China auto makers surpass South Korea

When I was fishing in the pond of Runfu Institute of Chinese giant salamander, there was a Geely Panda besides me. Actually this car is very cute somewhat like panda. “We human beings have the instinct to approach animals,” said world-renowned biologist Edward Wilson. Cars are artificial animals, the cars whose name with panda also have cultural conception. It is said some Geely Panda have been exported to Taiwan and other places such as South East Asia, which signals that Chinese automobile manufacturers have initiated a substantial expansion recently. From my own perspective Chinese cars’ symbolic sales number of 3 or 4 cars in USA and Europe couldn’t be defined as true market expansion .In last century USA also purchased 100 units Beijing Jeep, for their postmen in mountainous regions need some cheap and stable vehicles. Nevertheless Americans were not satisfied with the performance of Beijing Jeep so they didn’t continue to purchase it and after that Beijing Jeep even disappeared in China.

In early years there were not many cars made by South Korea on China streets. In the mid-90s I occasionally saw a Daewoo made by South Korea but it was nothing but an entry-level car. Then, cars made by South Korea couldn’t appeal to Chinese consumers. Several years ago HYUNDRI entered China and began to produce Elantra in our country. As a result, cars made by South Korea began to enjoy popularity in China .Relying on the broad Chinese car market their cars sold well .Additionally with the coming of South Korea TV Series into China, products made in South Korea had found their own way in China.

In fact, history of South Korea’s auto industry is ten years less than that of China. In early years South Korea also couldn’t compete with international auto giants. Firstly, it was the production base of USA’s auto manufacturers, and then they began to make auto parts &components for Japanese auto manufacturers. However after that South Korea’s auto brands have a big market share in China and it seems that they also turned into one of the auto giants in the world. Almost every knows that Chinese auto manufacturers had missed the chance to broaden its market share when Chinese car market started to show its potential. For instance, when Daewoo first entered China, if there was such a car as Geely Panda we can also competed with Daewoo. China didn’t have, I only knew that one of FAW’s engineers Hua Fulin designed a kind of car and it really excited Chinese, but the car failed to be sold in Chinese car market. It was a kind of car that was designed for Chinese families which have three members.

Until now, emerging Chinese auto manufacturers including Geely, Chery and BYD have made a good performance in Chinese car market. After the death of reputation, South Korea's Daewoo put on a new skin of GM to continue its business in China. At present, we can find various car brands in the street .However, in terms of the car's brand and quality, China's auto brands of emerging companies have been catching up. Even so, China's own brand cars still have a long way to go compared with foreign auto giants .Above all, Chinese auto manufacturers must surpass South Korea’s auto manufacturers and try to gain progress as possible as they can, only by that can they compete with auto manufacturers of Germany、France and USA .Frankly speaking, if we Chinese auto manufacturers can’t defeat South Korea’s auto manufacturers, the dignity of China has been impaired.

　　Chinese auto manufacturers to calm down on practical strategies

People in China’s auto industry hold the opinion that the brilliant history of the auto industry has lasted for 60 years, I can’t agree with it. Considering that we still can’t defeat South Korea’s auto manufacturers in our home, it is ridiculous to exaggerate the performance of China’s auto industry. Therefore, it is necessary for us to calm down and assess our achievement objectively. China’s auto industry is not alike to its national football team which always claims it can appear in the World Cup.

I think Chinese auto manufacturers should firstly broaden their marker share in China before have the ability to be competitive in the world car market. Nearly the first 10 years of 21st have passed Chinese auto manufacturers should pay great attention to treat improving themselves as a priority rather than plan to create more international auto brands all the time. Additionally, it is imperative for us to put forward some effective strategies so as to surpass Korea’s auto manufacturers in China. I believe this is the best choice we can choose at this moment. Maybe some Chinese auto manufacturers look down upon South Korea’s auto manufacturers and don’t see them as their real competitors.

However, sales number of cars made by Chinese auto manufacturers is less than car products of South Korea currently. Cars made by South Korea can enjoy great popularity in China but how many Chinese made cars have been sold to the capital of South Korea? No, I never heard Chinese made cars have entered South Korea. Please don’t tell me that South Korea's auto market is very small, Chinese auto manufacturers are reluctant to sell their cars there .Indeed, South Korea’s car market is very small, but its auto manufacturers have defeated Chinese auto manufacturers in China mainland. How can we explain it? I don’t want to mention any South Korea’s car brands. Except for aesthetic function I definitely couldn’t think highly of their contribution to the world auto industry. Their cars in early years also imitated other car brands of international auto giants and chose to sell them in China but Chinese auto manufacturers didn’t have the ability to compete with them, is it really a sad thing?

　　Chinese auto manufacturers need fair competition instead of illusion

China’s auto industry market environment is very special. When we decided to update the level of opening up, several joint ventures were established in China. Meanwhile, when China was determined to create some own auto brands there were some own brands appeared. Joint ventures and own auto brands maybe represent the brilliance of China’s auto industry.

However, even if international auto giants didn’t cooperate with Chinese auto corporations or they chose to cooperate with factories funded by some Chinese villages, they can also dominate the world car market. And if the policies permitted wholly-owned, the landscape of China’s auto industry may not be the same as now. Here I only want to talk about our own brands. In most occasions they cooperated with foreign auto manufactures to produce foreign auto brands. Some own brands also try to improve themselves by a series of mergers or building joint ventures but they also pointed out Chinese auto consumers should be patriotic so that purchase their cars. I think the perception is somewhat ridiculous and trying to sell car products by using the patriotism of Chinese can’t be praised.

Since we are all auto manufacturers, Chinese auto manufacturers should be more competitive and make some more good cars. We must face the challenges and difficulties in the fierce market competition bravely and we are supposed to rely on ourselves to dominate Chinese car market instead of always using public sympathy which bases on patriotism. Of course Chinese should first purchase own auto products , however, if the Chinese cars is expensive and in low quality we have to buy foreign cars .After all, it is very difficult for Chinese people to earn money. There is no denying the fact that our own cars could enter Chinese government‘s procurement list the situation will have a new look .The fact is that China's own auto brands are now very difficult to have access to government procurement, even if they are included in the list, if no one purchases them the condition is also rather serious. I sincerely hope Chinese auto manufacturers could make their own way in the future. As a matter of fact, there were no cars in the world until more and more people began to make cars, the auto industry gradually formed. (Translator: Qinghua Wade)

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