The first body in white－the car body with its sheet metal components welded together－has been delivered to the assembly line for further procedures such as painting and installation of moving parts.

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.

If they were stamped and welded, another supplier could be able to produce them within a week or so.

The project that was put into operation can now produce 3 million non-refillable welded cylinders per year," Tang said.

The new bridge has a welded, all-steel superstructure that acts as a single, integral unit and is of a design that is being used on a large-scale lift bridge for the first time in the Western Hemisphere, said Zhao Xiaojiang, CSCEC's vice-president.

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.

The bearing seat of the right front tie rod of the front axle girder may not be firmly welded, leading to a risk that the right front wheel of the vehicle might fall off the vehicle.

Also subject to the recall are 35 Wrangler models with loosely welded track bar brackets, which could break from the car frame and compromise the steering.

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.