China’s top vehicle testing facility in Hainan is welcoming to provide foreign journalists with comprehensive insights into their operations.
On Wednesday, a group of international reporters toured the Hainan Automobile Proving Ground at Qionghai, an event coordinated by the China International Press and Communications Centre (CIPCC).
Officials at the facility said their aim is to ensure that vehicles being tested at the centre meet the highest quality standards and comply with all necessary regulations before being released to the market.
They noted that Chinese cars comply with international standards.
“In China, we currently manufacture a large number of cars every year and we are the number one car exporter, so our quality is guaranteed. We follow all international standards because we have high quality assurance,” the official said.
They added that Chinese vehicles have a variety of advanced features, including entertainment options that improve performance compared to cars manufactured in countries such as Japan and South Korea.
CIPCC journalists were also offered the opportunity to ride the Hongqi Minibus to experience the testing ground.
As an Iranian journalist and representative of the Tehran era, I had the privilege of being part of a media delegation.
We first went to a high speed truck and tested the reliability of the car. The track has three lanes, with speed limits of 80km/h, 120km/h and 150km/h respectively.
Our minibus crossed all three lanes, navigating curves, slopes, and refused to evaluate its steering, brakes and anti-gravity systems. Also, over the bumps we felt like we were in the washing machine.
It was like riding in a recreational park, but for science! It really tested the minibus and passed the test successfully.
Other journalists were also excited. “Today’s ride was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Usually, drivers get sick if they drive fast, but today I wasn’t even dizzy. I wasn’t safe.
“The minibus test ride is a valuable experience demonstrating the highest level of expertise and hard work in China’s approach to vehicle safety for its users,” said Mojca Pisek, a freelance journalist and writer from Slovenia.
Macedonian’s Mirko Zivkovic shared his feelings too. “The test drive was beneficial to feel about the procedure, but more than anything, it was fun. I didn’t think it was that bumpy.
Hainan’s Automobile Certification Ground was founded in 1958. It is the earliest vehicle testing base built in China and is recognized as one of the three major tropical environmental adaptability testing institutes around the world.