China News Service, Shanghai, April 2 (Reporter Chen Jing) "China is a unique market. It is not only the largest market in the Asia-Pacific region, but also the largest independent market in the world in the future." Mote Super Skill Source (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as: Motul) Managing Director Wang Yuanbo said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Service on the 2nd.
Wang Yuanbo said that the company's sales in China will achieve double-digit growth year-on-year in 2023, and are expected to still achieve double-digit growth year-on-year in 2024. In the future, the China headquarters will continue to grow and develop.
"In the Chinese market, we use localization strategies to cooperate closely with enterprises upstream and downstream of the industrial chain." Wang Yuanbo said that strong production capacity is a common feature of Chinese enterprises. Lean production achieves cost control and high machine efficiency achieves quality control. At the same time, , China has a complete production chain and supply chain. These are difficult for other countries and regions to have at the same time. "From products to marketing and promotion, to production and research and development, not only products but also technology will increasingly be transferred to China." Wang Yuanbo said that in China, Motul has multiple local foundries, and the proportion of localized production continues to increase.
Since its establishment in 1853, the French lubricant company Motul has gone through more than 170 years. Since Motul entered the Chinese market in 2006, it has continuously promoted technological innovation and localization strategies.
Wang Yuanbo said that in the past 18 years, government departments have provided support to foreign companies in many aspects, making Motul's business in China very smooth. "In the face of China's development, in the lubricant industry, we have also learned that more companies and brands have landed in China."
In recent years, a large number of new energy vehicles have entered the market, which has brought challenges to lubricant companies to a certain extent. However, Wang Yuanbo said: "I don't think this is an impact. When the industry develops to a certain extent, companies must promote product upgrades." In his view, lubricant companies still face opportunities in the new energy vehicle market.
"China is vigorously developing artificial intelligence, and the construction of big data centers is the future trend, which gives us new opportunities." Wang Yuanbo pointed out that this will push the R&D scope of traditional engine oil manufacturers to cover the development of cutting-edge materials.
The "Shanghai Waste-Free City Construction Regulations" will come into effect on June 5. Wang Yuanbo said: "We have been constantly exploring and practicing ways to achieve sustainable development, and will make more attempts in the environmental protection of plastic packaging and base oils to contribute to sustainable development."
When it comes to digital transformation, Wang Yuanbo believes that China is at the forefront in data collection, organization, data analysis and application, and the China team hopes to expand in digitalization. "We have also developed and launched a dealer management system, which not only helps business development in China, but also helps dealers grow, and at the same time has a positive impact on our better understanding of consumers." Wang Yuanbo said. (over)