When it comes to the automotive industry, there is probably no industry that embodies the spirit of global cooperation more than it. But just recently, this harmony has been disrupted by a strong protectionist counter-current – the United States and the European Union have shown a "red card" around Chinese-made electric vehicles.
On the one hand, the U.S. government intends to investigate electric vehicles from China, and on the other hand, the European Union has introduced new regulations requiring registration controls on Chinese imported electric vehicles. In the face of these two surging "cold snaps", the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the mainland immediately responded: these unilateral trade restrictions ignore the rules and are hastily implemented, which will seriously disrupt the global automotive supply chain and hinder the transformation of their respective automotive industries.
It is undeniable that China's electric vehicle industry has developed rapidly in recent years, and its output and exports have climbed to the forefront of the world, and the performance and quality of some models have even surpassed those of traditional automobile powers.
However, this "amazing" speed of development has caused some countries to question and speculate about the technical sources and business operation models of China's electric vehicles. For example, the United States believes that the rapid rise of China's electric vehicles is likely to have problems such as so-called "unfair subsidies" and "theft of intellectual property".
The European Union, on the other hand, is worried that Chinese automakers will be manipulated and abused by "state capitalism" in China, and there is a suspicion of unfair competition. It is true that in the past development process of China's electric vehicle industry, there may indeed be some unregulated and illegal practices.
However, it seems to me that the rash imposition of trade restrictions on the entire industry based on suspicion and speculation is a bit arbitrary and hasty. What's more, traditional automobile manufacturing powerhouses like Europe and the United States have also incorporated a large number of China's production capacity and technical reserves into their domestic industrial chains, and the interests of both sides have been highly integrated and related.
Once the friction intensifies, it will inevitably damage the stable operation of the global automotive supply chain. At this critical juncture of the global energy transition, countries are actively promoting the electrification of their fleets. But if everyone slows down, sets limits on each other, and hinders each other, it will only lead to chaos and inefficiency in the industrial and supply chain in the end.
Consumers will have to pay a higher price for an electric car, and they will also miss out on the opportunity to experience this green mobility faster. Historically, the global industrial division of labor has been an inevitable choice for mankind to pursue the maximization of economic interests.
This is especially true in the automotive industry, where from the initial era of combustion engine vehicles to today's wave of electrification, has always required countries to work together to do their best and perform their duties. In fact, it is difficult for any country to build a car or even a qualified electric vehicle product completely independently with a single strength.
Take Tesla's electric car, the most popular electric vehicle in China, for example, its supply chain is all over the world, including parts manufacturers and technology suppliers in the United States, Germany, Japan, South Korea and other countries. Even for emerging independent brands, a considerable part of their key components such as batteries, motors and electronic control systems are also imported from abroad.
In fact, this shows that the rapid growth of China's electric vehicle industry, in addition to the promotion of national support policies, is inseparable from the penetration and integration of multinational companies and foreign technologies. On the European and American side, Chinese companies also have many patents and technical contributions in key links such as batteries and motors, such as CATL, which is one of the world's world-class battery suppliers.
If Western countries now want to impose trade controls on China's electric vehicles, won't it also affect their own technical links and industrial chain operations? In general, the automobile industry is the most typical global industry today, and consumers who buy cars can benefit from the good parts and technologies produced around the world, and the price is often relatively low due to the division of labor.
If either side insists on trade protectionism and reluctantly pursues self-sufficient industrial independence, not only will the cost increase sharply, but technological development will also be seriously hindered, and only ordinary people will be hurt in the end. Therefore, we must attach great importance to the trade friction in the field of electric vehicles, but we should not exaggerate and exaggerate too much.
After all, before it intensifies, it is necessary to calmly analyze the interest drivers behind it. I am afraid that some enterprises and countries with ulterior motives are just taking the opportunity to speculate and exert pressure in order to profit from it. We need to believe that a rational mind will eventually triumph over bigotry and narrow-mindedness.
As long as everyone can uphold an inclusive and open attitude, and devote themselves to promoting the healthy and orderly development of the electric vehicle industry, then we will be able to create a win-win situation. In general, with the advent of the era of new energy vehicles, the global automotive industry chain will inevitably undergo deep reshaping and adjustment.
It is difficult for a single country or region to manage the entire industrial chain alone, and everyone needs to complement each other's advantages on the basis of division of labor and cooperation. Although the current trade dispute is clouded, we have reason to believe that as long as we open up and work together, we will be able to create a new pattern of the automobile industry that is more efficient and more beneficial to all mankind.
In the face of global climate and environmental challenges, we should all join hands and work together to promote the process of green travel, rather than fending for ourselves. Let us hope that all parties can cherish each other's relationship, share industrial dividends, and maintain this beautiful new era of automobiles.
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