The year of 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-French diplomatic relations and the tenth birthday of Yenching Academy. For one of our celebration events, Laurent Burelle, Chairman of the Board of Directors of OPmobility SE paid a visit to the Academy, at the invitation of Dean Dong Qiang. In his lecture “The Past and Future of the Automotive Industry—How My Family is Investing in China”, Mr Burelle had a review of his family gained global presence and shared how they invest in China. He also looked into future developments of automotive industry. The event was hosted by Prof Dong Qiang and invited Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister of France and Shuhsi Hsü Chair Professor of Yenching Academy as discussant.
Dean Dong Qiang extended his warm welcome to Mr Raffarin and Mr Burelle before going into Mr Burelle’s career achievements. Mr Burelle was Chairman of AFEP (French Association of Large Companies). As Chairman of the Board of Directors of OPmobility SE, Mr Burelle is a remarkable leader of the world-leading supplier of automotive parts and components and body control modules. Mr Raffarin also appreciated Mr Burelle’s forward-thinking leadership.
Mr Burelle first emphasized that China is a prospective market with enormous potentials. He detailed into OPmobility’s presence and development in China, hoping that the company would maintain its market share in China. According to Mr Burelle, OPmobility appreciates China as an internationalized, sound market and sees it a reliable and trustworthy long-term partner in Asia. A sound automotive industry needs a technology-driven synergy across sectors of production. And it is key to meet customer needs and demands to reaching the company’s goal.
Mr Burelle noticed that China’s automotive industry grows against a unique background. He observed that the traditional pattern of French automotive production and sales may not be applicable in China’s market. Therefore, if a company tries to enter China’s market, it must adapt itself to the changing market through innovation and better customer experience: The company needs to conduct full market research and design products with considerations of demographic, historical and cultural features of China. Mr Burelle noticed that Chinese culture is characterized with harmony and innovation and Chinese customers prefer intelligent cars with cutting-edge technologies. He pointed that China is now a leader in EV innovation and driving technologies and prioritizes technologies in the development of its automotive industry. Mu Burelle appreciated what China has done and achieved in the area and expected to join hands with Chinese partners for sustainability and innovation of automotive industry.
Mr Burelle wrapped up his lecture with a call for joint efforts of younger generations. He noted that China sets a remarkable example in encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship. Global automotive industry is confronted with unprecedented changes and challenges in a turbulent era. In the times like this, younger generations need more than before to work in collaboration and join hands to open up new paths to address the challenges. He called young people to forge a strong sense of responsibility, to deal with social and cultural changes and jointly build a brighter future.
Attendees, including Zhang Yuwei, Director of DPS (Doctor of Professional Studies in Business) Program of the National School of Development (NSD) at Peking University; and Wang Xiyan, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of the History of Sciecne at Tsinghua University, raised questions after the lecture. Mr Burelle, OPmobility CEO Laurent Favre, and OPmobility Managing Director Félicie Burelle gave detailed answers on the various issues, including potential cooperation between French and Chinese automotive industries, investment risk considerations and profit forecast, prospects of new energy vehicles, automotive business’s customer strategy, as well as impacts of digitalization on automotive industry.
Before the lecture, Mr Raffarin, Mr Burelle and other guests visited the photo exhibition in commemoration of the Academy’s tenth anniversary, thinking highly of the Academy’s education philosophy and development. Mr Burelle, who is a graduate of the Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, and holds a Master of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), was witty, “I know what to do next. I’m going to have another master’s degree at Yenching Academy!”
