I grew up in Metro Manila, and one of the most popular field trip spots I went to as a kid was the Gardenia plant in Laguna. I remember seeing the baking process and even getting some souvenirs from the factory.

Fast-forward to the present time and I’ve had the opportunity to take a closer look at how Changan manufactures electric vehicles. The Chinese automobile group has 21 manufacturing bases and 76 plants worldwide. One of these factories is found on the outskirts of Chongqing: the Changan Liangjiang Plant.

Changan Global explained that there are five overall clusters. One of these has three plants, including a joint venture.

In the first plant we visited, we could see how futuristic the welding process is. It is filled with robotic arms that bond the components together. Sparks and some debris were flying, so we always had to keep our safety gear on.

On the other hand, the design facility—where the vehicles are painted and assembled—has small droids that transport materials from one area to another, machines that aid in parts placement, and a final inspection area. The last step has bright lights for analysts to check any flaws in the units.

In both areas, there are only a small number of people. They mainly oversee and guide the machines, similar to a section in my old field trip—they boast that it’s “untouched by hands,” but only for that area.

Changan Global also mentioned that the design facility can produce 1,300 units per day with two shifts, or 300,000 units per year, without operating on weekends and holidays.

This opportunity does not come by often. Inchcape Philippines, Changan’s local distributor, gave us the opportunity to see the ultramodern manufacturing facilities. I am honestly amazed at how quick and efficient the process is, and I hope the Philippines will have a car plant of the same caliber someday.