Shanghai (ZXZC)- On Feb. 18, Taizhou Xingkong Intelligent Connectivity Technology Co.,Ltd. (Taizhou Xingkong), a satellite business operator owned by Geely Technology Group, received the approval from China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) for its commercial satellite manufacturing project, according to Geely Technology Group's press release.

Taizhou Xingkong's AIT center

The permit signifies that China's first commercial satellite factory which integrates the capabilities of manufacturing both aerospace devices and automobiles and is led by a commercial company will soon start production.

The factory has already introduced the first manufacturing facility, which is expected for operation in October 2020 with a designed capacity of 500 satellites per year.

In April 2020, the NDRC added “satellite Internet” to a list of “new infrastructures”, a widely-discussed term that many think will enable China to energize economic development. The move was regarded as a signal that China's commercial satellite sector would see a boost. Seizing the opportunity, Geely Technology Group is building a satellite-related industrial chain that includes design, R&D, manufacture, launch and market application, and endeavors to strengthen the underlying ecosystem architecture for the emerging technical trends like IoV (Internet of Vehicles), AI and autonomous driving.

Located at Taizhou Bay New Area, the satellite testing center of Taizhou Xingkong is China's first smart AIT (assembly, integration and testing) center for pulsating modular satellite, embracing the satellite R&D hub, intelligent component manufacturing facility, measurement & control center and cloud-computing big data platform, etc. Besides, it is also the first domestic factory capable of mass producing both space satellites and automobiles.