CAPTION: German auto industry expert, Ferdinand Dudenhöffer (picture alliance/dpa/Johannes Neudecker)
German auto industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer believes that Chinese manufacturers are years ahead of the German car giants, which is why he hopes to see collaboration between the brands.
"I think this kind of cooperation makes a lot of sense, because if we don't do this, we will lose an infinite amount of time," the 72-year-old told dpa in Beijing. China is 10 years ahead of Germany in autonomous driving and voice control for cars, for example, he said, partly because there are no suitable test tracks in Germany. "It won't work without the Chinese," the economist said.
The founder of the Center Automotive Research also says he sees a change in the reputation of Chinese car brands in Europe. "If they have innovations, have good quality, have things that others don't have, then people will buy that," Dudenhöffer explained. He added that China's manufacturers are pushing into Europe, especially with electric cars, which is good for competition and therefore good for German automakers.
Not all brands are likely to stay
In early October the European Commission launched an investigation into Chinese subsidies for e-cars. Brussels says that these subsidies constitute a market-distorting competitive advantage for China's producers. Dudenhöffer described the European Commission's action as "the worst thing you can do." A Chinese backlash, for example through new import duties, could damage the German auto industry "two or three times over," he warned.
Which of the many Chinese brands will survive in the European market is the subject of eager speculation. "BYD will stay," Dudenhöffer is convinced. He pointed out that smaller brands such as Xpeng, which cooperates with Volkswagen, and also Leapmotor, in which Opel parent company Stellantis recently bought a stake, were already forming alliances. Other brands such as Geely and China's first private manufacturer Great Wall Motor would need economies of scale. Manufacturers would have to choose the right strategy: Sell lots of e-cars with as little delay as possible because you have cost advantages - "and then the others starve because they can't keep up with the costs."
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