It has been 15 years since German luxury carmaker BMW began localizing its manufacturing in China – establishing its Chinese joint-venture BMW-Brilliance. And now, the automaker's plants in the northeastern city of Shenyang become its largest in the world. 

However, there are still uncertainties over international tension as well as China's own reform journey. During an interview with CGTN, the President and CEO for BMW-Brilliance, Dr. Johann Wieland discussed what lies ahead for the German carmaker's operation in China.

Over 70 percent of BMW-Brilliance's models sold in China are now being made in China by 359 local suppliers of the firm, but when the joint-venture first started, all cars were only assembled in China with imported parts.

"Well, first of all, of course here is the development of the market, because the market demand is the basis for being successful here at BMW-Brilliance," said Dr. Wieland.

The Chinese government has set a target of selling two million new energy cars by 2020, and BMW-Brilliance thinks green energy is the right way forward. The firm's president told CGTN that green energy is a technology they can offer, and it is not just about BMW but also its partners. BMW-Brilliance has been working with Chinese battery maker – CATL, and the battery maker is also set to sail to Germany to provide battery technologies other than BMW cars made in China.

In addition, the electric version of BMW X3 – the iX3 – will roll off the assembly line in Shenyang in 2020.  And the China-made vehicle will then be brought into other markets

"We communicated that already that with the new iX3... will only be built here in Shenyang and this will be exported all markets in the world. I think this is the way forward," said Dr. Wieland. 

When asked about the current US-China trade spat, which has already hit US-made BMW's SUV models , the X5 and X6, Dr. Wieland told CGTN that his firm has a lot of confidence in the Chinese government to find a solution with Washington.