Great Wall Motor and Baowu Magnesium Partner to Advance Magnesium Alloy Use in Electric Vehicles

Great Wall Motor (GWM) and Baowu Magnesium have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to establish a joint laboratory for magnesium product development aimed at accelerating the application of lightweight magnesium alloy technology in new energy vehicles (NEVs). The agreement was signed at the Haval Technology Center.

The partnership aims to support China's carbon neutrality goals. Their R&D efforts have already yielded the world's first semi-solid injection-molded magnesium alloy shock tower, which is approximately 10% lighter than its aluminum counterpart.

The newly established joint laboratory will focus on three key areas: developing new magnesium alloys with high heat resistance and plasticity; researching magnesium alloy components that meet high-strength and corrosion-resistant performance requirements; and utilizing extruded magnesium alloy profiles in vehicle body structures. Together, the companies aim to overcome challenges in the development, process optimization, and commercialization of next-generation magnesium alloys. The goal is to increase magnesium usage per vehicle while enhancing both energy efficiency and safety performance.

GWM's Chief Technology Officer Wu Huixiao emphasized that lightweight design is a critical strategy for NEV development and that this collaboration aligns with GWM's "Forest Ecosystem" industrial strategy which promotes the integration of research, production, and sales within a global market. Baowu Magnesium's Vice Chairman Wen Faping expressed confidence that the joint laboratory will serve as a bridge between production, research, and application, accelerating the large-scale adoption of magnesium alloy products in GWM vehicles.