In the early stage of the project, in order to weld thick inner wall of the pipe, which costs lots of manpower, Wang adopted an innovative technology - "automatic welding process" - to improve labor efficiency and accuracy and speed up construction process.

Major shipyards in the nation now mainly use advanced machines to cut, weld and paint components, which according to Hu, is "partly automation" in the assembly line.

Even though major shipyards in the country have adopted advanced machines to cut, weld and paint components, or "part automation" in the assembly line, Zhang said there are still several challenges for shipyards to shift from traditional processes to robotic and intelligent methods.

Weld leakages on the front fenders, which fix the front shock absorbers, will affect the stability of the vehicle in extreme cases and pose potential safety hazards, according to the statement.

It is scheduled to assemble, paint and weld vehicles by the end of next year.

It is scheduled to have the capacity to assemble, paint and weld by the end of next year, while up to 60 percent of vehicle parts and materials will be sourced from South African suppliers.