Auto exports surged, drawing a new blueprint for high-quality development
The product offensive prepared by various auto companies for the "Golden Nine and Silver Ten" is still continuing. It seems that countless Chinese Autobots' dreams of "from a country of auto import to a country of auto export" are gradually becoming reality.
Faced with the unfavorable conditions of the overseas new crown pneumonia epidemic and the shortage of auto chips, China's auto exports have achieved contrarian growth.
According to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (hereinafter referred to as "China Automobile Association"), in August, domestic auto companies exported a total of 187,000 vehicles, an increase of 7.5% month-on-month and a year-on-year increase of 1.6 times.
According to customs statistics, from January to August this year, 1.318 million vehicles were exported, a year-on-year increase of 117.5%. The value was 137.7 billion yuan, an increase of 111.1%, which exceeded the level of last year and both hit a record high in the same period.
"In recent years, China's automobile quality, technology, and brand service levels have continuously improved, international competitiveness has gradually increased, and exports have grown rapidly." On September 16, at a regular press conference held by the Ministry of Commerce, the Deputy Director of the Finance Department of the Ministry of Commerce , Spokesperson Shu Jueting said that the rapid growth of China’s auto exports is mainly driven by three factors: first, the global auto market is picking up, second, the export of new energy vehicles is obviously leading, and third, the international competitiveness of China’s auto companies continues to improve. The brand's international influence continues to increase.
Just as the "Golden Nine and Silver Ten" of the auto market every year confirms the resilience and vitality of China's economy, the steady growth of auto exports means that the foundation of China's auto industry and even the Chinese economy's "stability" and "progress" factors continue to accumulate At the same time, the pattern of high-quality development is also accelerating.
Behind the contrarian growth of exports, there is the self-reliance of Chinese autos.
Affected by the new crown pneumonia epidemic, global car sales fell by 13% last year, so this year ushered in recovery growth.
According to statistics from the World Automobile Organization, global car sales in the first half of this year were 35.604 million, a year-on-year increase of 28.2%.
More importantly, the leading role of new energy vehicle exports has become increasingly prominent.
According to statistics, from January to August this year, my country exported 173,000 new energy vehicles, an increase of 4.5 times year-on-year, contributing about 20% to the growth of automobile exports.
In the auto export in August, the contribution of new energy auto export growth was 35.2%.
On the one hand, self-owned brand companies have stepped up efforts to launch new energy vehicles and at the same time speeded up the pace of deployment in overseas markets; on the other hand, some foreign companies such as Tesla have increased their investment in China to build new energy vehicle export bases.
"It should be said that now is a good time for China's new energy vehicle exports." Xu Haidong, deputy chief engineer of the China Automobile Association, told reporters that the European market has increased subsidies for new energy vehicles, and the market potential is huge. Therefore, Weilai and Xiaopeng The entry plans of Chinese brands such as SAIC and SAIC are at the right time.
He said that compared with foreign brands such as German and Japanese brands, Chinese car companies have made early efforts in the field of new energy, especially pure electric vehicles, and are more obvious in the industrial chain layout of product development, quality verification, and power batteries. The advantages.
"With excellent new energy vehicle products, Chinese brands dare to enter the mature car market like Europe."
"Regardless of the inflation cycle or the economic cycle, the global auto demand boom is rising. As the first country to contain the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the stability of China's supply chain is self-evident. There are many foreign auto companies in China. Make long-term investment to move the most advanced new energy vehicle production lines to China. At the same time, Chinese car companies have keenly seized the opportunity of the new energy vehicle transition and used increasingly diverse new energy vehicle products to meet the current high global market demand." Professor Pan Helin, Executive Dean of the Institute of Digital Economy, Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, believes that China's auto industry has made important contributions to satisfying the global auto industry chain "guarantee supply".
He analyzed that the replacement of traditional fuel vehicles by smart new energy vehicles will be a long-term and irreversible process. Chinese vehicle companies and component suppliers should target this trend, speed up technological innovation, and improve production capacity layout.
"The new crown pneumonia epidemic has caused greater uncertainty in the global market. Therefore, maintaining the prosperity of China's automobile industry and achieving high-quality development requires more technological innovation and longer-term investment."
In fact, self-owned brand cars are "changing lanes and overtaking" with the help of electrification transformation.
A set of latest data shows that the penetration rate of new energy vehicles of Chinese independent brands is as high as 28.4%, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles of traditional luxury car brands is 14.2%, and the penetration rate of new energy vehicles of mainstream joint venture brands is only 2.2%.
According to data released by the China Automobile Association, from January to August this year, the sales of Chinese brand passenger vehicles were 5.612 million, an increase of 36.7% year-on-year, and the market share reached 42.8%, an increase of 6.5% year-on-year.
Among them, the surge in overseas exports is also an important factor driving up its market share growth.
"Chinese auto brands have actually moved to overseas markets. The overseas auto consumer market is gradually recovering, which provides a good foundation for the export of Chinese auto brands. At the same time, the competitiveness of Chinese auto brands has also been significantly improved. Overseas markets have gradually established a good reputation." Xu Haidong said that the contrarian growth of Chinese brand passenger cars, in addition to the improvement of its own brand power, the increase in overseas exports is also an important factor in increasing its market share growth.
According to incomplete statistics, my country's auto companies have established 11,000 marketing outlets around the world, and 8 of the top 10 auto export companies have increased their exports by more than 100%.
Take, for example, SAIC, the leader of Chinese auto companies exporting overseas.
From January to August this year, SAIC Motor's overseas market sales exceeded 370,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 106.4%, and it ranked firmly among the overseas sales champions of Chinese auto companies.
It is worth mentioning that the overseas sales of the SAIC MG brand reached 182,000 vehicles, an increase of 83.9% year-on-year, of which sales in developed countries and regions accounted for nearly 40%, becoming the "Chinese single-brand overseas sales champion."
"As China's only car company that has a systematic, planned, and established system to "go global", SAIC has established a global market-oriented car that integrates R&D, marketing, logistics, parts, manufacturing, finance, and second-hand cars. The industrial chain has laid a solid foundation for the rapid expansion of overseas business.” The relevant person in charge of SAIC Group told reporters that during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, SAIC invested nearly 60 billion yuan in independent research and development, forming new energy, intelligent network and other innovations. Technical advantages, and to create differentiated competitiveness.
Some people say that China's auto "going out" is inseparable from the improvement of overall national strength.
In fact, in the journey of upgrading from “Made in China” to “Made in China” and on the journey of building high-quality development, auto companies as industrial masters must not only ensure that their production processes meet international first-class standards, they also need to have strong Technical reserves.
Under the background of this era, Chinese car companies undoubtedly need to write more models for expanding overseas markets.
From car chaser to emerging technology leader
"'From a big country introducing cars to a big exporting country", this is the common desire of all Chinese automakers. The global market is our real sea of stars." Wei Jianjun, chairman of Great Wall Motors, once publicly stated that the domestic market is already a competitive trend. In the fierce "Red Sea Market", it is an inevitable trend for independent brands to "go global".
In his view, Chinese brands “need to make up lessons” when going global, but they must also make good use of their unique advantages.
"In the fields of home appliances and smart phones, Chinese brands have successfully gone global, and now it is the turn of Chinese cars."
At the 2021 Munich International Auto Show that opened not long ago, Great Wall Motor's Wei brand and Euler officially announced their European market strategy, announcing their entry into the European luxury car market and the new energy car market.
"In August this year, with the overseas listing of the third-generation Haval H6, Haval First Love, and Great Wall Gun, Great Wall Motors has made breakthroughs in the layout and development of many countries." The relevant person in charge of Great Wall Motors admitted frankly, facing the treacherous market. To change, in addition to making every effort to reduce the impact of production capacity caused by insufficient chip supply, we must also find ways to build confidence in overseas distributors and other partners.
"Automobiles have a natural global nature. The development of Chinese brands is inevitable for the development of the auto industry, and it is also the only way for Chinese auto companies to continue to develop upwards." In developed markets, Chinese car companies can be regarded as truly participating in international competition.
"Overseas market conditions are often more complicated, and we need to build differentiated competitiveness." A person close to SAIC told reporters that SAIC uses new energy vehicles as its entry point in mature markets such as Europe and the United States. In Thailand, India, and Indonesia And other emerging markets focus on exploring the implementation of intelligent network technology.
According to reports, from January to August this year, the SAIC MG brand sold nearly 19,000 new energy vehicles in developed European countries, a year-on-year increase of 133%, ranking among the top European markets such as the UK, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.
On the other hand, the "i-Smart" intelligent network connection system is popular among consumers in Thailand, India, Indonesia and other countries. It has been used on more than 30 overseas models and has activated more than 130,000 users.
"At present, the company's products and services have entered more than 70 countries and regions around the world, and have built three major R&D and innovation centers in London, Silicon Valley, and Tel Aviv, as well as four production bases and KD factories in Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Pakistan. If everything goes well. In 2021, SAIC’s overseas sales will reach 550,000.” She said that on the basis of the gradual formation of five “50,000-unit” regional markets in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, the Middle East, South America and India, SAIC will Challenge the "overseas annual sales of 1.5 million vehicles" mark.
In Cui Dongshu’s view, China’s auto exports in 2021 will rise all the way, reflecting the significant increase in the competitiveness of China’s auto industry in the world. There is still huge room."
Statistics show that in August, domestic auto companies exported 187,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 1.6 times, of which new energy vehicle exports contributed 35.2%.
However, the Tesla family occupies a huge proportion.
In August of this year, Tesla exported about 31,400 new cars from China.
Up to now, Tesla has exported 97,500 vehicles from China to Europe, America, Australia, Japan and other countries and regions.
"Although this part of the export of new energy vehicles includes Tesla's export volume, no matter how you say it, this reflects China's strong manufacturing system in the field of new energy vehicles." Some industry experts analyzed that considering China's power battery It has certain advantages in the supply chain of core parts and components. At the same time, the domestic new crown pneumonia epidemic is also well controlled. Chinese auto companies must also seize the opportunity of new energy vehicle exports.
In fact, there have been many new forces focusing on pure electric vehicles to accelerate their deployment in overseas markets.
In May of this year, NIO announced its Norwegian strategy and announced its official entry into the European market.
The first batch of NIO ES8 is expected to be delivered in Norway in September.
"As China becomes a technological highland leading the development of smart electric vehicles in the world, Chinese smart electric vehicle companies will also usher in the best opportunities for globalization." At the second quarter financial report of Xiaopeng Motors, Xiaopeng Motors Chairman He Xiaopeng said , Starting from 2023, at least 2~3 new cars will be launched each year that support the international market at the same time.
As of the end of June this year, about 500 Xpeng G3s have been exported to Norway, and the first batch of Xpeng P7s has also begun "shipping."
Nuggets need to pass several "life and death barriers" in overseas markets
From the toddlers who used to be chasers to today’s pathfinders who have the courage to "go out" and participate in international market competition, more and more Chinese auto companies are taking firm and powerful steps to become the next high-speed rail and smart phones. The new "Made in China business card".
"Faced with the shortage of automotive chips, many foreign-funded companies had to cut production or even suspend production due to certain restrictions in the early stage. However, Chinese independent brand car companies have adopted some flexible methods to ensure their production needs." Deputy Secretary-General of the China Automobile Association Li Shaohua reminded that after the competition for resources in the circulation link in the past few months, many auto chips are now exhausted in the circulation link. "In layman's terms, there is no more water in the'reservoir' of the auto chip supply chain. So maybe the advantages of Chinese auto companies in supply chain resources will not be so obvious in the future, which requires all companies to make corresponding preparations."
“Solving supply chain problems often requires a multi-pronged approach. For example, the current bottleneck of global automobile manufacturing is chips, and relevant domestic companies should speed up technological research and development and industrial layout, and find ways to improve the localization capabilities of automotive chips.” Pan Helin suggested Said that in addition to automotive chips, China's automotive industry will continue to make efforts in the field of new energy vehicles, focusing on making breakthroughs in lithium battery materials, three-electric systems and other links.
"In view of the long chain of the automobile industry and the many supply links, relevant companies should have the mindset of'a game of chess at home and abroad'." Cao Guangping, an independent researcher on new energy and intelligent connected cars, analyzed that domestic car companies and parts companies must "prevent the epidemic from outside," Pay attention to the core situation and keep an eye on the market.”
He said that first of all, it is necessary to prevent the internal and local areas of the company from being interfered by the new crown pneumonia epidemic. Secondly, it is necessary to pay attention to the integrity of the supply chain of auto chips and other parts. Finally, it is necessary to keep an eye on changes in the domestic and foreign markets.
"For example, when the new energy vehicle market in certain regions gradually rises, we must have products that can continue to work hard to fill the gap in this market."
"Currently, my country's automobile exports are soaring. It should be said that the long-term overseas deployment of Chinese independent brands is finally accumulating." The long-term accumulation of the Internet has finally ushered in the harvest time.
However, some industry analysts said that China's new energy vehicle export scale is still small, and it has not yet formed a world-class brand, and it is relatively difficult to prevent overseas risks.
"Pandemic, exchange rate, trade protectionism, local economic and political environment... these factors may change extremely fast, and companies should be cautious in their deployment when going overseas."
In addition, issues such as protecting intellectual property rights, maintaining the security of cross-border data transmission, and reducing logistics costs are also "life and death barriers" that Chinese car companies need to overcome before going overseas.
Shu Jueting said that in the next step, the Ministry of Commerce will continue to work with relevant departments to support auto companies in building an international marketing system, compile and release high-quality development reports on China’s auto trade, orderly expand the export of second-hand cars, and further regulate the order of auto export, in order to promote the high-quality automobile industry. Quality development creates a good environment.
More than 130 years after its birth, cars with tens of thousands of parts and components have more closely linked the supply chains of multiple countries.
When more and more new cars get on the "Made in China, Export to the World" express train, for every Chinese Autobot on this long chain, it will not only get paid, but also create wealth for others and society, and perhaps also Get the ticket to become a bigger stage.
China Youth Daily·China Youth Daily reporter Xu Yajie Source: China Youth Daily