Recently, China’s national broadcaster CCTV has turned its lens repeatedly on Taicang—a county-level city in Jiangsu Province, administered by Suzhou.
Among Suzhou’s four county-level cities, Taicang is the smallest in area, population, and economic output. With fewer than 1 million residents and just 810 square kilometers of land, it hardly seems like a major economic player. Yet CCTV reporters kept asking the same question: Why are global companies so bullish on Taicang?
Outbound: 2.5 Vehicles Per Minute to the World
Taicang Port is the largest automobile export hub in Jiangsu Province and the entire Yangtze River basin. In the first half of this year, nearly 650,000 vehicles were exported through Taicang to 166 countries and regions—a record high, up 71% year-on-year. That’s an average of 2.5 vehicles per minute leaving for global markets.
Of these, about 400,000 were new energy vehicles (NEVs), accounting for nearly two-thirds of total exports. On June 27, the BYD “Shenzhen” roll-on/roll-off vessel departed Taicang with over 7,000 NEVs bound for Belgium, Germany, Spain, and other European markets. Between January and May, Taicang’s exports of the “New Trio” (NEVs, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products) exceeded RMB 50 billion, reaching 133 countries and regions.
Inbound: 1,800+ Foreign Companies Voting with Their Feet
While products flow outward, capital keeps flowing in.
Taicang is home to over 1,800 foreign-invested enterprises—and is famously known as the “Hometown of German Companies,” with more than 560 German firms now operating here, accounting for 10% of all German-invested companies in China. In the first half of 2026, reinvested profits by foreign enterprises in Taicang grew 69% year-on-year.
But it’s not just about quantity—it’s about quality. German company Schmalz invested an additional RMB 70 million to expand capacity and R&D for automation solutions in China’s NEV and robotics sectors. Bruckner, a “hidden champion” in printed circuit board lamination systems, added over $5 million in profit reinvestment to upgrade automated production lines. U.S. commercial vehicle parts giant Commercial Vehicle Group also officially launched its China headquarters in Taicang.
Small City, Global Stature
Taicang sits on the south bank of the Yangtze River estuary, bordering Shanghai—the closest riverside city to Shanghai along the Yangtze. With its strategic location and 38.8 km of deep-water coastline, Taicang Port ranks 8th in China and 20th globally in container throughput. The port has achieved integrated customs clearance with Shanghai Port under a “single declaration, single inspection, single release” framework.
Post time: Jul-28-2026