On December 3, a delegation of 20 journalists from 17 Latin American countries visited the GAC Aion factory in Guangzhou, gaining firsthand insight into the advanced manufacturing and technological innovation driving China's electric vehicle (EV) industry.
As part of the series of events for the 2025 Understanding China Conference held from November 30 to December 2, the visit provided the journalists with a ground-level view of China's EVs and their manufacturing process, framing them not as a distant phenomenon but as a reality with direct benefits for global consumers.
The journalists were deeply impressed by the seamless integration of robotics, smart production, and competitive global strategy they observed. The group toured the technology exhibition hall and the assembly workshop, examining advanced manufacturing technologies such as the vehicle connectivity data center and automated installation lines.
The journalists unanimously identified electric mobility as the dominant trend in transportation. Sergi Lara Garcia, a columnist from Costa Rica's larepublics.net, pointed out: "I think electric cars are the future in the world."
This perspective was reinforced by the detailed technological exposure during the tour. Ana Miao, a journalist from Poder360, was particularly struck by the sophistication within the vehicles. "I think the technology in these cars is impressive," she said, also expressing her surprise upon learning the price of the feature-rich models.
Beyond the products themselves, the intelligent manufacturing process was a major highlight. Daniel Saldivar, a TV news host from Mexico's Milenio, expressed awe at the production system. "The way you make all these beautiful cars is amazing, overcoming all the engineering barriers that require extensive knowledge and organization."
What stood out most to him was the efficient synergy on the factory floor. "What surprises me most is the organization here; all the people know what they have to do, and the combination with technology—the robots," Saldivar noted. "It's amazing to see humans and robots working together."
Ana Miao also emphasized the unique value of witnessing the production process in China, stating, "Cars are something we use every day, so it's really interesting to learn how they are produced, especially in China where there is a lot of advanced technology."
The journalists connected their observations to the tangible impact Chinese EV brands are already having in their home markets. Ana Miao shared direct experience from Brazil: "In my country, there are a lot of good Chinese brands. Many consumers are really interested in learning about them."
She also recently did a report on Chinese car brands coming to Brazil and discovered that many of the Chinese EVs are priced affordably, even more so than traditional car companies.
Daniel Saldivar linked the visit to consumer benefits in Mexico: "It's very important to see what you are doing here in China and to bring all these brands to Mexico, so Mexicans can also enjoy these products."
When asked what stories they would tell their audiences, the journalists identified concrete, consumer-focused angles. Ana Miao outlined a plan to explore and share how Chinese cars are distributed in her country, the environmental efficiency of EVs, and relevant green energy policies.
Reporter | Guo Chuhua
Photo | Guo Chuhua
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
