BMW VP Urges Industry to Resist Compromises on Vehicle Testing and Validation
Wu Yanyan, BMW Group's Vice President for Greater China Government and External Affairs, called on the automotive industry to resist pressures to shorten validation cycles and cut corners in testing. She stressed that quality and safety must not be compromised.
Shanghai – Wu Yanyan, Vice President for Greater China Government and External Affairs at BMW Group, has urged the automotive industry to resist pressures to shorten validation cycles and compromise on testing standards. Speaking at the GNEV2026 forum in Shanghai, she emphasized that safety boundaries must be absolute and the launch of incomplete systems or immature products must be opposed.
According to Wu Yanyan, BMW believes that open cooperation and free trade are the foundations of industrial innovation and economic prosperity, not isolation. The company's strategy in China, "In China, for China, with China," involves integrating local research and development as a key component of its market approach.
Multinational automakers face triple challenges in China, Wu Yanyan noted. These include adapting to the rapid pace of electrification, digitalization, intelligence, and decarbonization trends, meeting Chinese consumer preferences, leveraging China's innovation, integrating with global technical systems, and balancing global supply chains amidst complex geopolitics.
BMW has previously projected an automotive business profit margin of 4% to 6% going forward, compared to 5.3% last year. China remains BMW's largest single market, with sales expected to remain stable. BMW CEO Oliver Zipse has previously warned that those who overlook China's market potential are missing significant global growth opportunities.