Chinese EV makers’ go-global drive hits bumps amid Beijing’s warning, failed deals
After officials warned against investments in EU countries that favoured recent tariffs, EV makers may need to rethink their strategies
Companies are realising that cost advantages and a grasp of core technologies are not enough to guarantee the success of multibillion-dollar investments in countries where consumers are not yet familiar with Chinese EV brands.
Insufficient knowledge of the legal landscape and a lack of charging infrastructure in overseas markets could also be stumbling blocks to growth outside mainland China, industry officials and analysts said.
“Chinese carmakers got off an early start to develop EVs, and they are in a leading position now,” Sam Wu, CEO of Ford Motor China, said at the Hongqiao Forum in Shanghai last week. “But they are still in search of a path to the global market so that consumers around the world can access their best products at the lowest prices.”