The Joint Innovation Laboratory of Total Lubricants China (TLC) and Great Wall Motor (GWM) was opened in Baoding, Hebei, China, on May 25, 2016. This opening confirms the two company’s long-term commitment to technical excellence in the service of motorists.
The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Shujie Hu, Vice President & Director of the GWM Technical Center, Mr. Jean PARIZOT, R&D Director of Total Marketing & Services, Mr. Pierre DUHOT, General Manager, Global Automotive Businesses of Total Lubricants, Mr. Ting Wee LIANG, President of Total (China) Investment, and Mr. Patrice DEVEMY, Managing Director of Total Lubricants China.
Opening Ceremony of the Great Wall Motor – Total Joint Lab
Under the terms of the joint innovation laboratory agreement, Total will leverage its extensive experience and know-how in lubricants research and development to offer GWM technical support in establishing standards for lubricants usage and completing its key projects such as the upgrade of its existing engines and the development of new ones. Total is an international energy company while GWM is a leading Chinese automaker with strong R&D resources. The opening of the new Joint Laboratory demonstrates the long-term commitment of both sides to pursuing technical excellence and developing world-class products and services to meet consumer demand.
Mr. Shujie HU, Vice President & Director of the GWM Technical Center said: “As an independent national car manufacturer, GWM is a technology oriented company, and we have formed alliances with many well-known companies globally. In recent years, the cooperation with Total has been very fruitful, and the Joint Laboratory project has deepened our cooperation. In the future, we will rely on this Joint Laboratory platform to build up an effective communication system for technology exchanges and – at the same time – integrate Total’s ANAC (Used Oil ANAlysis Compared) oil analysis service and other forms of strategic business cooperation to promote our mutual development and achieve win-win results.”
Mr. HU Shujie, Vice President & Director of the GWM Technical Center, gave a speech
Mr. Jean PARIZOT, R&D Director of Total Marketing & Service said: “As an international energy company, Total has conducted R&D cooperation projects with key global automotive OEM’s for many years. Through this joint lab, Total will share its fuel economy technology with GWM and provide it with tailor-made solutions. This cooperation is not only enhancing our R&D technologies and improving products performance but also smoothing the way for the long term partnership between Total and GWM.”
Mr. Jean PARIZOT, R&D Director of Total Marketing & Service, delivered a speech and used Chinese to express his best wishes for a fruitful cooperation between Total and GWM
In the afternoon, Total leaders, accompanied by Mr. JIN Yutao, Head of the GWM Technology Department, paid a visit to the HAVAL Xushui Branch of GWM. The branch is one of the three major production bases of GWM with a total production capacity of 1 million units. While its main products are the high-end HAVAL SUVs, it also provides equipment for Great Wall passenger cars, SUVs and pickups produced with cutting-edge technologies in state-of-the-art facilities. In addition, the Xushui Branch has a full-function test and development center with a 7 km circuit for speeds of up to 240 km/h. At the testing ground, Total leaders had an opportunity to test drive the HAVAL H8 and HAVAL H9 SUVs. With this visit and the driving tests, Total leaders deepened their understanding of GWM’s R&D strength. In addition, this visit laid the foundation for an in-depth cooperation between the two companies in the coming years.
GWM – Total Joint Lab opening ceremony group photo
In early 2009, TLC set up its partnership with GWM and became GWM’s supplier of engine and transmission oils for the Chinese and overseas markets. Total also sponsors the GWM HAVAL SUV racing team in the Dakar Rally. Since Total and GWM share core values such as operational excellence, competitiveness, customer orientation and a commitment to the joint development of high-quality products and services, their cooperation gradually deepened and improved.
As the fourth largest listed oil and gas company in the world, Total has been actively participating in top-level motorsports competition by providing high quality lubricants, fuels and professional services to top tier teams. Total also integrates its high-end motorsport expertise and technology into its consumer products. The new GWM-Total Joint Lab will be a new venue for transferring Total’s innovative technology and motorsports expertise to its consumer product ranges and drive the development of GWM-Total joint innovation and R&D. GWM and Total have a common objective: giving motorists the full benefit of their combined R&D investments and innovations.
About Total
Total is a global integrated energy producer and provider, a leading international oil and gas company, and the world’s second-ranked solar energy operator with SunPower. Our 96,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, cleaner, more efficient, more innovative and accessible to as many people as possible. As a responsible corporate citizen, we focus on ensuring that our operations in more than 130 countries worldwide consistently deliver economic, social and environmental benefits. www.total.com
