As a driving force behind the provincial capital city's industrial revitalization, a local automaker in Shenyang, Liaoning province, is stepping up efforts to compete globally and foster international partnerships by adopting a dual-track approach of product exports and technology empowerment.

A prime example of this strategy came in May 2025, when Shenyang Jinbei Automotive Co Ltd signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Vietnam's Kim Long Motor.

The deal covers complete vehicle trade, knock down assembly and joint innovation in new energy vehicles. Under the first phase, the Vietnamese side will purchase over 300 million yuan ($41.8 million) worth of Jinbei's popular Grand Haise models, marking the model's debut in the Vietnamese market.

"In the next five years, we plan to work with our Vietnamese partners to gradually shift from vehicle imports to localized KD production," said Dai Jun, general manager of Shenyang Jinbei.

"Through technology transfer and supply chain synergy, we aim to evolve from 'going out' to 'going in', achieve a leap in market presence and leverage Vietnam's influence to deepen our footprint in Southeast Asia and rapidly sharpen product competitiveness," Dai said.

According to Dai, the brand has stayed firmly on the path of global expansion in recent years by combining China's mature manufacturing know-how with customized solutions for local markets.

Back in March, Shenyang Jinbei inked another major deal with a partner in Egypt — a contract that includes both traditional fuel-powered commercial vehicles and its Jiyun line of new energy models, with a total value of over 10 million yuan.

The partnership marked a breakthrough for Jinbei's completely knocked down (CKD) project in Egypt. CKD refers to a product that is delivered in parts and assembled at the destination by the reseller.

To date, technical teams from both sides have signed off on production plans and kicked off manufacturing of the related production line equipment. Since the two companies signed a KD cooperation memorandum in December, they have held more than 20 technical discussions to tailor an intelligent production solution that fits local conditions.

As the project moves forward, Egypt's local partner is expected to significantly boost production capacity and create over 300 new jobs, the company said.

"We're not just selling cars abroad," Dai said. "Through deep local collaboration, we are driving localized production, creating employment and helping raise the standards of the local auto manufacturing industry."

To date, Jinbei has sold more than 90,000 vehicles overseas, with its products reaching over 80 countries and regions across Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and more.

Looking ahead, Jinbei said it will focus on three key areas to enhance its competitiveness: smart manufacturing, a diversified product lineup and a global supply chain. The goal is to accelerate its transformation from simply "going out" to truly "going in" — embedding itself deeper into international markets.

According to Jinbei, in manufacturing it has completed a comprehensive upgrade to a fully automated production system, achieving high levels of automation, digitization and efficiency. On the product side, it is building a portfolio that includes both traditional and new energy vehicles to meet diverse overseas demand. In supply chains, the company is ramping up construction of KD plants and sales networks in key markets across Asia, Africa and Latin America. By boosting vehicle exports and enabling localized production overseas, Jinbei aims to expand its global influence.

Shenyang is not only Jinbei's birthplace, but also a traditional hub of Northeast Asia's auto industry. In 2024, the city exported vehicles worth 10.12 billion yuan and auto parts worth 4.66 billion yuan, up 14.6 percent year-on-year. This year, the provincial capital's total automotive output value is expected to hit 350 billion yuan, according to local government data.