Going to sea is gradually becoming the key word in China's automobile development. Customize the international fan "global car", open up more international markets... Chinese cars have a "global dream". At the beginning of the new year, SAIC, BYD, Dongfeng, Geely, Great Wall and other independent car companies have released the latest plans and products for going to sea, and Chinese car companies are ushering in the big wind of "breaking the waves and going to sea".
Data: Achieving the "Second Million" in Nine Years
"Just entered the New Year, I completed several batches of domestic car export 'big orders'!" A Rong, a staff member of the Nansha Wharf Operation Department, witnessed the changes in the import and export of Nansha automobiles in the past ten years, and he told reporters, "In the past, the basic contact was imported cars, and now from time to time a large number of domestic cars depart through Nansha to Chile, the United Arab Emirates and other countries." ”
According to data compiled by the General Administration of Customs of the China Automobile Association, the mainland exported 2.015 million vehicles last year, more than double the year-on-year, and this figure set a new record for China's automobile exports. It took Nine years for China's auto exports to go from one million in 2012 to a breakthrough of two million today.
Source: China Automobile Association, enterprise public data
Survey -
1. Do you make money selling cars overseas?
Can I make money selling a car overseas? This is the curiosity of many outsiders. "I can say with certainty that I can make money." Yu De, general manager of the international business department of SAIC Group and general manager of SAIC International, is full of confidence in this issue. SAIC achieved overseas sales of 697,000 units last year, an increase of 78.9% year-on-year, ranking first in the overseas sales of Chinese car companies for six consecutive years. "Some people think that Chinese cars can only take the low-cost route overseas, but the reality is not at all. Chinese cars in overseas markets can completely win the recognition of users with technology and quality, and do not need to fight for prices. Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the All-China Passenger Transport Association, said. Fu Bingfeng, executive vice president and secretary general of the China Automobile Association, said: "The changes in China's auto export market last year reflect the turning point in the overseas development of Chinese car companies from quantitative to qualitative changes. ”
2. What cars are good to sell overseas?
China's auto exports once hovered below one million vehicles for a long time, and now they have made a breakthrough and grasped the new trend. Yu De believes that today's Chinese cars have advantages in technology, quality and intelligent networking. In addition to traditional car companies, Xiaopeng, Weilai, AIWAYS and other new car-making forces actively use high-end new energy products to lay out overseas, confirming that China's new energy intelligent vehicles are leading the trend in the world. Cui Dongshu said, "After the upgrade of Chinese-made cars, they can already compete with the original relatively high-end European and American products. ”
China's independent intelligent products have begun to conquer overseas young people. Last month, BYD launched the first "strategic overseas" new energy passenger car "Yuan PLUS", which was pre-sold in China and the Australian market at the same time (overseas named ATTO 3), which is positioned as a "big toy" for young people. Coincidentally, the Great Wall Weipai also launched a mocha hybrid "global car" for the new generation last month, which will be launched in the German market.
SAIC MG plans to "tailor a new electric vehicle for Europe", the electric vehicle called MG EH32 is developed using European standards and has an exclusive architecture for a new generation of electric vehicles. Last year, Xiaopeng sold the high-end smart coupe P7 and THE ES8, which will cost more than 460,000 yuan, to the Nordic market. "Products are built according to global standards and quality." This is the common statement of the above-mentioned enterprises.
3. Where are Chinese cars suitable for sale?
"From a big country with automobiles to a big country with automobile exports", this is the beautiful vision of Chinese auto people. So after the annual export volume exceeded 2 million vehicles, where is the outlet for Chinese car companies to export? According to the data of the General Administration of Customs compiled by the China Automobile Association, the top ten countries in China's new energy vehicle export volume last year were Belgium, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, India, Thailand, Germany, France, Slovenia, Australia and the Philippines. Among them, export growth to Slovenia, Australia and Thailand is the most pronounced. In 2021, the above ten countries exported 424,000 new energy vehicles, accounting for 77.8% of the total exports of new energy vehicles. In addition, with the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on 1 January 2022, the world's largest free trade area may bring great opportunities for China's auto exports.
The reporter noted that europe, where the current automobile industry is mature, is the market that Chinese car companies most hope to conquer. Recently, SAIC Motor set a goal at the beginning of the year: in 2022, it will fully exert its strength in the European market, and the sales volume of its own brands MG and MAXUS in Europe is expected to reach 120,000 vehicles. "We expect the first 100,000-unit market this year to be in Europe. Overseas sales will exceed 1.5 million units in 2025. "The new forces are also hitting iron while it is hot, and this year there are more kryptonites and Lantu announcing plans to go to Europe.
In terms of overseas models, Chinese car companies will accelerate the launch of new energy intelligent products. "The common product node of overseas car companies is in 2025." Liu Xinyu, deputy general manager of SAIC International Europe, said.
4. Why is "going to sea" to build a car?
"Auto exports are growing rapidly, and the direct investment model has played an important role." Fu Bingfeng said that last year, SAIC, Great Wall, Geely and other enterprises built factories overseas to support Chinese brands to take root overseas. The direct investment model can not only drive local employment, but also help to improve the recognition of local consumers' brand culture, thereby increasing overseas sales, which is the development direction of Chinese brand cars "going out".
The reporter found that unlike the previous simple export of products, the establishment of overseas factories, the implementation of localization strategies, and the introduction of advanced digital service concepts have become the common choice of Chinese car companies to "go to sea". The relevant person in charge of BYD Automobile said that to become a solid overseas backing, it is not only in research and development, in the supply chain, and in terms of technical strength, there must also be a very good guarantee. Taking India as an example, after BYD entered in 2007, it has invested more than 150 million US dollars in the local area, built two factories, and continued to promote BYD's localization development in India and South Asia. "This year, all overseas markets with sales of more than 50,000 vehicles will set up financial companies to support SAIC's long-term development in overseas markets." Yu De told reporters that SAIC Motor has established an automotive industry chain integrating research and development, marketing, logistics, parts, manufacturing, finance, used cars, etc. to the global market, and its products and services are located in more than 80 countries and regions around the world. In addition, Great Wall, Geely, Dongfeng, etc. have all set up production bases, R&D centers and service chains overseas.
Text/Photo Guangzhou Daily, Xinhua city reporter: Deng Li
Guangzhou Daily New Flower City Editor: Zhong Dawen