(Yicai Global) Feb. 16 -- Xi’an, the capital of China’s northeastern Shaanxi province, ranked first in the country for new energy vehicle production last year, according to a work report published by the city government yesterday. The report also said Xi’an targets economic growth of about 7 percent again this year.

Xi’an made 1 million NEVs in 2022, a 278 percent gain on the year before. The sector’s rapid development drove the development of the city’s entire auto industry, the report said. Xian’s auto industry was worth more than CNY200 billion (USD29.2 billion) last year, with annual car output jumping 97 percent to 1.3 million.

Leading automakers such as BYD and Geely Auto spearheaded development of the Xi’an’s NEV industry, with able support from the government’s industrial policies, the report added.

BYD’s Xi’an base is now only second to its headquarters in Shenzhen for development quality and its complete industrial landscape, the Xi’an government said via its official WeChat account.

According to a document released by the local government in 2021, the city will strive to make the NEV industry’s output value account for more than 40 percent of the local auto industry’s total by 2025, with production and sales ranking first nationwide.

Xi’an will build new advantages in the construction of a modern industrial system, the municipal government noted in this year’s work report. Among the specific measures are making its pillar industries bigger and stronger and prioritizing construction of major industrial projects, including BYD’s NEV base.

As of the end of last year, BYD had set up more than 20 firms in Shaanxi, forming a relatively complete industrial chain.

In terms of this year’s overall economic development goals, the work report pointed out that Xi’an’s GDP growth will be about 7 percent, the same target as last year. But the added value of industries above a designated size, fixed asset investment, total retail sales of consumer goods, and the growth target for the city’s general public budget revenue have all been raised.

Xi’an’s total economic output rose 4.4 percent to CNY1.15 trillion (USD167.8 billion) last year, with industrial added-value climbing almost 14 percent.

Editor: Peter Thomas