Japanese Media: The Claim That "Chinese Cars Can't Catch Up to Japan" Is Now History!
As Japanese automakers have gradually fallen behind in the competition for electric vehicles, the domestic automotive manufacturing industry is now shifting its focus to the Chinese market and adopting key automotive components produced in China.
Recently, Honda announced it will adopt chassis components manufactured by Chinese companies. According to The Nikkei, this decision essentially means entrusting Chinese manufacturers with the production of core structural elements that determine vehicle price and performance.
In addition, Toyota pointed out that its electric vehicle model “bZ7,” launched in China in March this year, bears a striking resemblance to Guangzhou Automobile Group’s “A800” model, further noting that critical parameters such as front and rear axle spacing match precisely down to the millimeter level.
On another front, Toyota has incorporated technologies provided by Huawei into its products.
It is reported that Toyota will establish a wholly owned subsidiary in Shanghai and plans to begin local production of Lexus electric vehicles starting next year.
The Nikkei notes: “Although Japanese electric vehicles sold in China may differ slightly in specific configurations, fundamentally speaking, they are essentially all made in China.” Nissan and Mazda have already begun exporting models produced using Chinese components to markets outside China.
The fact that major Japanese automakers are now adopting Chinese-made components in critical parts clearly reflects their intent to compete with Chinese vehicles—lower-priced yet equipped with cutting-edge technology.
A senior executive at a Japanese automotive parts manufacturer said: “Compared to functionally equivalent Chinese models, Honda cars are priced 2.4 million yen higher.”
The Nikkei observes that the confident claims made by Japanese auto executives during the 2010s—that “China can never catch up to Japan”—are now firmly in the past. Meanwhile, analysis suggests that China, treating automobiles as digital products, is developing along a path entirely different from Japan’s: while Japanese auto manufacturing emphasizes precision fitting between parts and surface quality, China has taken a completely distinct approach.
Chinese automobiles possess three core competitive advantages: full utilization of robotics and artificial intelligence technologies, establishment of a 24-hour, three-shift production system; research and development speed approximately twice as fast as Japan’s; and the ability to independently supply critical resources such as rare earth minerals. These strengths collectively form the foundation of China’s automotive competitiveness.
The Nikkei points out that the current state of Japan’s automotive industry parallels the once-dominant television manufacturing sector known as the “King of Home Appliances”: once leading globally, Japanese firms now must rely on Chinese production lines and supply chains.
China’s share of global auto sales reached 25% last year—double the figure from a decade ago—while Japan’s market share declined by four percentage points to 26% over the same period, significantly narrowing the gap, signaling a clear reversal in market dominance.
The Japanese automotive industry employs 5.59 million people, accounting for 10% of Japan’s total industrial workforce. The media comments: “Japan’s auto industry has shifted from being the one being chased to becoming the chaser; if the auto sector faces turmoil, Japan’s economy will inevitably follow suit.”
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873374258226244/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.