“They are above us and They have nothing to envy to a luxury brand“I told Clarion A senior executive of a general European brand during the Paris 2022 Motor Show, in reference to the Chinese industry. Evolution is not only unstoppable but the speed is still increasing.
The times were very easy to criticize and question the quality of vehicles made in China. And saying quality was not only referring to the endings of the plastic elements or the seams of the upholstery. Talking about quality also pointed mainly to Structural failures that the Chinese cars had.
In the middle of the first decade of this century, some products of Chinese origin unsuccessfully sought to enter markets such as European or the American. The main argument of the refusal was Do not exceed minimum safety standards.
At the same time, the increasingly wide opening of the Chinese economy generated that practically all western manufacturers landed in the largest market on the planet, which put a condition: to have a local partner to be able to manufacture. Today, among many others, in China they manufacture Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo and Tesla.
The result of these associations was a superlative advance of the Chinese automotive industry also produced by a strong investment in research and development, of which the State participates for its presence in most local companies. And the trend seems irreversible.
From fiasco to the reference
In 2005, the Jiangling Landwind It was the first Chinese origin sold in Europe. And the German club automobile (ADAC) subjected it to shock tests to evaluate its level of protection. The conclusion was lapidary: zero stars and a “catastrophic” result.
Two years later, the BS6 shinethe first sedan sold in the old continent, was also subjected to a series of security evaluations. The results revealed details such as that “the frontal impact demonstrated a safety cell too soft and not stable enough” or that “lateral impacts revealed that the driver had few chances of surviving.”
In those years, most European brands managed to pass the tests with the maximum qualification: 5 stars. Today, 20 years after the first evaluation to a Chinese vehicle, most models of that origin lThey achieve maximum score in the tests done by Euro NCAP, an entity that evaluates the protection of the models sold in the old continent.
But not only that, but several Chinese vehicles ended up being references in their categories for the results obtained, such as the Deepal S07, El Zeekr X O La Maxus Eterron 9the latter an electric truck whose platform will serve for the new generation of the Volkswagen Amarok which will be manufactured in Argentina.
These results are consequence of Advanced materialsas different types of alloys or steels of different hardness for the manufacture of vehicles. In addition, the production processes evolved, with a construction highly automated y robotizedwhich standardizes quality and contributes to the durability of materials.
The time of the brown design copies was also far away. Now there are still many similarities with iconic models, such as the strokes posed by a Range Rover or a class G of Mercedes-Benz, but are executed with high-end levels and quality.
Of course, the greatest challenge that the Chinese car industry must overcome is the Bad perception which was generated a couple of decades ago and that is still present in many consumers.
Technological career
The main argument that the Chinese automotive industry is using to reverse that idea It is technology. A decade ago, all the CEO of the main western automotive assured that the race for the software The cars was going to determine success. And there is no doubt that China Today he heads that competition.
Research and development executed in recent years has catapulted extraordinary levels Advanced navigation systems, voice commands and driver assists.
All this is possible by the matrix that today predominates in China: the Asian country is the that more accelerates in electromobility worldwide. And that that technology is easier to manage and make it evolve in electric cars.
That also allowed the incursion of technological companies not only as systems suppliers but as vehicle manufacturers. The cases of Huawei, Foxconn y Xiaomiwho are world leaders in telephone production and technology devices, now also produce their own cars.
Models that challenge traditional manufacturers in acceleration capacity, at comfort levels, termination and materials and in driving assistance systems that execute complex maneuvers, from autonomous “flying” to dodge a clash or clash or variations of height in the suspension to maintain a comfortable march.
In addition, companies like Alibaba, Baidu, Didi, Tencent Y Huawei They have invested strongly in autonomous driving participating in multiple rounds of financing.
In our market the Chinese giant is just awakening. But we see how the models of Cheryor the qualities and technologies that bring the models of BAIC y Geelyor the design and behavior of the SUV of Great Wall. All with comparatively lower prices. And that still did not come by.