Inside China’s Export Drive: Automakers and Robotics Firms Take Intelligent Manufacturing Global

On October 20, with less than 50 days to go before the 2026 Global Intelligent Manufacturing and Electronics Expo (AIE Expo), a media delegation visited two Chinese exporters in Guangzhou and Foshan to examine how manufacturers are expanding overseas and moving up the value chain.

Organized by the expo's committee, the second "Inside AIE" media tour brought together journalists from more than 10 media outlets to visit GAC Group and Jaten Robotics, both of which will exhibit at the event in Macao from December 3 to 5.

A vehicle rolls off the line every 53 seconds at GAC Aion's smart factory

GAC International General Manager Wei Haigang said the company sees international expansion as its “primary growth driver,” moving beyond exporting products toward establishing local operations and building stronger global brands.

He also described Hong Kong and Macao as "super partners" in GAC's overseas strategy, saying the company hopes to use AIE Expo to connect with more international buyers and supply-chain partners.

Jaten's embodied-intelligence chassis enters mass production ahead of its debut at AIE Expo 2026

At Jaten Robotics, a national-level "little giant" enterprise specializing in advanced manufacturing, overseas revenue has climbed from single digits to more than 40% of total sales, with annual growth averaging around 30%. North America accounts for roughly half of its overseas business, and the company has a local U.S. team handling installation, commissioning and after-sales service.

Jaten Vice President Chen Hongbo said the company would make its first appearance at the Macao venue of AIE Expo 2026, unveiling a newly developed mobile chassis for embodied-intelligence robots to the global market. The product, which provides mobility for humanoid robots from different manufacturers, has already entered mass production.

The company has also prepared Portuguese-language promotional materials as it looks to reach more overseas markets, particularly Portuguese-speaking countries.

AIE Expo will be held simultaneously in Macao and Zhuhai from Dec. 3 to 5. More than 1,000 technology companies and 50,000 professional visitors are expected to attend. Macao will host forums, technology showcases and product launches, while Zhuhai will focus on business matchmaking and industrial visits.

The expo will also feature the "AI Across Industries: Intelligent Manufacturing Going Global and Global Brand Building" forum, the sixth China-Portugal Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, a fully autonomous humanoid robot football invitational tournament, and a robot sports carnival.

As Chinese manufacturers deepen their international presence, the companies' strategies point to a broader shift: overseas growth is increasingly about building local service capabilities, developing advanced technologies and establishing lasting partnerships — not simply shipping products abroad.