Auto & Transportation

China's automobile export is ushering in an important stage from "both quantity and quality",

On October 11, the National Passenger Car Market Information Joint Conference released the latest data. In September, the retail sales of passenger cars reached 1.922 million, up 21.5% year on year. Among them, 250000 passenger vehicles (including the whole vehicle and CKD) were exported under the statistical caliber of the Passenger Transport Federation, an increase of 85% year on year; The export of self owned brands reached 204000, up 88% year on year and 13% month on month.

Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the Passenger Transport Federation, said that the export of self owned brands to the European and American markets and the third world markets has achieved a comprehensive breakthrough, especially the average export price of pure electric vehicles has increased significantly. According to customs data, it has risen from US $2000 in 2018 to US $19900 in 2022.

Previously, a person in charge of a new energy vehicle enterprise who did not want to be named disclosed that the company's model prices for export to the European market were about twice as high as those of the domestic market. After removing taxes and other fees, the premium ability of Chinese new energy vehicles in the overseas market has been significantly improved.

More and more car enterprises go abroad

Public information shows that in the past year, on the one hand, Chinese automobile enterprises have been deeply involved in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Russia, South America, Asia and Africa and other "the Belt and Road" related countries and emerging markets; on the other hand, they have accelerated the layout of overseas new energy markets represented by Europe, and established local service networks and charging and changing networks.

Up to now, Chinese auto brands such as Weilai, Xiaopeng, BYD, LinkedIn, Landau, Oula and Mingjue have successively announced their entry into the European market, and some of them have achieved certain results.

According to customs data, 44000 new energy passenger vehicles were exported in September, including 15500 SAIC passenger vehicles, 7736 BYD vehicles, 4123 SAIC GM Wuling vehicles and 2364 Geely vehicles. According to customs data, Dongfeng Xiaokang, Skyworth, Great Wall Motors, Aichi, FAW Hongqi, JAC, etc. have also exported models to overseas markets.

The average export price of pure electric vehicles increased significantly

It is worth noting that the average price of a single vehicle of China's automobile exports has also risen significantly in the context of the continuous rise in export volume. According to customs data, in 2018, the average price of domestic automobile exports was US $12900, and then gradually increased to US $16400 in 2022.

Cui Dongshu believes that the number and average price of China's automobile exports are showing a strong growth trend, especially for pure electric vehicles.

According to customs data, the average export price of pure electric vehicles has risen from 2000 dollars in 2018 to 19900 dollars in 2022, and reached 25800 dollars in August 2022.

Cui Dongshu believes that the recent rapid appreciation of the RMB exchange rate against the euro will also increase the average price of Chinese export models. At the same time, with the high-profile entry into the European market of China's own brand and new power auto enterprises, it will further improve the average price of China's auto exports, expand the market scale, and drive the transformation and upgrading of China's manufacturing industry.

However, some experts pointed out that there are still some challenges for Chinese auto enterprises on their way to the sea, especially in terms of profitability, which still needs to be consolidated.

Chen Shihua, deputy secretary-general of the China Automobile Industry Association, said that there are still many difficulties in the globalization of China's automobile industry. Although our overall trend is good, the profitability of the enterprise is not particularly good. If the exchange rate of the exporting country changes, the enterprise will still be in a loss situation. Therefore, the global development path of Chinese automobile enterprises still needs to be verified for some time.

In his view, the key factor to attract foreign consumers and increase recognition is to constantly improve the competitiveness of products and improve the level of electrification, intelligence and networking.