China is here to stay and also in the engine. European carmakers have made public their concerns about the increasingly sharp decline of Asian brands.
signed as Airways Maxus, SWM, JAC, BYD Or DFSK has already started selling in Spain and seems unwilling to give up its intention to take over the old continent.
The Alert is based on data sent by large employers in the region. unfake, pick up Expansion Turns out Chinese vehicle imports soared to stratospheric levels: A 1.950% In 2022, up to 1,366 million euros.
Wallbox CEO believes Europe is “not up to the task” of the US and China when it comes to electric cars
As a result, the Asian giant is now in fourth place By country, only strong Germany, behind France and the Czech Republic.
In fact, just last week, firms such as BYD and DFSK announced their incorporation into Anfac. partner Which shows its clear intention to stay in the domestic market.
The situation has put European groups on their toes, demanding a level playing field in the face of protectionist practices by China and the United States.
Bruno Mattucci, General Director of Nissan Iberia, explains that the Chinese strategy is well known in the industry, as in the case of Japanese groups and Koreans in the 90s, with which they seek to gain market share with low prices .
During an interview with Expanse, Wayne Griffiths, the president of Seat, shows his concern about a fact that could affect the competitiveness and development of electric cars in Europe.
“You have to look at what is changing globally, for example, with the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) in the US, which gives a significant advantage to US industry, or the Chinese government to manufacture electric cars and batteries. Even with the commitment of Europe needs a similar response” Dice.
This position has been reached, Mattucci reiterated, as Europe “opened the doors” to Chinese companies, which are more advanced in electrification.
Josep Maria Rickenson, Renault’s strategy director, points out that European brands are “10 to 15 years” behind the Chinese when it comes to developing electric vehicle components.
A vision that is not far removed from Wallbox CEO Enrique Asuncion, who maintains that the delay in the implementation of electric cars is not something typical for Spain. he claims Europe in general is far behind China and America.
“I think Europe is lagging behind in comparison to the bets that the United States and China are making. We have the technology, the manufacturers, but more is needed, that Europe supports it from a consumer point of view and a manufacturer to take the lead in electric vehicles. At the moment, it’s not up to the task”.
However, Spain’s lack of sales of electric cars is evident in the domestic market, which it says represents only 10% of its income, while the US is its main market.
This will be the commercial offensive of Chinese cars:
Huge BYD which started its journey as a battery firm in 1995, is today one of the leading Chinese manufacturers of electric vehicles and in 2022 it 57,000 million.
The company started its business journey in Spain last March and aims to reach 40 points of sale in the country by 2025,
Jordi Cuesta, general manager of the brand in Spain, explains that the group aims to reach a world share of 10% in electricity in three years and that the profit
For his part, Antonio Muñoz de Vergar, responsible in Spain for the Chinese company Airways, distributed by Astara, is convinced that more brands from the Chinese market will reach Spain and Europe.
The manager insists there is room for these types of firms from China which, in his opinion, “still have a long way to go”, although he adds that not all of them will be successful.
“I don’t see it as a threat, but something that is good for customers and competition because what it does is that there is always a better product and more competitive prices,” he says.
