(Yicai Global) Aug. 31 -- Jiangsu Hagong Intelligent Co. [SHE:000584], a new entrant in the new-energy vehicle market, will ramp up the development of carbon fiber car bodies after recently acquiring a leading Chinese vehicle body manufacturer.

The public company supplies auto parts to top-tier global carmakers, including Jaguar and Land Rover. Its general manager, Qiao Hui recently spoke to Yicai Global talked about his firm's carbon fiber project.

Lightweight car bodies are a major technical development shift in the NEV industry, as they can increase electric vehicle's battery life, he said. Aluminum bodies are the most popular choice at present.

Rapid growth in the NEV market has set more demanding requirements for body materials in terms of both weight and performance, Qiao said.

Hagong Intelligent subsidiary Tianjin Fu Zhen Industrial Equipment Co. has been a long-time supplier of large quantities of aluminum car bodies to clients in recent years.

However, the firm has identified carbon fiber as a new business priority. The company will divert more resources toward lightweight carbon fiber body development and build up a pipeline of relevant technologies, he said. Carbon fiber has not been applied on any mass-produced models in China so far, but the company has decided to set up a test production line for carbon fiber vehicle bodies.

"Lightweight car bodies are one of the most effective solutions to improve the mileage of traditional and new-energy vehicles," said Professor Yu Muhuo at Donghua University. Henry Ford's invention of assembly lines marked the auto industry's first revolution, and carbon fiber NEVs may trigger the second one, he added.