As the global automobile industry’s paradigm shifts to electric vehicles (EV), the global EV market, especially in China, is showing rapid growth. Reflecting this trend, China EV100 Forum is an annual event attracts great interest from companies and organizations that are currently active in China. This year, it was held in Diaoyutai, Beijing from January 15^th to 17^th under the theme of “Automotive Revolution Under the New Developmental Pattern.” SK Innovation also participated in the forum to introduce its core technology of the future mobility industry.

China EV100 Forum is held by the China EV100 Association, the most influential EV industry-related group in China, where the private, public, and academic groups centering on 6 government agencies such as the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Ministry of Finance. This association was established in 2014 and its members includes various Chinese ministries and global automobile companies. SK Innovation registered as an official member in 2019.

 ▲ (Left) SK Innovation participated in the China EV 100 Forum 2021 / (Right) Premium EV brand Arcfox of BAIC Group, equipped with SK Innovation batteries

A large number of Chinese government ministers and executives of global automobile companies gathered in China EV100 Forum to give presentations and discussions on the future vehicle industry, including EVs and technology trends. Last year, this forum showed its important influence on the global EV market by being the first event to hint at a change in the Chinese government’s plan, which was scheduled to abolish the subsidy program for EVs. This year, despite the fact that the event was mostly held virtual due to COVID-19, it still attracted about 2 million online participants who showed keen interest.

In consideration of the safety during the pandemic, the number of offline participants this year was scaled down from 2,500 to 100. Chinese government dignitaries, major OEMs and industry officials, and other leaders of China’s future car industry attended the event. As 2021 is the first year of China’s 14^th Five-Year Plan⁽¹⁾, the direction of discussions in China EV100 Forum was about industry development and related topics on NEV (New Energery Vehicles) development and policies and strategies. Besides, under the goal of reducing carbon emissions, various sessions related to future cars were held, including changes in automobile/transportation, future batteries, and future mobility investment and innovation.

(1) The 14th Five-Year Plan of China: The Five-Year Plans are a series of social and economic development initiatives issued since 1953 in China. The 14th Five-Year Plan covers from year 2021 to 2025.

 ▲ (Top) SK Innovation’s booth at China EV 100 Forum 2021 / (Bottom) EV battery modules exhibited by SK Innovation

In particular, this year SK Innovation prepared a separate booth at the forum to exhibit its EV batteries, which attracted attention from forum participants. On the second day of the forum, January 16^th, top authorities in the future vehicle industry visited SK Innovation booth, including Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Wan Gang (former Minister of Science and Technology) and Miao Wei, the former Minister of Industry and Information Technology. Zhang Wei, the Head of China Battery Biz. & Development Office, represented SK Innovation to introduce the company’s EV battery business in China.

During his visit to SK Innovation’s booth, Vice Chairman of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Wan Gang Wangang gave positive responses to the construction of the SK Innovation EV battery plants in China as planned.

 ▲ BAIC Group’s Arcfox electric car equipped with SK innovation batteries

Meanwhile, at this forum, BAIC Group (officially Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., Ltd.) attracted visitors’ attention by introducing Arcfox equipped with batteries of SK Innovation.

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