Reporter: Zhang Huaishui Editor: Chen Xing
"In our country, new energy vehicles can run 50-60 kilometers with a charge of 1 US dollar. But if it is a fuel vehicle, it will cost several times the cost. David, a buyer from Ecuador, told the "Daily Economic News" reporter that the local people have a lot of interest in new energy vehicles.
As the "barometer" and "weather vane" of China's foreign trade, at the site of the 135th Canton Fair, the new energy vehicle and smart travel exhibition area has become the hottest section in the audience. Pure electric supercars, multi-purpose vehicles, three-wheeled and four-wheeled commercial vehicles, and even new energy heavy trucks have been moved into the hall, which makes people overwhelmed.
In the past quarter, China's auto exports performed well, with 248,000 pure electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (59,000 units), up 2.6 times y/y.
The reporter found in the investigation that although some countries have built high trade barriers to the mainland, for most car companies, the demand for new energy vehicles in overseas markets is far from saturated, and exports are still a "blue ocean".
Wei Haigang, general manager of GAC International Automobile Sales and Service Co., Ltd., said that 2023 is the initial period for GAC's new energy vehicle exports, and this year will enter an acceleration period and strive to run out of acceleration. "Southeast Asia is a good place to start, and we have a number of assembly plants in Africa and Southeast Asia. ”
Buyers from oil-exporting countries pay attention to new energy vehicles: Chinese cars are the first choice in terms of price and quality
Loshkalyev is a buyer from Kazakhstan and has been working in China for 5 years. He told the "Daily Economic News" reporter that he once bought an electric bicycle in Tianjin, and later opened an electric bicycle shop in Kazakhstan. "I came to the Canton Fair mainly to find some new products, and I was very concerned about the quality, design and the way the Chinese factory operated. ”
"In our country, Chinese new energy vehicles are very popular, such as BYD, Chery, etc., there are many different options. Loshkariev told reporters that when it comes to price and quality, Chinese cars are his first choice. Compared to Europe and the United States, Chinese cars do not have such high prices, but the quality is about the same, or even better.
"Price is very important to us, which is why I came to China for the Canton Fair. Bolivian buyer Rojas told the "Daily Economic News" reporter that China is a "leader" in new energy vehicles, with good prospects for new energy vehicles and a rich selection of models. This time, he is focusing more on electric and hybrid models.
Rojas told reporters that in Bolivia, new energy vehicles are a new thing, and it takes a certain amount of time for everyone to know how good new energy vehicles are. "I used to make motorcycle accessories, and I just started to get in touch with new energy vehicles. ”
Buyers carefully visit new energy vehicles Photo by reporter Zhang Huaishui
At the Jinpeng Automobile booth, David pointed to a miniature pure electric passenger car and told the "Daily Economic News" reporter that there are more mountain roads in Ecuador, so the power of the car should be sufficient. This kind of lithium battery micro car can just meet the needs of local people.
"New energy vehicles of about 10,000 US dollars are the best-selling in our country. David told reporters that previously, electric vehicles in China had been purchased, and the feedback was good. "We plan to continue to purchase 40 vehicles, including cargo tricycles, and expect to be delivered in the second half of this year. ”
Amadov, a buyer from Azerbaijan, is more concerned about the use of new energy vehicles in the taxi sector. In an interview with the reporter of "Daily Economic News", he said that although the country has rich oil resources, taxis in the city have been used for many years and are very old.
"At present, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles in our country is not high, and more are gasoline and diesel vehicles. Amadov said that he is very concerned about the application of new energy vehicles in the taxi field, because this field needs more environmentally friendly and modern cars.
Foreign buyers are very interested in China's new energy vehicles, photographed by reporter Zhang Huaishui
PK with European and American automobiles: China's small and micro electric vehicles "rolled" into the European market
The reporter of "Daily Economic News" found in the investigation and visit that affected by the restrictive trade measures in Europe and the United States, most new energy vehicles and export trade enterprises choose South Asia, East Asia, Africa, South America and other countries as the main destination countries for exports, but some companies still insist on doing the European market, and even feedback "selling very well".
"At present, our main markets are still in Europe and the United States, and there are more European regions. Hou Dafu, head of Jinpeng Group's overseas brand, said in an interview with the reporter of "Daily Economic News" that many European and American countries prefer Jinpeng's products, and they are more in line with local needs in terms of practicality, use and applicability.
Talking about how to keep orders and shares in the European market, Hou Dafu told reporters that independent research and development, independent production, and self-owned supply chain system are the core competitiveness. "From the motor, electronic control, to the carriage production, welding, stamping, painting, and final assembly, we all complete it ourselves, so as to ensure the cost and quality to the greatest extent. ”
"The European market is relatively profitable, and the entire European market accounts for about 70% of our export sales. Hou Dafu told reporters that the cost of labor and land in Europe is very high, and it is not cost-effective to produce such cars. "We fill the gap in this segment and can carry out highly customized production according to customer needs. ”
Jinpeng Group's booth was taken by reporter Zhang Huaishui
In addition to the price advantage, it is also important to obtain local certification.
Sun Han, sales director of Chengdu Zhongxinhai Industrial Group Co., Ltd., which is engaged in automobile export business, told the "Daily Economic News" reporter that in recent years, the number of domestic manufacturers who export miniature trams has increased, and these manufacturers will first complete the EU certification, which is the premise that the car can be licensed locally.
"A single brand, if it is not authorized by the main engine factory, the cost of certification is very high, often tens of millions of yuan. Sun Han told reporters that some large and medium-sized new energy vehicles in China, because of certification and other reasons, can not sell small and micro electric vehicles in the European market.
New energy vehicle companies going overseas changes: from vehicle exports to overseas factory construction
In an interview, the reporter of "Daily Economic News" found that since 2020, the pace of China's new energy vehicles going to sea has been getting faster and faster, and the "route" of going to sea is also quietly changing.
"Around 2020, our business was mainly in the Middle East, and then we 'moved' to Central Asia, and we were in Central Asia for the whole of last year. Sun Han said in an interview with the "Daily Economic News" reporter that it mainly includes Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and other countries.
When it comes to the layout of the next step, Sun Han is very optimistic about Southeast Asia. "I just came back from Southeast Asia last week. Southeast Asian countries have relatively high tariffs on fuel vehicles, and low tariffs on electric vehicles, so for now, we feel that the Southeast Asian market is very good. ”
Another overseas manager who does automobile export business told the "Daily Economic News" reporter that in the past few years, car sales in Central Asia are indeed very hot, and many car dealers choose to do entrepot trade in Central Asia and re-export to Russia through Central Asian countries, so that the cost of circulation is very low. "But with the adjustment of Russian policy, there may be big changes this year. ”
The reporter learned that the Russian government has made it clear that the part of the import of cars from the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union to Russia without truthfully declaring tariffs will be calculated as part of the scrap tax, and the new regulations will be mandatory for natural and legal persons. In accordance with the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation dated February 13, 2024 No. 152, the Government of the Russian Federation has adjusted the rules for the payment of scrapping tax on wheeled vehicles, which will enter into force on April 1, 2024.
Some traders told the "Daily Economic News" reporter that if the scrap tax is calculated, the final tax may account for more than 40% of the export price of automobiles, and the profits will be squeezed to a certain extent in entrepot trade in Central Asia.
New energy vehicles attract a large number of foreign buyers to stop by reporter Zhang Huaishui
As the "vanguard" of the automobile export business, traders are often the most sensitive group. The adjustment of the direction of the leading car companies going overseas can better reflect the trends and thinking of the industry.
Wei Haigang said in an interview with the reporter of "Daily Economic News" that GAC has chosen the road of deep overseas export and localized operation in parallel, and requires overseas markets to achieve sufficient localization at the level of R&D and sales. At present, a number of assembly plants have been laid out in Africa and Southeast Asia, among which Nigeria and Tunisia have achieved the first batch of vehicles off the assembly line, and GAC Aion Thailand has started construction, and the first phase of the project is scheduled to be completed in July this year.
Talking about the next step of planning, Wei Haigang told reporters that GAC will firmly establish the five major market maps of Europe, Asia-Pacific, CIS, Middle East and Africa, and Central and South America overseas, deeply cultivate at least 12 strategic markets of 10,000 vehicles, and challenge the overseas sales target of 500,000 vehicles by 2030.
The overseas market for new energy vehicle parts is hot: fuel vehicle parts companies expand the charging pile business
"It's like a one-stop shop where I can always find the products and accessories I'm looking for. At the Xinyi Glass booth, Toth (pseudonym), a buyer from North Africa, told the "Daily Economic News" reporter.
Toth pointed to a piece of car windshield hanging from the wall and told reporters: "There is a demand for this product in our country, and I tried to provide a sample to a company to help customers get orders." ”
With the acceleration of China's automobile exports, the demand for automotive after-sales service in overseas markets is also increasing, especially in areas with a relatively weak industrial base.
"We have tens of thousands of models of glass, which can cover the world's mainstream car brands. Huang Wenjia, regional sales manager of Xinyi Glass Holdings Co., Ltd., told the "Daily Economic News" reporter that in recent years, the company has focused on the overseas automotive aftermarket, and the Middle East, Africa and European markets have great demand for the company's products, and last year's sales increased by about 10%.
Xinyi glass booth products are taken by reporter Zhang Huaishui
"Overseas dealers and repair shops are our main customer groups. Huang Wenjia further told reporters that as more and more Chinese new energy vehicles are exported overseas, the breakage rate of glass is also increasing. In particular, high value-added glass such as heat insulation, coating, and head-up display is in high demand in the overseas aftermarket, and the demand is almost in short supply.
"Our company has been making fuel vehicle accessories for more than 20 years, but since 2020, the demand for charging piles overseas has shown explosive growth. Manager Wang (pseudonym), who is responsible for overseas business of Shanghai Guangwei Electric Group, told the "Daily Economic News" reporter that according to their research, the ratio of new energy vehicles and charging piles in Europe is only 7.6:1, that is, 7.6 vehicles correspond to 1 charging pile.
"The cost difference between the same charging pile in China and in Europe is about 3 times. Manager Wang further said that the charging piles exported from China to the United States are indeed in the "tariff list", but the company is still unwilling to give up the European and American markets. Because these markets are in high demand for home charging piles, the European market accounts for about 80% of their export share.
The new energy vehicle charging pile displayed by the enterprise was taken by reporter Zhang Huaishui
Sun Xiaohong, secretary general of the Automobile Branch of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, said in an interview with the reporter of "Daily Economic News" that the Canton Fair is not just a car, but the entire automobile industry chain. After three years of rapid development, China's automobile exports have a relatively high base, which was 5 million last year and is expected to reach 6 million this year.
China's new energy vehicle exports have performed well
"Referring to international experience and trends, there is a 'ceiling' for the export of automobiles purely in the form of trade, so investment must keep up. Sun Xiaohong further told reporters that in the future, the car "going to sea" should be a way of trade and investment, that is, we not only want to export vehicles, but also package the industrial chain, and even realize localized production and sales, and set up factories in the investment destination countries.
Sun Xiaohong predicts that the growth rate of China's automobile exports this year will be about 15%-20%. "With more and more countries promulgating 'combustion bans', superimposed on the intensification of competition in the domestic auto market, and the willingness of car companies to seek overseas incremental markets has strengthened, the performance of new energy vehicle exports is still worth looking forward to. ”
National Business Daily