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ChenZhi Lightweight, Changan's lightweighting subsidiary, has produced its first magnesium-alloy semi-solid rear door (tailgate) inner panel at its Bishan base in Chongqing, developed with Changan Automobile.

Using thixomolding forming paired with a multi-point hot-runner system, the team consolidated nine separate sheet-metal parts into a single casting measuring 1,487 × 1,263 mm at a uniform 2.5 mm wall thickness.

The panel comes in 45% lighter than the equivalent steel tailgate assembly, with more than a 20% gain in mechanical properties and a 70% material-utilization rate.

This is the next structural step in a storyline we've tracked closely:

ChenZhi began trial production earlier this year, produced first samples on a 5,000t die casting machine equipped with a TPI module, and delivered a gigantic mold for a trunk liftgate. First samples of another project from this site back in April.

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Zhongqing Robotics has run the first batch of its full-size T800 humanoid off an automated line at its new 12,000 m² Honghualing Intelligent Manufacturing Base in Shenzhen, with a stated cadence of one robot every 15 minutes and a transition target of ten-thousand-unit-scale output.

What matters for this publication is the bill of materials: the 1.73 meters tall, 75 kg T800 uses a magnesium-aluminum alloy die-cast body.

The thesis from Humanoid Robots: A New Opportunity For The Foundry Industry reaching a production cadence: tens of die-cast structural body applications for extremely high-volume products.

When these robots reach a sufficient level of intelligence for large-scale deployment, billions of die-cast parts produced on conventional small to mid-size die-casting machines will be required each year.

This creates a compelling opportunity: it not only helps close the gap left by the ongoing consolidation of small die-cast components into larger ones in the automotive industry, but also promises to drive substantial new demand for foundries across Europe and North America.

Magrathea, through its Arkansas Magnesium joint venture with TETRA Technologies, has successfully produced >99.9% pure primary magnesium metal meeting ASTM B92 specifications (standard for magnesium alloys in ingot and stick forms proposed for used in remelting).

The metal was made using Magrathea’s proprietary electrolytic process from Smackover brine sourced from TETRA’s site in Lafayette County, Arkansas.

“Producing ASTM-spec magnesium from Arkansas brine is a major technical milestone,” said Alex Grant, CEO of Magrathea. “This demonstrates that Southwest Arkansas can become the foundation for rebuilding a secure, competitive US magnesium industry.”

“This achievement highlights the quality of Arkansas’ critical mineral reserves and the strength of our partnership with Magrathea,” added Brady Murphy, CEO of TETRA. “We are advancing a practical path toward domestic magnesium production and strengthening America’s critical mineral supply chain.”

Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Hugh McDonald praised the project as further evidence of the state’s leadership in critical minerals and advanced manufacturing.

In November 2025, Magrathea and TETRA signed a term sheet to form Arkansas Magnesium. The joint venture was formally established in March 2026. The partnership leverages TETRA’s existing infrastructure, land, and operational expertise to accelerate development and reduce costs.

Magnesium is a critical mineral essential for aerospace, defense, aluminum alloys, steelmaking, and other advanced materials. The U.S. currently relies heavily on foreign supply despite abundant domestic resources.

Wanfeng Auto Wheel sold its Shanghai Dacromet coatings subsidiary in a strategic, non-distressed divestiture to sharpen focus on magnesium and advanced/general aviation.

Wanfeng signed an equity purchase agreement to sell 100% of Shanghai Dacromet Coating Industry for RMB 500 million (~$69–74 million USD).

Wanfeng’s Core Strategy: Lightweight Metals + Advanced Aviation

Wanfeng is deliberately narrowing to two strategic pillars:

1. Lightweight Metals (Aluminum & Magnesium Alloys) for Automotive/Motorcycle Parts. Meridian Lightweight Technologies (acquired ~2013): A global leader in magnesium and aluminum high-pressure die castings and assemblies.

It operates facilities across North America, Europe, and Asia, with strong R&D. It supplies premium OEMs (BMW, Audi, Porsche, Honda, GM, etc.) and Chinese new-energy vehicle makers (NIO, XPeng, BYD). Wanfeng/Meridian holds significant North American market share in automotive magnesium components and has won International Magnesium Association awards.

2. Advanced/General Aviation & Low-Altitude Economy

Diamond Aircraft Industries (acquired in 2017). A well-established general aviation manufacturer of piston aircraft (e.g., DA40, DA42 Twin Star series). Focus on design, certification, production, sales, and global support networks.

Volocopter eVTOL assets (2025): Diamond/Wanfeng acquired core assets and IP of the German eVTOL pioneer (post-insolvency) for ~€10 million. Operations integrated; headquarters remain in Bruchsal, Germany. Emphasis on certifying the VoloCity (and next-gen variants) for urban air mobility (UAM).

Domestic aviation subsidiary (Wanfeng Aircraft): In June 2026, Wanfeng announced plans to acquire an additional 35% stake for ~RMB 2.5 billion, raising ownership to 90%.

Broader Implications

This deal is another data point in the consolidation of capital and capabilities in the magnesium die-casting supply base toward integrated lightweight-metals players serving automotive, especially EV, demand. On the aviation side, it accelerates Wanfeng’s positioning across traditional general aviation (Diamond) and next-generation electric/advanced air mobility (Volocopter assets), aligned with China’s low-altitude economy push.