China's auto exports achieved a historic breakthrough last year and won the recognition of the global market——
Exceeded 2 million units! Annual car exports double
Our reporter Xu Peiyu
"People's Daily Overseas Edition" (Page 06 on February 22, 2022)
In 2021, China's auto industry handed over a bright answer - China's auto production and sales both exceeded 26 million units, an increase of 3.4% and 3.8% year-on-year, respectively, ending the three consecutive years of decline since 2018.
At the same time, China's automobile exports exceeded 2 million units, doubling the previous year, achieving a historic breakthrough; the export of new energy vehicles showed an explosive growth, with a year-on-year increase of 304.6%
From hovering at 1 million all the year round to breaking through 2 million in one fell swoop, why do Chinese cars sell well overseas?
Can the good momentum of exports continue?
A big breakthrough in China's auto industry
——It marks that the export of Chinese brand automobiles has entered a period of rapid development. The export of passenger cars and commercial vehicles has grown rapidly, and Chinese car companies have set up overseas factories.
According to the data of China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (hereinafter referred to as the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers), according to the export statistics of vehicle enterprises, in 2021, the export of automobiles will be 2.015 million, a year-on-year increase of 100%, accounting for 7.7% of the total automobile sales, which is higher than that of the previous year. An increase of 3.7 percentage points.
It doubled in one fell swoop, achieving a breakthrough that has hovered around 1 million units for many years.
Xu Haidong, deputy chief engineer of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, told this reporter: "This shows that Chinese auto products have been recognized by overseas consumers."
Specifically, China's auto exports in 2021 will show the following highlights:
Exports of Chinese brand auto companies have grown rapidly.
In 2021, SAIC Motor has achieved a sales record of 697,000 vehicles in overseas markets, setting a new historical record with a year-on-year growth rate of 78.9%; Chery's export volume reached 269,000 vehicles, setting a record high; Great Wall, BYD and other Chinese brand automobile companies also Good results overseas.
Both passenger cars and commercial vehicles experienced rapid growth.
According to data from the China Automobile Association, passenger car exports will increase by 1.1 times in 2021, and SUVs will dominate; commercial vehicles will increase by 70.7%, and both passenger cars and trucks will show rapid growth.
Last year, BYD cooperated with Keihan Bus and Kansai Electric Power Co., Ltd., and jointly built Japan's first pure electric bus line.
At present, BYD's pure electric buses have a market share of 70% in Japan.
The export of new energy vehicles has exploded.
In 2021, 310,000 new energy vehicles will be exported, a three-fold increase year-on-year.
The European market has become a major incremental market, mainly concentrated in Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Norway and other developed countries, reflecting the international competitive advantage of China's new energy vehicles.
The direct investment model played an important role.
In recent years, Chinese brand auto companies have set up factories overseas, laying a solid foundation for the continued growth of exports.
In June last year, Great Wall Motors put into operation its second overseas plant, Rayong Plant in Thailand, to achieve localized production and further develop the Thai and even ASEAN markets.
BYD has 6 production bases overseas, located in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Hungary and India; at the same time, it has established more than 30 industrial parks around the world, the production content covers pure electric buses, pure electric trucks, power battery pack assembly, Solar modules and auto molds, etc., continue to provide new energy solutions for local and neighboring countries and regions.
Looking at the world, the world economy continues to recover, and auto consumption is gradually recovering.
Looking at China, the automobile industry chain is relatively complete and can provide competitive products to global consumers.
At the same time, countries represented by Europe and the United States have stepped up the promotion of new energy vehicles, and new energy vehicles have become a new driving force for China's export growth.
These factors have jointly driven a historic breakthrough in overseas sales of Chinese brand cars.
Explosive growth of new energy vehicle exports
——The scale of the supply chain, the continuous improvement of the degree of industrialization, the strong competitiveness of products, and the substantial increase in export prices
In 2021, the export of new energy vehicles will increase by 304.6% year-on-year.
Among them, the export of new energy passenger vehicles was 300,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 329.5%; the export of new energy commercial vehicles was 10,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 59.6%.
In 2021, SAIC Group will export 54,000 new energy vehicles through the joint efforts of new energy passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, becoming the leader in the export of new energy vehicles of Chinese brands; BYD, Jiangqi Group, Geely Holding and other independent brands of new energy vehicles in 2021 Exports have achieved rapid growth.
It is worth noting that the achievement of good results no longer depends on low prices.
Xu Haidong said that the price of Chinese brand new energy vehicles in the European market is about 30,000 US dollars per unit.
According to customs data, in the first three quarters of 2021, the export value of pure electric passenger vehicles reached 5.498 billion US dollars, an increase of 515.4% year-on-year. .
Today, China's new energy vehicles already have strong competitiveness.
In terms of technology, China's new energy vehicle power battery technology has reached the international leading level, and the energy density of battery cells has continued to improve, basically solving the battery safety problem; the driving motor technology is basically synchronized with the foreign level, and most of them are close to the international advanced level; Basically mastered the key technologies of some core components.
In terms of products, Chinese brand cars have made comprehensive progress in terms of appearance, interior decoration, cruising range, environmental adaptability, vehicle performance, quality, energy consumption, and intelligent applications. They have advantages in competition and have won overseas customers. favor.
Look at the external environment.
The rapid expansion of the global electric vehicle market provides opportunities for China's new energy vehicle exports.
In order to achieve carbon reduction goals, in recent years, many European governments have increased subsidies for new energy vehicles, which has activated the European new energy vehicle market. Chinese new energy vehicle products have been recognized by European consumers, and sales have continued to grow.
According to data from the General Administration of Customs compiled by the China Automobile Association, in 2021, the top ten countries in China's new energy vehicle exports are Belgium, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, India, Thailand, Germany, France, Slovenia, Australia and the Philippines.
Among them, exports to Slovenia, Australia and Thailand grew the most.
In 2021, the above-mentioned ten countries will export 424,000 new energy vehicles, accounting for 77.8% of the total export of new energy vehicles.
China's new energy vehicles are welcomed by more countries.
Xu Haidong introduced: "New energy vehicles are new products. Foreign traditional auto companies are relatively slow in the development of new energy vehicles and cannot provide competitive products. However, Chinese new energy vehicle products can meet the needs of overseas consumers and have cost advantages. Therefore, it has strong competitiveness. At the same time, foreign auto companies cannot make full use of the original strong brand barriers in new energy vehicle brands, and consumers in developed countries are also willing to accept Chinese new energy products to provide new energy vehicles for the export of Chinese brands. a good environment.”
The good momentum of auto exports is expected to continue
——Compete head-on with world-renowned brands, and accelerate the implementation of localization strategies to tap the export potential of new energy vehicles
Can the good momentum of exports continue?
Xu Haidong analyzed that there are some accidental factors behind the success of China's auto exports in 2021, such as the insufficient supply capacity of overseas suppliers, and the low base due to the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic in 2020, but more is the growth of the hard power of Chinese brand automobiles. support.
"The competitiveness of Chinese brand auto products is continuously improving and has been recognized by overseas consumers. At the same time, the direct investment model is conducive to the sustainable development of Chinese automobiles overseas. These are all positive factors in the long run. The good momentum will continue in the future.”
With export volumes reaching new heights, Chinese automakers face head-to-head competition with world-renowned auto brands overseas.
Xu Haidong said that the frontal competition is hard power, and it is necessary to rely on its own product strength, brand building, overseas layout, etc. to compete on the same stage.
At present, Chinese brand cars have strong competitiveness in terms of technology and quality, but there is still room for improvement in brand building.
At the same time, as Chinese car companies set up overseas factories, hiring and managing overseas employees, conveying brand values, and adapting to local culture are also challenges that Chinese car companies need to face in their overseas development in the future.
Xu Haidong said: "Only by focusing on the construction of their own overseas brands can Chinese brand auto companies ensure the continuous growth of overseas sales. The sign of a powerful automobile country is to have a well-known automobile brand in the world."
Setting up overseas factories and implementing localization strategies are becoming a common choice for Chinese car companies.
"Only by having their own overseas factories can the development of Chinese brand auto companies overseas be sustainable." Xu Haidong said that the direct investment model can not only promote local employment, but also help improve local consumers' recognition of brand culture, and then Increasing overseas sales will be the development direction for Chinese brand cars to "go global" in the future.
To maintain the good momentum of exports, we must continue to tap the export potential of new energy vehicles.
A relevant person in charge of SAIC Motor said that in 2022, it will target the European new energy vehicle market, launch new products and expand marketing service outlets.
According to analysis, the next step in China's new energy vehicle export requires further efforts in cross-border transportation of electric vehicles, intellectual property protection of China's own brand new energy vehicles, better cultivation of overseas brands of new energy vehicles, and the implementation of localization strategies.
Xu Haidong said: "We believe that the export of China's own brand new energy vehicles is promising, and a world-renowned Chinese auto brand will eventually be born."
The China Automobile Association stated that it will cooperate with Chinese brand automobile enterprises to actively carry out work in regulatory certification, tariffs, overseas finance, logistics and transportation, intellectual property protection and brand cultivation, and pay close attention to the main problems encountered by enterprises in exporting. Recommendations and measures to solve common problems.
At the same time, China Automobile Association will also give full play to the role of industry exchange platforms and international exchange platforms such as OICA (World Automobile Organization), APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Automobile Dialogue, and Sino-Russian Equipment Working Group to help the overseas development of Chinese brand automobiles.