On September 16, the 2026 Fortune Global 500 Forum opened in Guangzhou under the theme “The New Growth Equation.” The forum brought together business leaders, investors, and academics from around the world to explore healthy, sustainable, and positive development amid an evolving global political, economic, and social landscape.
Chen Jiacai, Vice President of GAC Group and Chairman of GAC International, was invited to participate in a roundtable discussion on the evolving dynamics of competition and collaboration among global enterprises. Joining representatives from Chinese and international companies, he exchanged views on the reshaping of cross-border operating rules amid geopolitical change, as well as the overseas development of Chinese automakers.
GAC Group also served as the forum’s official designated vehicle provider. The GAC M8 and AISTALAND GT7 provided mobility services for attending guests.
During the discussion, Chen outlined GAC’s approach to globalization: “go out through products, go deeper through systems, and move up through brands.” Products and services create the foundation for overseas market entry; localized systems and capabilities enable deeper market integration; and strong brands earn recognition and trust from local consumers.
Chen noted that Chinese automakers are entering an era of system-level competition, where success depends not only on products, but also on organizational efficiency, marketing capabilities, supply-chain responsiveness, and localized operations. From January to August this year, GAC’s proprietary brands exported a cumulative 172,000 vehicles, an increase of 136 percent year over year.
He identified six priorities for sustainable international growth: clear strategic positioning, forward-looking planning, localized marketing and service capabilities, stronger enterprise-wide coordination, rigorous compliance, and meaningful cultural integration. Chen stressed that compliance is both a minimum requirement and a fundamental prerequisite for long-term overseas operations.
Reframing “China Speed,” Chen said that international growth should not be defined by expansion alone, but by healthy, high-quality, orderly, compliant, and sustainable operations. He emphasized that compliance, quality, and cultural integration are mutually reinforcing foundations for successful globalization.
GAC currently operates in 110 countries and regions worldwide, supported by more than 746 sales and service outlets, seven overseas manufacturing facilities, and nine overseas parts warehouses. Looking ahead, GAC will continue to deepen localized operations, uphold its standards for quality and compliance, and deliver high-quality mobility products and services to users around the world.
