The former abandoned railway freight yard in Pinhunan, a city in Shenzhen, Guangdong province in southern China, has been transformed into a dense complex of high steel structures. The Pinhunan Integrated Logistics Hub was created, embodying the ambitious idea of building a logistics park directly over an active railway line.
The project concept dictates that the ground level remains designated for railway operations, while the space above the tracks is used to house warehousing and logistics facilities. Developers preserved the existing railway yard and expanded it vertically by constructing smart warehouses on a platform above the tracks, establishing a new model of three-dimensional land use.
As explained by Gu Feng, a project manager at the Shenzhen engineering construction team of China Railway Guangzhou Group Co., Ltd., the idea of a 'logistics park built over a railway' seemed audacious initially but has become a reality today. This model effectively integrates railway resources with local industrial assets and significantly increases land value. The project allowed for the saving of over 20 hectares of territory.
Through the implementation of new technologies, including intelligent sorting systems and unmanned warehouses, the old railway station has been modernized and equipped with digital capabilities. From an aerial view, the steel frames of 11 logistics warehouses stretching across the area are visible. The scale of the project is impressive: it required over 140,000 tons of steel, the total investment amounted to approximately 9.04 billion yuan ($1.33 billion USD), and the total area is 1.11 million square meters.
The ground-level railway component of the Pinhunan Integrated Logistics Hub was completed and put into operation on December 30, 2025, marking the official launch of the hub's core railway functions and its successful connection to China's national railway network.
On the construction site, rows of steel elements, each over 11 meters long and weighing nearly 3 tons, await installation. A builder noted that these steel components will be lifted and assembled to form the logistics warehouses. However, ensuring the precise assembly of over 140,000 tons of steel elements presented a serious engineering challenge. Even minor deviations during on-site assembly could have led to significant difficulties and construction delays.
To solve this problem, the engineering team applied Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology. One design engineer stated that they use BIM for virtual assembly and real-time adjustments before actual construction begins, which significantly enhances the efficiency and accuracy of steel assembly.
During a demonstration, an operator used digital scanning devices to scan the steel columns on site, converting them into a digital format and transmitting all data to the system. On the screen was a virtual model of the steel structure warehouse, while technical data on beam and column connections, as well as stress monitoring, were displayed on the left. With the press of a button, the arches underwent virtual assembly, displaying numerous complex spatial connections. In the 3D model created using BIM technology, the status of all components could be seen at a glance.
If discrepancies appeared in the virtual assembly results, operators could immediately modify the dimensions of the steel structural elements and restart the assembly simulation. After verifying the revised design, the updated data was sent to the manufacturing plant for precise refinement.
Engineer Duan Zhong reported that every processed steel column is assigned its own QR code containing 12 parameters, including component dimensions, lifting weight, and installation coordinates. Preventing potential errors before installation is just the first step toward achieving precise construction.
The project requires the sequential installation of 6,795 steel columns and 32,624 steel beams. Using traditional construction methods, the team would have had to rely on multiple manual measurements and adjustments. Gu added that now they first create a full-scale 1:1 BIM model and define the parameters of each component down to the millimeter. They then pre-model the lifting process, planning the exact location of cranes, lifting points, and lifting angles.
He compared this to equipping each component with its own navigation system. During installation, the BIM model continuously compares site data in real time. If the deviation exceeds three millimeters, the system automatically issues a warning. According to project inspections, all steel components installed so far have achieved a 100% qualification rate.
Upon the full completion of the Pinhunan Integrated Logistics Hub, it is expected to handle about 1.4 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) of sea and rail intermodal cargo for Shenzhen annually. The project aims to increase regional logistics efficiency by 30% and reduce logistics costs by 20%. It is also intended to become the largest Asia-based single multimodal transport center ('Road-Rail-Sea') and a national integrated logistics node.
This will significantly strengthen Shenzhen's aspiration to become a global logistics center and provide a new impetus to the economic development of the Greater Bay Area (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao).
The National Association of Automotive Components and Related Industries (NAACAM) insists that the government must compel international automakers to increase the share of local content in vehicles assembled in South Africa to 60%.
The South African Automotive Masterplan (SAAM) 2035 is currently under review because, at current rates, it is highly unlikely to achieve its goal of increasing local production content to 60%, which was intended to create 224,000 jobs.
NAACAM CEO, Renay Mutilial, told a representative from the MISA union, Fakimile Khlubi-Majole, that localization is the most effective lever for stimulating the domestic economy, creating employment, and developing local skills, as component manufacturing provides the highest employment in the automotive value chain.
Mutilial cited Brazil, Thailand, and Turkey as examples where governments impose mandatory conditions on Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). In these regions, compliance with state-set localization requirements is not an option but a condition for selling vehicles.
He emphasized: 'We should not apologize for this. Localization effectively guarantees that you receive significant added value from OEMs. The global standard for localization is 60%. In South Africa, we are stuck at 40%, and we deserve more. OEMs in South Africa receive a lot of support from the state and the working class. We feel we must be decisive. 60% is the target in the Masterplan.'
According to Mutilial, this target exists only on paper and lacks the political will to ensure its achievement.
MISA, the main union in the retail automotive industry representing 79,000 members, supports NAACAM's view. The union noted that creating sustainable decent jobs is central to the Masterplan.
MISA's Chief Operating Officer, Martle Kater, stated in a declaration that 'it is not unreasonable to demand that OEMs who manufacture locally and receive substantial government incentives commit to creating real manufacturing jobs.'
Marin Firi, Director of Oxyon People Solutions, noted earlier this year that Chinese automotive brands lead globally in electric vehicles (EVs) and intend to remain in South Africa. However, in her opinion, the opportunity lies in encouraging these brands to utilize existing enterprises, skilled local workers, and local suppliers.
This would allow a shift from importing cars to local production, aligning with green industry growth goals. Firi added that South Africa's location provides access to African Continental Free Trade Area markets duty-free, and trade agreements open doors to Europe and beyond. With a reliable supply chain, the country could become an EV production base if policy supports it.
Nevertheless, Firi pointed out that production costs in South Africa are higher than in China. While recent tax incentives for hydrogen fuel and EV vehicle investments are a good start, more is needed. 'We need discounts for companies that hire locals and comply with content rules. Furthermore, there needs to be funding for factory modernization and assisting suppliers in transitioning to EV parts. Without a cost reduction plan, investments will go to other countries,' Firi stated in her declaration.
Ilzat Kasimov, Deputy Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, met with Yu Yan, CEO of the Chinese company JAC Motors, on July 15. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the further development of joint automobile production in Uzbekistan.
The parties noted that the opening of the JAC Motors plant in the Yangi Avlod Special Industrial Zone in May 2026 was a significant step for the development of Uzbekistan's modern automotive industry and the expansion of industrial cooperation between Uzbekistan and China.
Main attention was paid to the next stage of project implementation. Participants discussed plans to accelerate the transition of the plant from Semi Knocked Down (SKD) assembly to Complete Knocked Down (CKD) production as early as next year.
In addition, the parties considered measures aimed at deepening production localization, increasing the plant's export potential, and implementing advanced technologies.
It has been reported that the OnePlus brand will begin ceasing operations in the US and European markets. This move is part of a larger restructuring being carried out by its parent company, Oppo, amid slowing sales and geopolitical difficulties.
According to an informed source who wished to remain anonymous, the cessation of OnePlus operations could begin as early as this week. Although OnePlus will maintain its presence in China, plans are underway to extend the brand's closure to other global regions, including India, sometime in 2027.
Another Oppo mobile business, Realme, will also be leaving the Chinese market. Representatives from Oppo and OnePlus declined to comment on the matter.
The basis for these decisions stems from financial issues within the company's phone divisions, as well as a lack of growth momentum in the US, Europe, and India. Furthermore, there are concerns related to the sale of the Chinese phone brand in the US, as well as a lawsuit from Apple Inc. concerning trade secrets.
As part of the changes, Oppo will concentrate its efforts on Central Europe and will promote Realme devices in the Nordic region, which includes Finland, Denmark, Sweden, and Iceland, where the company has achieved greater success.
Although OnePlus was once a popular player among tech enthusiasts and Android fans, its influence in the smartphone market has significantly weakened in recent years. In the US, Apple and Samsung Electronics Co. dominate, while OnePlus lags far behind smaller competitors such as Motorola from Lenovo Group Ltd. and Google from Alphabet Inc.
Oppo has shown better results in China, although it trails market leaders Huawei Technologies Co. and Apple. Nevertheless, the rising cost of memory and phone prices has led to a decline in smartphone sales. According to IDC data, device shipments in China fell by 4.3% in the second quarter compared to the same period last year.
Component shortages have also complicated the development of budget models for phone manufacturers, which were central to the OnePlus 'Nord' line. Early OnePlus models received positive reviews due to a combination of reliable performance, clean software, and affordable pricing. However, the recent flagship device, the OnePlus 15, faced launch issues in the US, which was delayed due to last year's government shutdown.
