Jiangsu Lopal to establish innovation center with SAIC-GM-Wuling

SAIC-GM-Wuling,  a joint venture between Chinese automakers SAIC Motor, and Liuzhou Wuling Motors Co Ltd., and American automaker General Motors has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese lubricant manufacturer Jiangsu Lopal Tech. Co., Ltd., to establish an innovation center.

The innovation center will mainly focus on lithium-ion power batteries, lubricants, antifreeze and other automotive chemicals, as well as the recycling and reuse of electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

According to Chinese media, the two parties will rely on the Guangxi New Energy Vehicle Laboratory to carry out research and development in the areas of EV battery materials, supply, and technology development. They will conduct regular technical exchanges and make full use of the resources available to both parties in their respective fields. Localisation is a key element of their cooperation.

SAIC-GM-Wuling said that they will cooperate in developing a unified specification in the areas of battery cells and electrolytes. Because of their scale—SAIC-GM-Wuling is a major mass-volume producer in the Chinese interior—they expect to reduce development and production costs.

Jiangsu Lopal, on the other hand, said that with the signing of this strategic cooperation agreement, it aims to benefit from the complementary advantages of both parties.

SAIC-GM-Wuling, which is based in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in southwestern China, manufactures commercial and consumer vehicles sold in China under the Wuling and Baojun marques.

Jiangsu Lopal is headquartered in Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province. It is a leading fine chemical manufacturing company in China, and its market covers all provinces and cities in China and 15 countries and regions around the world. The company’s main business are lubricants and automotive chemicals and lithium iron phosphate cathode materials.