Cornelius Koelblin’s Post

[#Fleet #Management #Insights]: Challenges for Chinese Brands in the Booming Fleet Market The German fleet market is witnessing significant growth, presenting opportunities for new entrants. However, Chinese automotive brands face challenges in capitalizing on this boom. MG Motor AE as the strongest Chinese contender in the German fleet market, yet overall, Chinese brands struggle to gain a substantial foothold. Key findings from a Dataforce study highlight that brand recognition among company car drivers is a major barrier for Chinese manufacturers. While there's an openness to new brands, familiarity is crucial. BYD is recognized by a third of respondents, indicating a potential for growth among well-known Chinese brands. Quality remains a non-negotiable factor for fleet selection, alongside hopes for lower costs and concerns about service network and parts availability. German manufacturers like Volkswagen, Mercedes, and BMW continue to benefit from the fleet market's expansion, despite Tesla and others facing declines. Upcoming industry event "#Flotte – der Branchentreff" in Düsseldorf reflects the sector's vibrant activity and the pressing interest in electric mobility and the challenges in transitioning from government subsidies. The fleet market's composition is also shifting, with electric vehicles maintaining a stable market share amidst a resurgence in gasoline vehicles. #FleetManagement #AutomotiveTrends #ElectricVehicles #BrandRecognition #ChineseAutomakers #GermanMarket #SustainableMobility #IndustryInsights For Korean fleet management system providers, the European market offers significant opportunities, provided they navigate the challenges with strategic planning and a focus on brand recognition, quality assurance, and localized service offerings. https://lnkd.in/dB7cHXXN

Volkswagen wants to act more like a local Chinese OEM: "from China for China", with Chinese speed and meeting Chinese customer expectations. Looking at the hundreds of EV brands in the Chinese markets, do you think that this will work? Is Volkswagen's heritage of being the biggest volume car brand for several years bold enough to catch up again or not? I have my doubts that this plan will work. But who knows, hope dies last. For Germany as a business location, that only means limited good things for the time being. Work is to be relocated to China and there will be less of it in Europe. Whether it will help Germany as a business location in the medium term that the Group should at least be profitable - if the plan works - remains another question mark. What's your opinion on VW's new #China plans: Exactly the right move or another stupid management decision? Let's discuss! Exciting times ahead. I 💙 Automotive. #Automotive #EV #Innovation #Globalization #Germany

Here are four key points regarding #Volkswagen's progress in #China, based on the latest reports: 1. **Market Share**: Volkswagen has experienced a slight decrease in market share in China, from **15.1%** to **14.5%**. Despite this, they managed to increase vehicle deliveries by **1.6%** compared to the previous year, with a total of **3.2 million vehicles** delivered, including imports¹. 2. **Electric Vehicle (EV) Segment**: The EV segment is rapidly growing in China, and local manufacturers dominate this market, benefiting from significant government subsidies. Volkswagen's role in the EV market is relatively small, but they are making strides with models like the ID.3 and ID.4, which are among the top-selling electric vehicles². 3. **Innovation and Development**: Volkswagen is focusing on sustainable business models and has strengthened its development capabilities in China. The newly established Volkswagen China Technology Company (VCTC) aims to reduce the time to market for vehicles and components by **30%** through efficient development processes and advanced technologies¹. 4. **Competition and Challenges**: The Chinese market is highly competitive with over **100 local competitors**. Volkswagen is facing challenges due to the rise of local brands, which are innovating and gaining market share, partly due to state subsidies. However, Volkswagen is responding by enhancing its product portfolio and focusing on the 'in China for China' approach to cater to local market needs². These points highlight the complexities of #Volkswagen's situation in #China, balancing between competition, market dynamics, and strategic shifts towards electrification and innovation.

Life is about learning every day, when you discover something new in your life – an unknown musician, an unexpected hobby, a recently introduced friend – one might expect your other focuses could suffer. But not only does your world open space up to accommodate it all, your other interests even benefit.    I was recently reading this article in #Handelsblatt talking about the burgeoning relationship between European automotive suppliers and Chinese car manufacturers. It’s obviously true, China is a growing and interesting market for automotive suppliers like Amaneos. But there’s more to it.    To branch out and solidify ties with another part of the world is an exciting challenge that will bolster our mission to be a global partner for all OEMs by offering local service and solutions. But it also opens new avenues for exchange of ideas, technology, innovation, and collaboration.  I believe that the Chinese #automotiveindustry is a chance for Tier1, both in their local market in Asia and in supporting their establishment in Europe.   We’re simply opening up space in our world for extra perspective. Hear more about that exciting news here next week!  #automotivesupplier #futuremobility   Interesting read (German only): 

Volkswagen and BMW have drastically reduced the prices of their electric models in China: The ID.3, for example, is now offered in China at prices starting at €22,227,- (in GER: from €39,995,- or 80% higher). 

Is the Chinese e-car tsunami coming in 2027? According to the VDA, the global passenger car market has grown by 6% to 75.7 million units in 2023. The rise in Chinese car production from 1.9 million vehicles in 2000 to a world-leading 26.8 million vehicles, including 23.8 million passenger cars in 2022, is impressive. This would not have been possible without the transfer of technology from Western companies in exchange for market access. According to China experts, the Chinese automotive production capacity is expected to be 41 million units - a significant overcapacity compared to the 26.8 million vehicles produced. With the US and Japanese markets blocked by import duties, Chinese NEV manufacturers are primarily pushing into Europe. So far, the share of new registrations from 1 -10/2023 is just 2% (8,000 cars). The establishment of a dealer network and service stations is currently only one obstacle. Another issue is the ability to deliver due to the lack of Roll on - Roll off ships for transportation from China. Here, China has ordered 170 new Ro-Ro ships, which will have an annual transport capacity of at least 4 million cars. There are currently 1,470 million cars worldwide, with an e-car population of 27.7 million in 2022. According to a study by PWC, 75% of all new registrations in the USA will still be combustion vehicles in 2035 and 35% even in China. In addition, there will be new combustion vehicles in Southeast Asia, South America and Africa due to the long distances and lack of charging infrastructure. The EU's strict phase-out of combustion engines from 2035 means that German car manufacturers have ceased further development of combustion engines.  Germany has produced up to 13 million passenger cars worldwide Who will German car manufacturers leave the production of at least 40 million new combustion cars, which will still be needed worldwide in 2035, to? Do we first need mass lay-offs at Volkswagen, Mercedes, Bosch, Conti, ZF or smaller suppliers before this no-alternative ban policy is reconsidered with common sense? #NEV #VDA #Combustionengine #ecar #Volkswagen #Mercedes the complete column appeared in PLUS magazine 1/24  https://lnkd.in/dVsF5cWX

There is no guarantee yet for a Chinese Success with Cars in Europe   There are lots of news about a wave of Chinese car sales which could before us. But for a success of Chinese car companies one ingredient is still missing. This is explained by a comment on Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. https://lnkd.in/ekcQQYq2   For the moment, at least in Germany, there are no dramatic signs. New registrations in January and February count 233 new BYD, 256 from Great Wall Motors, 7 Lynk, 2882 MG and 54 Nio, altogether with a market share of 0,8 per cent.   But Chinese producers should not be understimated. Only few years ago, Chinese cars at motor shows were derided, about bad design copies for the exterior, irregular gaps in the car body, lots of plastics inside. Compared with this, Chinese car companies have gone very far, with a design of their own, opulent interiors, excellent infotainment and especially competitive batteries. Apart from this, the young Chinese car sector has distributed lots of factories across their country (also with the help of European suppliers), and presented a flood of new brand names.   Those, who made fast progress like this, could still get quite far in Europe. But Chinese car companies have still a big challenge before them, with respect to distribution. They need to link brands with an image, and create for them a successful sales network and a credible service organization. In this camp, there were some flops in the past, like for Aiways, which tried to sell through electronics supermarkets and have the cars serviced through an independent network of garages. Some tried to sell unknown brands through the internet.   For the moment, the path of Chinese companies in Europe is still stony and laden with losses. This gives European competitors some time to prepare for defending themselves against the new competitors. For this, they do not need special tariffs or limits on the import of Chinese cars, but big efforts. What is necessary, are European innovations for batteries and electric engines, but also the right framework for the construction of a new European supply chain for batteries. However, regarding the framework, for example with energy prices, Germany is still behind, not only compared to China, also compared to France.

Spain • The enthusiasm for electric cars among locals still leaves much to be desired, presenting a challenging situation for the Volkswagen Group. Despite this hesitancy, the automotive giant has commenced the construction of a battery factory near Valencia, a project consuming a considerable three billion euros. Wayne Griffiths, who heads the Spanish mass-market segment of Seat, shared his concerns with Automotive News Europe. He emphasized that a significant portion of his company will soon transition to producing electric cars, despite the current lack of market demand in Spain. Volkswagen has committed to investing over seven billion euros in establishing a battery supply chain and manufacturing compact electric cars for its various brands in Spain. Until now, Seat has primarily found success with its affordable combustion engines like the Ibiza and the dynamic Cupra brand, which also garners international appeal. A pivotal component of Volkswagen's strategy in Spain is the establishment of a third battery cell factory in Sagunt, near Valencia, with production expected to commence in 2026. However, the demand for electric cars is declining throughout the region, partly due to strong competition from Chinese manufacturers and Tesla, exposing the vulnerabilities of European automakers. In light of these developments, Volkswagen has temporarily shelved plans to take its battery business public. Particularly in Spain, the situation is challenging as the acceptance of electric cars compared to neighboring countries is low. Last year, fully electric cars accounted for only 5.6 percent of new car sales in Spain, compared to 15 percent across the EU. A significant obstacle to the widespread acceptance of electric cars in Spain is their high prices. The average spending willingness of Spaniards for a new car is just under 28,000 euros, a price point at which few electric models are offered. From 2025, Seat plans to manufacture compact electric cars for multiple brands, including Cupra. Griffiths, who has been at the helm of Seat since October 2020, expressed his concern, stating, "I am very worried. Next year, we will be producing electric cars, but for whom? If they only make up 5 percent of the market." In conclusion, while Volkswagen is making significant investments and commitments towards electric vehicle production in Spain, the challenges lie in stimulating local demand and overcoming price barriers to achieve widespread adoption. #emobility #seat #cupra #electriccars #VWinvestmentSpain #evmarket #trend https://lnkd.in/ecmdBvqU

🚀 BMW Expands in Southeast Asia with New Battery Assembly in Thailand 🌏 Since the early 2000s, #BMW's #Rayong plant has been a cornerstone of its strategy, assembling a wide array of models for the Southeast Asian market through the Completely Knocked Down (#CKD) #process. This move to include battery production is a strategic response to the burgeoning demand for electric vehicles (EVs) in the ASEAN region, home to over 270 million people. 🔋 With the introduction of high-voltage battery assembly, BMW not only aims to streamline its production but also to leverage Thailand's aggressive push towards electromobility. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce import tariffs and pave the way for locally produced electric models, aligning with the region's green transition. While the suppliers for the battery cells remain undisclosed, BMW's strategic partnerships in other regions hint at the potential for collaboration with leading battery manufacturers. This development is poised to enhance BMW's production capabilities in Thailand, which already boasts an impressive output of both automobiles and motorcycles. As we witness the automotive industry's shift towards sustainability, BMW's expansion in Thailand embodies a forward-looking approach to meeting the evolving demands of the global market. This move not only reinforces BMW's commitment to innovation and sustainability but also signals the growing importance of Southeast Asia as a key player in the automotive future. #BMW #Sustainability #ElectricVehicl https://lnkd.in/dHUU4Ra2

Europe • With a strong sales growth, the Chery subsidiary Omoda is pushing ahead with its expansion in Europe! February 10, 2024 LG The official launch in key markets such as Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom will take place during the second quarter, said Charlie Zhang, Executive Vice President of Chery Automobile International. “Omoda is poised for further growth in 2024.” Priorities in 2024 will be the expansion of the product matrix, the establishment of a robust brand ecosystem and collaboration with local dealer networks. "Omoda has emerged as a major player in the automotive industry in 2023, marked by important milestones and global recognition," Zhang emphasized. Jochen Tüting, Managing Director of Chery Europe GmbH, recently spoke to Car-Editors. Net. explaining that they are in very good discussions with dealer groups in Germany in order to cover the regions with sufficient partners. For basic coverage of the local market, 80 to 120 dealers would be needed. Chery was founded in 1997 and is now active in 80 international markets. Last year, the Chinese sold a total of 1.88 million cars - an increase of 52.6 percent compared to 2022 and a new record. Source; Autoflotte #automotive #dealership #omoda #chery #strategy #sales #network https://lnkd.in/epxRmtvU