SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), a major Chinese automobile manufacturer, has delivered its first overseas shipment on Tuesday after weeks of production suspension due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
SGMW, located in Liuzhou, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, sent 478 crossover vehicles, Baojun 530, to, Guangzhou, in neighboring Guangdong Province, where they will be shipped to eight countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
"The Middle East region has a strong demand for automobiles. SGMW has been actively exploring the market," said Li Xisong, director of overseas development and operations of SGMW.
Li said the order for 1,660 vehicles from the Middle Eastern countries is important for the company to tap the overseas market. However, the company's production and logistics have been affected by the epidemic.
"It only took nine days to finish the batch of vehicles for delivery after work resumed on Feb. 10," Li said.
In 2019, SGMW's exports increased by 130 percent year on year.
"Despite the impact of the epidemic, we have not lowered our export expectations for this year. We believe that by ensuring safe operation, we can meet the export target," Li said.
As positive signs started emerging in China's battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, the country is meticulously expanding business operations with a precise approach that attaches different priorities to regions in light of their health risks.
Guangxi has been one of China's provincial-level regions that have lowered the emergency response levels of the epidemic, as there are no new reports of infections.
