APAS and CATARC Technology Signed a Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement Jointly Promoting the Development of Autonomous Vehicle Industry and New Energy Vehicle Industry in the Greater Bay Area

(Hong Kong, 15 September 2023) To support the national efforts in fostering the development of the autonomous vehicle and new energy vehicle industries, the Automotive Platforms and Application Systems R&D Centre (APAS) recently signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement (the Agreement) with CATARC Technology Co., Ltd (CATARC Technology). Under this Agreement, the two parties are committed to collaborating with Government departments, automotive parts and components industry enterprises, technology organisations, and other stakeholders within the automotive industry in Hong Kong and the Mainland, to facilitate the development of the autonomous vehicle industry and new energy vehicle industry in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) through joint promotional activities and cooperative efforts.

The Agreement builds upon the existing collaboration with CATARC (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., one of the group companies of CATARC Technology, signed in May 2023. It was signed at the summit co-organised by the People’s Government of Pingshan District and China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd^[1], also as one of the in-depth cooperation signings among Shenzhen Government, Hong Kong SAR Government and enterprises of two sides to jointly promote the high-quality development of the intelligent connected vehicle industry, in response to Shenzhen’s three-year action plan for becoming “A New-generation World-class Auto City”. APAS and CATARC Technology will deepen their strategic partnership and collaborate in the development, testing, and certification of intelligent connected vehicles and new energy vehicles. This includes setting up intelligent connected vehicle professional testing facilities in Shenzhen that incorporate elements relevant to Hong Kong and Macao, and testing equipment for right-hand drive vehicles to promote more collaborative projects between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in the future.

Mr Allan LAI, General Manager of APAS, said, “APAS has always been dedicated to promoting the development of autonomous vehicles and new energy vehicles and has successfully developed multiple autonomous vehicle-related R&D projects and applied them in Hong Kong, including a Remote Automatic Parking System and an Autonomous Driving Platform in recent years. We are delighted to collaborate once again with CATARC Technology to promote high-quality development of the autonomous vehicle industry and new energy vehicle industry in the GBA through facilitating information and technology exchanges, providing technical consultancy services, and supporting R&D and training activities of the auto industry.”

Mr WANG Xu, Deputy General Manager of CATARC Technology, said, “With the promotion of autonomous vehicle policies in the Mainland and Hong Kong, the autonomous vehicle industry is rapidly developing and integrating into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Intelligent connected vehicle technologies are becoming increasingly mature. Through cooperation with APAS, we will promote the application of autonomous vehicle in the GBA, collaborate in the development, testing, and certification technology of autonomous vehicle, and mutually advocate the high-quality development of the intelligent connected vehicle industry.”

APAS has been collaborating with industry, academia, and research sectors in Hong Kong to achieve commercialisation of R&D outcomes. The “Hong Kong Connected Vehicles Cluster” was formed to facilitate exchange among industry practitioners for business development in intelligent connected vehicles to tap new business opportunities. CATARC Technology focuses on the cross-disciplinary integration of the automotive industry and the research of strategic emerging industries and future industries, covering intelligent testing, networked testing, and chip testing, etc. The partnership will offer technical assistance concerning regulations and policies pertaining to intelligent connected vehicles and new energy vehicles in the region. The two parties will also engage in joint endeavours related to the development, testing, and certification of intelligent connected vehicles and new energy vehicles to collectively advance the high-quality development of the autonomous vehicle and the new energy vehicle industries in the GBA.

^[1]CATARC Technology is a subsidiary of China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd.

- Ends -

Mr Allan LAI, General Manager of APAS (first from right), and Mr DONG Changqing, General Manager of CATARC Technology (second from right), signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement to jointly promote the development of autonomous vehicle industry and new energy vehicle industry in the GBA.