Production and sales have ranked first in the world for nine consecutive years——
Chinese new energy vehicles are popular in overseas markets
Our reporter Li Qiang, Yang Yi, Huang Peizhao and Qu Pei
BYD ATTO 3 was selected as the best electric car in the UK in 2023 by the British News Company. The Euler cat was officially rolled off the production line at the new energy vehicle manufacturing base in Rayong, Thailand. The Great Wall Motors Oman distribution network was officially put into operation. Geely's Geometry E model became a consumer product in Rwanda. The cost-effective choice for investors... Data shows that China's new energy vehicle production and sales in 2023 will be 9.587 million and 9.495 million respectively, ranking first in the world for 9 consecutive years. Among them, 1.203 million new energy vehicles were exported, a year-on-year increase of 77.6%.
As the export of complete vehicles accelerates, the new energy vehicle industry chain is also accelerating its "going global". At major international auto shows, hot-selling products integrating various advanced technologies are frequently released, Chinese brands shine, and China's smart electric vehicle technology is recognized by overseas markets. At the same time, Chinese car companies have invested in and built factories overseas, giving full play to their technological advantages and launching various cooperations. Chinese new energy vehicles are popular in overseas markets, adding new luster to Chinese manufacturing.
Europe--
Deeply participate in international market competition
At the beginning of the new year, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Haitong International Automobile Terminal was busy. The "SAIC Anji Shencheng" car ro-ro car ship made its maiden voyage to Europe. The ship carried a total of nearly 5,000 new cars of China's own brands, about half of which were new energy vehicles;
At the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, one of the largest car ports in Europe, multiple car ro-ro ships from Shanghai, Ningbo and other places dock at the port every week. The Chinese cars in the parking lot of the terminal have been featured in the European media many times. lens.
China's new energy vehicles maintain a momentum of booming production and sales. The number of exporting countries continues to increase, and developed economies in Europe and the United States have gradually become target markets. At last year's Munich International Auto Show in Germany, more than 50 Chinese auto industry-related companies in the fields of complete vehicles, three-electric systems, and automotive software made a wonderful appearance. BYD, MG, Leapmotor, Xpeng, Avita and other Chinese car brands attracted many visitors to stop and learn about and experience the car.
Europe is becoming a major incremental market for China's automobile exports. Data released by the French Inoviv Consulting Company on January 8 showed that from 2021 to 2022, the number of cars imported by Europe from China has surged, and the share of cars produced in China in Europe's complete vehicle imports has jumped from tenth to second. . According to data from the National Passenger Car Market Information Joint Conference, Europe will account for 38% of the 1.203 million new energy vehicles exported by China in 2023, far exceeding other regions. Belgium, the United Kingdom, Slovenia, France and other countries are popular destinations for Chinese new energy vehicles exported to Europe.
In March 2023, the European Council approved a regulation to ban the sale of new fuel-powered cars and minivans that cause carbon emissions from 2035. Affected by policies and environmental protection concepts, the European new energy vehicle market is experiencing rapid growth. With their excellent quality, Chinese new energy vehicles have gained recognition in the demanding European market where traditional automobile giants gather, providing a good opportunity for the Chinese automobile industry to deeply participate in international market competition.
China and Europe have their own characteristics and are highly complementary in terms of new energy vehicle technology, production capacity, and supply chain. Relying on their respective advantages, China-EU new energy vehicle cooperation will further benefit consumers and industries and open up new areas for China-EU cooperation.
Early last year, CATL's Thuringia factory in Germany was officially launched. This is CATL's first battery factory in Europe. The factory will provide batteries for European car manufacturers such as BMW, Bosch and Daimler. In addition, Chinese battery companies such as Guoxuan Hi-Tech and Honeycomb Energy have also successively set up factories in Europe and put them into production. China's new energy vehicle export model is no longer limited to the export of complete vehicles, but has gradually expanded to investing in and building factories in overseas markets, extending the complete industrial chain overseas.
Chris McNally, an analyst at investment bank Evercore ISI, predicts that by 2030, Chinese-made pure electric vehicles may account for 15% of the European market. Reuters commented that China, as the world's largest auto market, will continue to lead the recovery of the global auto industry.
Southeast Asia--
Promote the rapid development of new energy automobile industry
At the Nezha Auto Overseas Direct Store in a large shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, the reporter met Wechachai, a Bangkok citizen who accompanied his friends to choose a car. "I have been driving a gasoline car in the past. After the gas price became more and more expensive, I changed to a Nezha new energy car and the driving experience was very good. So when my friend needed to change his car, I did not hesitate to bring him here. ." Wichachai told reporters.
Chinese companies in Southeast Asia continue to improve supporting services for electric vehicles, optimize the environment for using electric vehicles, and further stimulate consumer demand. Great Wall Motors APP covers 85% of the public charging network in Thailand. Great Wall Motors has also launched G-Charge super charging stations to provide more convenient services for Thai electric vehicle users; Singapore Petroleum Corporation, a subsidiary of China Petroleum International Singapore Company, and Singapore Energy Group signed a Charging cooperation agreement to expand the layout of convenient vehicle charging business. According to data released by market analysis agency Canalys, in the first half of 2023, China's new energy vehicle market share in Southeast Asia reached 71.2%.
In recent years, Southeast Asian countries have introduced policies to support the development of the new energy vehicle industry: the Thai government recently announced a series of new measures to support the development of the new energy vehicle industry from 2024 to 2027; Malaysia plans to build 10,000 public charging facilities across the country by 2025 The Singapore government plans to require all newly registered vehicles and taxis to be powered by cleaner energy by 2030. With the implementation of a series of policies, Chinese car companies have gradually transformed their development model, shifting from exporting products and services to localized production of key components, and promoting the "global expansion" of the new energy vehicle industry chain.
As a major automobile production base in Southeast Asia, Thailand has welcomed more and more Chinese companies to invest in the production of new energy vehicles in recent years, bringing corresponding industrial chains and technologies to the local area, helping Thailand boost its economy and promote green development. According to statistics, Chinese car companies that announced to build factories in Thailand in 2023 include Changan Automobile, SAIC, BYD, Nezha, etc., with a total planned investment of more than 10 billion yuan.
In December last year, the first battery pack produced at the Honeycomb Energy factory rolled off the production line in Sriracha County, Chonburi Province, Thailand. Yang Hongxin, Chairman and CEO of Honeycomb Energy, said: “Relying on domestic power battery technology and Thailand’s local policy environment, we will introduce China’s advanced lithium battery technology to Thailand, build a local battery supply chain system, and continue to develop markets in the new energy field. "
About 20 minutes’ drive north from the Honeycomb Energy Factory, you will arrive at the SAIC CP New Energy Industrial Park in Banbang County, Chonburi Province. At the end of April last year, construction began on an industrial park covering an area of 120,000 square meters. The park will focus on the localized production of key components for new energy vehicles. Zhao Feng, President of SAIC Motor CP, said that the new energy industrial park will provide strong support for Thailand's transformation into a green and low-carbon society.
Market analysts said that as the scale of China's new energy vehicles and their ancillary products and services continues to expand, the proportion of China's new energy vehicles in total automobile sales in Southeast Asia is expected to further increase.
Middle East, Africa——
Promote the electrification transformation of the automobile industry
In Cairo, the capital of Egypt, in the bustling Muhandisen district, the Arab League Street is busy with traffic. Walking into a car showroom, among the many well-known brand cars, new energy vehicles from China are particularly eye-catching.
Sales manager Yahaya told this reporter: "Egypt attaches great importance to the development of the new energy vehicle industry. After Chinese-made new energy vehicles entered the Egyptian market, they helped reduce carbon emissions, reduce pollution, and achieve green travel, and were deeply loved by Egyptians. !" Yahaya told reporters, pointing to a Volvo XC40 pure electric car made in China.
China's booming new energy vehicles are occupying more and more market shares in the Middle East, Africa and other regions, leading the new green and low-carbon trend and becoming an important driving force for the electrification transformation of the local automobile industry.
In October 2022, Hongqi New Energy Vehicles became the first new energy vehicle brand to join the Dubai Police Vehicle Team in the United Arab Emirates; at the end of 2022, Geely's new energy commercial vehicle brand Yuan Yuan Automobile signed an order for 1,000 new energy commercial vehicles with a UAE company; last June , BYD launched the ATTO 3 model in the UAE. "The sun is blazing and the heat is unbearable in the summer in Dubai. The temperature of more than 40 degrees Celsius almost melts the earth. This puts a great test on the high-temperature resistance of the car. ATTO 3 passed the high-temperature test." BYD's partner company in the UAE, Majid Khalid, technical director of Futeim Group, told this reporter.
In July last year, the UAE Cabinet approved the national electric vehicle policy to encourage the business sector to invest in electric vehicle charging stations to promote the development of green transportation. Affected by this, the UAE electric vehicle market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 30% between 2022 and 2028. Local media said this provides a good opportunity for more Chinese-made cars to enter the UAE market.
In many African countries, the speeding electric cars made in China have also become a beautiful sight. In Ethiopia, the Chinese-made Volkswagen ID model has become one of the mainstream products in the local electric vehicle market; in Ghana, there are more than 20 Chinese-made electric vehicles on the market, including cars, SUVs and minivans; in Zimbabwe and Kenya, BYD electric trucks are widely used in the logistics and transportation industries; in South Africa, SAIC Maxus eDeliver 3 and Dongfeng Xiaokang EC3 are star products in the market, with sales increasing year by year.
An article in Egypt's "News" pointed out that due to their low prices and high quality, Chinese brands and multinational brand electric vehicles manufactured in China are rewriting the African automobile market. Kenyan car seller Makuka said in an interview with this reporter: "Chinese electric vehicles have good performance and excellent design, which not only better meet people's travel and transportation needs, but also help reduce air pollution. Hope In the future, Africa and China can carry out more mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of electric vehicles." (People's Daily)