German media: No Chinese will buy German electric vehicles today, China is too ahead
Felix Li, a former German journalist in China, wrote a book about the experience of his father, former Volkswagen chief representative in Beijing, "China, My Father and Me," which won the German Business Book Award on Friday. His father had ensured that Volkswagen had its first business in China. German "Economic Weekly" on the 23rd with the title of "no Chinese will buy Volkswagen's electric car today - BYD is too ahead", in an interview, father and son recalled their family's role in the first step of Volkswagen's entry into China. The current state of the automotive industry in Germany and China, how the balance of power between China and Germany has changed. Both are concerned about the German automaker's future.
China's automobile exports have soared
Wirtschafts: Without you, there might not be a Volkswagen factory in China today?
Li Wenbo: Not exactly. I was involved in at least some of Volkswagen's key steps into China. In 1978, I was the only employee at the Wolfsburg plant who spoke Chinese. When the Minister of Machinery Industry of China suddenly appeared at the door and wanted to visit our factory, I was asked to translate. His visit came a few months ago, my first visit to China in nearly 30 years. My family picked me up from the airport on bicycles. Mode of transport, technology - everything is still stuck at the level of the 40s. I told the minister this story and compared it with the current situation in Germany.
Article in the German "Wirtschaftsblitzka"
Felix Lee: In the course of this conversation, both sides realized that there are opportunities for cooperation between China and Volkswagen. In 1984, Volkswagen became the first company to manufacture and "legally" sell cars in China.
The first time I went to China was in 1980, when I was four years old. I think it's bad there. The weather is very cold, there is no heating, no hot water, many houses do not have electricity, public toilets throughout the complex ... Later, I went to Nanjing to visit relatives every two years on average. They feel more prosperity with each visit. The second time there was a radio, the third time there was a TV. Sometime in the 2000s, I noticed that the standard of living of my cousins was no longer really different from what we were used to in Germany.
Lee father and son
Wirtschafts: There is a memorable quote in your book: "In the past, China depended on the masses, and today the masses depend on China." "To what extent?
Felix Lee: Volkswagen will not survive after exiting China. Currently, the country has 34 factories and is the company's most important sales market. If the Chinese market collapses, half of the sales will disappear. In addition, it is extremely important that Volkswagen is now at the forefront of technology in China. China is the world's most important auto market and is currently well ahead of the United States. Anyone who doesn't play in the top flight no longer plays a significant role in the global market.
Suddenly, within a year or two, the Chinese company BYD overthrew the supremacy of Volkswagen - after Volkswagen dominated for almost 40 years. You can see that in recent years China has not only caught up with it technologically, but even surpassed it.
Li Wenbo: No Chinese will buy Volkswagen's electric car now. BYD is too ahead. At this year's Shanghai Auto Show, people were interested in BYD, not Volkswagen. Chinese launched eight models this year. Volkswagen only has ID 7. There were almost no people at the Volkswagen booth, but BYD was crowded. In the past, the opposite was true. This is a clear picture of the development of the industry in the past two years.
Shanghai volkswagen
Wirtschafts: Is the German automotive industry really that far behind?
Li Wenbo: The idea that Germany was ahead of China – now that's no longer the case anyway. New inventions can only be realized through hard work and continuous improvement of existing products. If we don't work hard, Chinese will have better technology than we have in the long run.
A vivid example: Chinese employees or suppliers used to come to Germany to study. For example, at the internal combustion engine plant in Volkswagen Salzgitter. Today, Salzgitter's entire battery manufacturing plant is from China. Our mechanical engineers were sent to China to study. Times are changing.
Felix Lee: It also requires massive reflection by the people of Wolfsburg. Suddenly you have to look modestly at your Chinese partner in the hope that they will teach you something. The future of technology has long been determined by China.
Chinese cars are welcomed at auto shows
Wirtschafts: Isn't it too late?
Li Wenbo: Germans see the car as a means of transportation, nothing more – but now the car has to do more to become a smartphone on wheels. It's time to finally understand this. In this way, the German automotive industry may be able to catch up. We must hurry now. We can't waste any more time – this applies to companies, but also to politics.