Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Federation of Industrial Economics jointly conducted the selection and cultivation of the seventh batch of manufacturing single-champion enterprises (products), as well as the re-examination of the first and fourth batches of manufacturing single-champion enterprises (products). Wanxiang Qianchao Transmission Shaft Co., Ltd. (whose main product is transmission shafts) was recognized as a demonstration enterprise for manufacturing single champions, and Wanxiang Qianchao Co., Ltd. (whose main product is automotive universal joint assemblies) successfully passed the re-examination as a demonstration enterprise for the first batch of manufacturing single champions.

In 2016, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the "Implementation Plan for the Special Action to Cultivate and Enhance Single-Item Champion Enterprises in Manufacturing," clearly stating that, centered on achieving the strategic goal of building a manufacturing powerhouse, and with enterprises as the main body and the market as the guide, a nationwide special action would be launched to cultivate and enhance single-item champion enterprises in manufacturing. That year, Wanxiang Qianchao was recognized as a demonstration enterprise for single-item champions, while Wanxiang Precision and the Drive Shaft Company were designated as enterprises being cultivated to become single-item champions. Last year, Wanxiang Precision successfully “upgraded” to become a demonstration enterprise for single-item champions, and this time, the Drive Shaft Company has completed its “upgrade.” These achievements reflect Wanxiang’s commitment to high-quality development, its focus on technological innovation, and its continuous efforts to enhance product quality.

The Single-Item Champion is the most prestigious and highly regarded honor in China’s manufacturing sector, often referred to in the industry as “the pearl atop the crown of manufacturing.” Over the years, this award has been presented to enterprises that have long been dedicated to specific niche product markets within manufacturing, possess internationally leading technologies and processes, and hold one of the world’s top market shares in their respective single-item products.

▲ Intelligent special-purpose equipment for transmission shafts

The Drive Shaft Company is the core manufacturing enterprise of the transmission system under Wanxiang Qianchao and is a leading enterprise in China's automotive drive shaft sector. Since 1992, it has been developing automotive drive shaft products and has deeply cultivated the drive shaft field. Its product range covers microcar series, light-duty vehicle series (SUVs, MPVs, pickup trucks), mid-size vehicle series, heavy-duty vehicle series, military equipment vehicle series, and construction machinery series. Through continuous upgrades, the company has now launched its fourth-generation drive shaft and has become a strategic partner supplier to major domestic and international automakers. Among these, its light-duty truck drive shafts (including pickup trucks) ranked first in market share in the Chinese domestic market in 2021.

The company is committed to pursuing a path of product R&D, technological innovation, and the development of core, independent intellectual property rights. It actively enhances the technological content and quality level of its products, continuously engages in product technology and manufacturing innovation initiatives, and optimizes its products according to the principles of "lightweight, fewer parts, compact size, and long service life." The company undertakes technological upgrades focused on lightweighting, reducing the number of components, replacing larger parts with smaller ones, and extending product lifespan, thereby steadily reducing weight and improving NVH performance. The company has established a provincial-level enterprise technology center and holds 152 valid intellectual property rights, including 8 invention patents and 1 software copyright. The company has drafted and formulated the Zhejiang Manufacturing standard T/ZZB 1705, "Automotive Drive Shaft Assembly," and participated in the revision of the industry standard QC/T 29082, "Technical Specifications and Bench Test Methods for Automotive Drive Shafts." The company has received numerous honors, including Provincial Demonstration Enterprise for Intellectual Property Rights, Provincial Leading Enterprise for Innovation Cultivation, "Pinzi" Label Certification, Provincial Premium Manufacturing Award, and Provincial Science and Technology Award for Mechanical Industry.

To meet the demands of high-quality production, the company has introduced world-class manufacturing and processing equipment as well as advanced testing and inspection equipment, establishing a fully automated production line that covers everything from component forging and machining to transmission shaft assembly. This line is equipped with online detection and error-proofing capabilities, ensuring that our equipment, manufacturing capacity, and product testing and inspection capabilities have reached internationally advanced standards. Meanwhile, the company leverages the national-level automotive components laboratory resource platform shared by Wanxiang Group, enabling it to conduct all kinds of simulation tests required by major automakers. Our product testing capabilities have also reached international advanced levels, and the test reports we issue are recognized in 46 countries and regions worldwide.

In the areas of environmental protection, energy consumption and comprehensive resource utilization, safe production, product safety, and public health, the company has adopted a systematic approach to comprehensively identify potential risks and proactively implemented corresponding measures, thereby fulfilling its social and public responsibilities. The company has successively established an ISO 14001 environmental management system, an OHSAS 18001 occupational health and safety management system, a measurement management system, and a standardization system. It has also implemented cleaner production practices and obtained CQC product certification. In 2021, the company was recognized as a “Water-Saving Enterprise in Zhejiang Province.”

▲ Universal Joint Cross Assembly

Wanxiang Qianchao Co., Ltd. has been in business for over fifty years, dedicating itself to the research and development and manufacturing of automotive components, and providing systematic and collaborative solutions for the modularization of automotive parts. The company specializes in producing universal joints, drive shafts, constant-velocity drive shafts, wheel hub units, bearings, brakes, automotive electronics, transmission systems, braking systems, suspension systems, fuel tanks, and aftertreatment systems—among other components and assemblies. Its universal joint and wheel hub unit products are globally leading and rank first in the domestic industry; its drive shafts, constant-velocity drive shafts, and bearings are also among the domestic leaders. In 2007, Wanxiang’s universal joint products were awarded the title of China World Brand and the China Industry Award. In 2010, Wanxiang Qianchao received the first Zhejiang Provincial Government Quality Award, and in 2013, it was nominated for the first China Quality Award. In 2021, the company was once again nominated for the China Quality Award.

The automotive universal joint assembly products are Wanxiang Qianchao’s “golden calling card.” The universal joint factory regards innovation as the primary driving force for development. Over the past decade, it has placed greater emphasis on independent innovation, in-house product R&D, and the research and manufacturing of process equipment. Focusing on product technologies characterized by “lightweight, fewer parts, smaller size, and longer service life,” as well as manufacturing technologies marked by “extremization, perfection, and refinement,” the factory has integrated transmission system technologies with industrial chain resources, accelerated the development of systematic innovative solutions for lightweight driveline design and manufacturing, achieved product upgrades, reshaped market value, and comprehensively built core competitive advantages. Significant progress has been made in key core technology areas, and product quality and service life have continuously reached new heights and broken records.

The company adheres to green manufacturing principles, phasing out high-energy-consumption and low-efficiency equipment. It integrates stringent environmental standards into its comprehensive, green supply-chain management, continuously improves its environmental management system, and implements green production practices. By adopting advanced process technologies, the company vigorously promotes forging instead of turning and turning instead of grinding, enabling products to embody the design philosophy of lightweight construction and high strength. Moreover, it leverages cutting-edge process equipment, sludge drying technology, as well as technologies such as emulsion recycling and mechanical oil filtration and re-filtration, to build a green, intelligent, healthy, and harmonious factory. Through continuous optimization of process equipment, the company has established a manufacturing model characterized by high quality, high efficiency, low energy consumption, and low maintenance requirements, swiftly meeting market demands. Over the past decade, per capita direct production efficiency and per capita value creation have both doubled, enabling Wanxiang products to consistently lead the way toward higher-end markets and a brighter future.

Currently, in addition to having three manufacturing single-champion demonstration enterprises—Wanxiang Qianchao Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Wanxiang Precision Engineering Co., Ltd., and Wanxiang Qianchao Driveshaft Co., Ltd.—Wanxiang also boasts four national-level “Little Giant” enterprises specializing in niche expertise and innovation: Wanxiang Tongda Co., Ltd., Hubei Dinaistongda Emission Treatment Systems Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Senwei Precision Forging Co., Ltd., and Wanxiang Digital Intelligence (Chongqing) Co., Ltd. Furthermore, Wanxiang Qianchao has four provincial-level “Little Giant” enterprises specializing in niche expertise and innovation: Wanxiang Qianchao Driveshaft Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Wanxiang Systems Co., Ltd., Hubei Qianchao Precision Components Co., Ltd., and Wanxiang Qianchao (Shanghai) Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.

In the future, Wanxiang’s various specialized companies will leverage their deep-rooted expertise in manufacturing and services, continuing to uphold the principle that technology is the primary productive force and innovation is the driving force. We will strive to provide customers with higher-quality products, superior services, and more efficient, cutting-edge, and comprehensive solutions. We will endeavor to create more champion products and foster more champion enterprises, thereby making greater contributions to building a manufacturing powerhouse.