Global Impact: home-grown C919 passenger jet, first locally built large cruise ship highlight China’s advanced manufacturing progress
- Global Impact is a weekly curated newsletter featuring a news topic originating in China with a significant macro impact for our newsreaders around the world
- In this edition, we look back at the two major milestones and examines what they mean for China’s efforts to find another economic growth engine, and of course, compete with the United States
In August 2008, China’s first bullet train started running between Beijing and Tianjin. Four months later, the country kicked off the development of its home-grown passenger jet, the C919.
The four-engine, narrow-body Y-10 commercial jet made its first flight in 1980, but the dream to fly the country’s own commercial flight was grounded in 1985 due to complicated political and economic reasons.
It was also the year that Airbus entered the Chinese market, and it was not until the early 2000s that Beijing decided to resume the project.
In contrast, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in February abandoned its decades-long efforts to build its home-grown passenger jet, citing technical defects and high costs.
The C919 is composed of more than 4 million parts, with key components such as the engine, avionics and control systems sourced from overseas, especially from the US. Some parts are subject to licences granted by the US Department of Commerce, and it may put production at risk if Washington tightens export controls against China.
More than 200 domestic companies and nearly 200,000 professionals are involved in the production and development of indigenous technology for the C919, while it also sources supplies from foreign partners and 16 joint ventures with overseas firms, Comac said.
The huge market potential has raised expectations for a booming aircraft-production supply chain, and in particular, for increasing the proportion of domestic supplies.
Domestic research agencies said the C919 supply chain will inevitably lead to progress in new materials, aerospace technology and a talent pool at home.
Nevertheless, the C919 and Adora Magic City have marked China’s advanced manufacturing progress, as the nation continues to take steps towards boosting its self-reliance in critical industries.
60-Second Catch-up
Deep dives
China’s cruise liner breakthrough marks crowning glory, but ambition to climb high-value chain faces challenges
-
China’s first home-grown large cruise liner undocked in Shanghai this week in a breakthrough for the nation’s shipbuilding and high-end manufacturing ambitions
-
Beijing is also eager to narrow the tech gap with global rivals such as South Korea
Chinese boat builders moved closer to putting the last – and the most precious – pearl onto “the crown of shipbuilding” this week, while also accelerating a shift in high-quality development that will take the world’s second-largest economy to new waters.
Luxury cruise ships, together with liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels and aircraft carriers, have long been considered “the three pearls of the crown” as they represent the highest levels in vessels carrying passengers, cargo and military equipment.
China’s first home-built large cruise liner timeline 2006-23: shipbuilding breakthrough charters new waters
-
China’s first home-grown large cruise liner, the 135,500-tonne Adora Magic City, left its dock in Shanghai on June 6 ahead of a series of sea trials
-
After nearly four years of construction, it is expected to be delivered by the end of 2023 before entering operation next year, while a second liner is also being built
China’s first home-built large cruise liner undocked in Shanghai on June 6 after nearly four years of construction.
The 135,500-tonne Adora Magic City, built by a subsidiary of the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation, will conduct sea trials in July and August before it is delivered by the end of 2023 ahead of entering operation next year.
China’s C919 debut could inspire aviation supply chain to take off, but self-sufficiency ‘difficult’
-
China’s home-grown C919 passenger jet completed its first commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing on Sunday after more than 14 years of development
-
But key technologies, including the engine, avionics, control systems, communications and landing gear, were all imported despite the involvement of 200 Chinese firms
The successful commercial debut of China’s home-grown C919 passenger jet has already prompted market expectations for a fast expansion of the domestic aircraft production supply chain, as Beijing seeks to to break its reliance on Boeing and Airbus.
Why did it take 15 years for China’s C919 to make its first commercial flight?
-
The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) was formed in 2008 to develop the C919 narrow-body passenger jet
-
The C919 was formally put into service with its maiden commercial flight in May 2023
The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac) was formed in 2008 to develop the C919 narrow-body passenger jet, which eventually completed its maiden commercial flight in May 2023.
But how did it take 15 years for the C919 to take the two-hour commercial flight from Shanghai to Beijing?
Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing targets China’s manufacturing sector
-
During inspection of major manufacturers in Shanghai, Zhang urged speedy value-adding and faster breakthroughs in bottleneck technologies
-
Zhang is also top administrator for state-owned enterprises, top regulator of industrial safety and top coordinator of China’s disaster response and relief
Global Impact is a fortnightly curated newsletter featuring a news topic originating in China with a significant macro impact for our newsreaders around the world.