research and development office building provides space for electric vehicle technology development, design, testing, and coordination. Living services and other supporting facilities are intended to support the daily needs of employees and enterprises in the park.
For electric vehicle enterprises, the combination of production and research and development facilities is significant. Electric vehicle components often require close interaction between design and manufacturing. A supplier may need to adjust materials, test prototypes, and refine production processes. Having production workshops and research and development space in the same park can shorten these cycles. It can also make it easier for electric vehicle companies to coordinate with suppliers and technology partners located nearby.
The park’s phased construction approach allows development to proceed in an orderly way. The first opening area, with a total investment of about 1.5 billion yuan, is designed to establish the initial industrial and service functions. The two construction phases provide a framework for expanding capacity as enterprises move in and as the electric vehicle industrial cluster develops. The planned first enterprise occupancy in June next year marks an important step in this phased process. The supporting facilities are therefore intended to serve electric vehicle enterprises from their initial entry into the park through later stages of growth and expansion.
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Outlook for electric vehicle collaboration in the Wuhan metropolitan area
The construction of the Intelligent Connected and Electric Vehicle Industrial Park (West Zone) is a practical step in the development of the electric vehicle industrial chain within the Wuhan metropolitan area. The project combines the industrial radiation of the Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone with the location and cost advantages of Hanchuan. It explores a collaboration model that connects Wuhan research and development with Hanchuan manufacturing. It also establishes a governance structure designed to coordinate planning, construction, investment promotion, and enterprise services.
For the electric vehicle sector, the park’s significance lies in its focus on electric vehicle components, materials, electronics, lightweight structures, and related emerging industries. These fields are essential to electric vehicle product development and supply-chain resilience. By bringing them together in a dedicated park, the project aims to support coordination among electric vehicle suppliers and technology providers. The target output value of 10 billion yuan and the planned first enterprise occupancy in June next year provide clear milestones for the project’s development.
The park is expected to add new momentum to the electric vehicle industrial chain in the Wuhan metropolitan area. It supports the broader goal of cross-regional collaborative development and strengthens Hanchuan’s role as an important node in the Han-Xiao-Sui-Xiang-Shi trillion-level automotive industry corridor. As the first batch of enterprises prepares to move in, the park will continue to be watched as a model for electric vehicle industry cooperation between Wuhan and Hanchuan. The project reflects a broader effort to connect electric vehicle research and development, electric vehicle component manufacturing, and electric vehicle enterprise services across regional boundaries.
The launch of the park also highlights the importance of industrial chain coordination in the electric vehicle era. Electric vehicle development requires close cooperation among materials suppliers, component manufacturers, semiconductor providers, equipment makers, and service providers. The park’s “automotive plus” ecosystem is designed to encourage this cooperation. Its location and collaboration model are intended to make it easier for electric vehicle companies to combine innovation resources with manufacturing capacity. As construction progresses and the first enterprises prepare to enter, the park is positioned to become a new platform for electric vehicle industry development in Hanchuan and the wider Wuhan metropolitan area.
The project’s launch reflects a clear emphasis on electric vehicle industry coordination, electric vehicle component manufacturing, and electric vehicle supply-chain development. The park’s planned area, phased construction, industrial layout, collaboration model, and governance structure are all directed toward building a focused electric vehicle industrial ecosystem. With the first batch of enterprises scheduled to move in in June next year, the Intelligent Connected and Electric Vehicle Industrial Park (West Zone) is expected to play a role in strengthening the electric vehicle industrial chain and supporting cross-regional collaborative development within the Wuhan metropolitan area.