A worker inspects the production line at a rare earth automobile steel sheet production plant, Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, Jan 15. When the plant is fully operational, it is expected to produce 5.5 million tons of automobile steel sheets annually. It is the first production line of its kind in West China. Baogang Group, or Baotou Iron and Steel Group, is an iron and steel State-owned company based in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region. It is the largest steel business based in the autonomous region, and one of the oldest iron and steel industrial bases in China, with a large production base of iron and steel, and the largest scientific research and production base of rare earth metals in China.