The main engine factory accelerates the promotion of integrated die casting layout, and the industry has a significant trend of reducing costs and increasing efficiency

On March 27th, Cailian News Agency (Reporter Liu Yang) - Driven by the demand for cost reduction and efficiency increase from automotive manufacturers, the integration of lightweight and structural die-casting has become a trend in the industry. On the evening of March 26th, Wen Can Co., Ltd. announced that on that day, the company signed a "Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement" with Shanghai NIO Automotive Co., Ltd. The two sides plan to conduct in-depth cooperation in the dimensions of supply chain proximity, low-carbon, digital transparency, and globalization, to achieve supply support around NIO's Hefei factory.

Through the signing of this agreement, the company will establish a closer cooperation mechanism with NIO, which is beneficial for both parties to achieve resource sharing in the industrial field, promote the implementation of strategic cooperation projects in the later stage, and improve the efficiency of collaborative development. "Regarding this strategic cooperation, Wen Can Co., Ltd. stated.

According to the main content of the framework agreement, both parties will deepen cooperation in the lightweight research and development of integrated die-casting structural components for vehicle bodies, as well as the application of new materials; Conduct comprehensive cooperation discussions on integrated battery packs, three electric products, and automotive chassis products; We will achieve near ground supply and jointly arrange capacity expansion plans before 2025.

Promoting in-depth cooperation with automotive component die-casting enterprises has become one of NIO's important strategies. During NIO's Partner Day event last year, NIO's founder, chairman, and CEO Li Bin publicly stated that due to insufficient casting supply, ET7 delivery has been delayed.

In 2020, as Tesla applied integrated die-casting technology to the production of Model Y rear body panels, and gradually replaced more than 370 structural components of the entire body panel with 2-3 large die-casting parts, this bold approach opened up a new idea for the dull manufacturing of entire vehicles. In the past three years, Tesla's production has soared from 500000 vehicles to 1.37 million vehicles, and its gross profit margin has also increased from 21% to 25%. In the third chapter of the Hongtu disclosed on March 1st, Tesla stated that it will simplify the assembly process through integrated die-casting, while conducting both sequential and parallel assembly to achieve one-time whole vehicle assembly and improve production efficiency by 30%.

Under Tesla's demonstration effect, vehicle manufacturers have also begun to follow up on the layout of integrated die-casting. Integrated die-casting is not only a simple manufacturing process, including raw materials, but we have also developed it ourselves, surpassing our competitors overall. "An Conghui, Executive Director of Geely Automotive Holdings and CEO of Jikron Intelligent Technology, told reporters that Jikron 009 is currently fully using integrated die-casting technology. From the perspective of effect, the tonnage of Geely die-casting is larger than that of Tesla. In the future, we will fully apply integrated die-casting technology to other vehicle models, which is currently in the verification stage. The extensive application of integrated die-casting can effectively reduce costs and carbon emissions

Compared to the four processes of stamping, welding, painting, and final assembly in traditional automobile manufacturing, integrated die casting combines the stamping and welding processes, simplifying the manufacturing process of the vehicle body, and has advantages in manufacturing costs, production efficiency, labor costs, material recycling, and other aspects. On March 24th, Changan Automobile released a bidding announcement, stating that its subsidiary