The Frontline | Visiting Honda's First New Energy Factory: Equipped with Over 400 Robots, Pursuing "Zero" Quality Defects

Located in Wuhan, the Dongfeng Honda (Honda) New Energy Factory is Honda's first global new energy factory. It was officially completed and put into operation in early October, and recently it has also been opened for users to visit.

It is reported that the annual production capacity of this factory reaches 120,000 vehicles. The initial electric vehicle models put into production include Lingxi L, Ye S7, etc.

The new factory adopts a large number of automated and intelligent processes. During the on-site visit, it can be seen that the new factory is equipped with more than 400 robot devices, more than 260 AGV intelligent logistics vehicles, and introduces the industry's mainstream all-round automatic quality detection technology.

At the same time, the new factory has arranged 8 factory general systems and 5 workshop-specific digital systems to realize traceable digital management from logistics transportation to production. Combined with the intelligent production scheduling system, it can improve production efficiency and production accuracy.

Taking Lingxi L as an example, the water-based two-color process first introduced in the new energy factory enables Lingxi L to have a thicker coating film and better scratch and corrosion resistance.

At the same time, under the detection of the new multi-functional zebra crossing, the paint defect detection rate can reach 100%, eliminating the production and outflow of defective products.

In terms of the chassis, through multiple visual inspections in the new factory and the integration of detection algorithms, the rate of missed and misjudged detections can be minimized, thereby striving to achieve "0" quality defects outflow.

Gou Tiansheng, the deputy general manager of Dongfeng Honda Automobile, said at the scene that next year, Dongfeng Honda will launch two new pure electric vehicle models - Ye S7 and Ye GT. At the same time, the existing models such as CR-V, Civic, Inspire, and Elysion will also be modified and listed.

According to the company's plan, by 2027, Honda will have 10 pure electric vehicle models in China, covering the e:N series released in 2022 and the new electric brand "Ye" series models released in 2024. Looking forward to 2035, Dongfeng Honda will achieve a 100% sales proportion of pure electric vehicles.

It is reported that the Dongfeng Honda's new pure electric vehicle Ye S7 will also be produced in this global first new energy factory of Honda, adopting Honda's new intelligent and efficient pure electric W architecture. This architecture is equipped with a "three-in-one" high-power drive motor and a large-capacity, high-density battery with an integrated die-casting all-aluminum shell, and uses a specially designed split isolated battery cooling system.

Moreover, the W architecture provides two driving forms: single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor four-wheel drive, and various different driving modes or exclusive function settings can be selected according to personal preferences.

"Good products come from solid materials. Dongfeng Honda always adheres to quality first. Unlike some manufacturers, we pay more attention to mutual achievements with all suppliers. Only by continuously loving the entire value chain of the upstream and downstream can we control every quality link well." Gong Xi, the assistant general manager of Dongfeng Honda Automobile Co., Ltd., the deputy director of the New Model Center, and the Technology Empowerment Officer, said at the scene.