On October 15, 2024, the Wuhu New Energy Auto Parts and Aftermarket Ecological Expo opened during the Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily. The conference brought together experts and scholars from the new energy vehicles, auto parts, and aftermarket fields to delve into topics such as the development of the new energy auto industry chain, intelligent connected technology trends, and the trend of going global.

At the conference venue, Yuan Yongbin, Chairman of Wuhu Bethel Automotive Safety Systems Co., Ltd., was interviewed by the Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily journalist.

Bethel's main business covers automobile braking systems, automobile intelligent driving systems, and automobile steering system business areas, with main products including automobile mechanical braking products, electronic control braking products, automobile intelligent driving products, and lightweight components.

"In terms of steering products, Bethel is advancing the research and development of electronic control steering products, gradually transitioning to wire-controlled steering systems. In the field of intelligent driving, the company is promoting the commercialization of existing L2 and L2+ level ADAS products." Yuan Yongbin explained.

In recent years, the wave of the new energy industry going global is surging, and Bethel is actively expanding its overseas market layout.

Regarding the choice of overseas regions, Chairman Yuan Yongbin of Bethel told the Science and Technology Innovation Board Daily journalist that based on practical factors, the company will prioritize countries with friendly relations with China and mutual visa exemption, such as countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.

It is reported that Bethel's production base in Mexico has been put into operation. The '4 million lightweight components per year construction project in Mexico' started in 2020, and officially commenced production in the third quarter of 2023. At the same time, Bethel has also initiated the construction of the second phase lightweight project in Mexico, and is planning the construction of an additional production line for 0.5 million sets of electronic parking brake (EPB) calipers in Mexico. 'Currently, the second phase project in Mexico is progressing smoothly,' revealed Yuan Yongbin.

In terms of lightweight products, in the opinion of Yuan Yongbin, lightweight product technology is relatively mature, and the market demand is strong. "The company will further expand the lightweight product categories, such as: subframes, cast aluminum calipers, wheel hubs, etc." In terms of production capacity, the company's domestic lightweight production base is undergoing the construction of the third phase project to meet the production needs of lightweight products such as automotive subframes, hollow control arms, etc.

In terms of new product research and development, it is reported that WCBS1.5 has been successfully mass-produced in multiple customer projects, and WCBS2.0 has achieved small batch supply in the first customer project. In addition, the company's electric tailgate is about to be mass-produced, while new products such as EMB and suspension are still in the research and development process.