Taicang Port is a major gateway for China's automobile exports. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

Taicang is deepening its role as one of China's most internationally connected manufacturing hubs, having registered strong growth in new energy vehicle exports and foreign-invested industrial expansion.

Taicang Port, a major gateway for China's automobile exports, shipped 507,000 vehicles in the first five months of 2026, including 310,000 new energy vehicles. NEVs accounted for nearly two-thirds of total vehicle exports, with export volume rising more than 90 percent year-on-year.

According to port operators, the exported NEVs are mainly destined for Europe, Australia and other markets with strong carbon neutrality commitments.

While helping Chinese products reach overseas markets, Taicang is also attracting new foreign investment. The city is now home to more than 1,800 foreign-funded enterprises.

From January to June, profit reinvestment by foreign-invested companies in Taicang increased by 69 percent compared to the same period in 2025.

Taicang in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. [Photo/WeChat account: tcfbgw]

German automation specialist Schmalz increased its investment in Taicang by 70 million yuan ($10.34 million) to expand production capacity, strengthen research and development, and provide automation solutions for China's rapidly growing new energy vehicle and robotics industries.

Another German "hidden champion", Burkle Machinery, which manufactures printed circuit board lamination systems, added more than $5 million in profit reinvestment to meet rising demand from industries such as AI servers and data centers.

In addition, the China headquarters of US Commercial Vehicle Group recently began operations in Taicang. Once the new base reaches full production, it is expected to support the company's broader capacity expansion and market development across Asia.

"At a time when the global economy faces multiple challenges, the Chinese market is still very dynamic,” said Wu Fei, vice-president of administration for China at Ebner Furnaces Taicang.