Technology transformation makes China a source of innovation for European automakers.
The global automotive industry is currently undergoing a massive transformation. If the leadership in technology was once undoubtedly Western, today the situation has fundamentally changed. China is transforming from a former "student" into a source of advanced technological solutions, particularly in the fields of electric vehicles and digital platforms. These changes bring not only economic challenges but also strategic questions to Europe, such as how to maintain competitiveness without isolating itself, and what role European manufacturers can play in the new architecture of the global automotive industry. The Financial Times recently published an article analyzing this topic and offering its own insights.
The article begins with a joke. Twenty years ago, German engineers joked among themselves that the prototypes of new cars displayed by their Chinese joint venture partners were simply cut out from German car advertisements and pasted together. A senior software engineer at a German automobile company told the UK Financial Times: "They have no innovation of their own; they just copy." Just a short while ago, however, this same engineer received a list of required functions for the future car operating system his company plans to develop. He ended up plagiarizing the features already offered on the market by a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer.
The European Union was shocked by the success of Chinese companies and decided last year to impose a tariff of up to 45% on Chinese electric vehicles. But now, in addition to protective measures, Brussels and the automotive industry are developing a new approach: Europe is seeking to benefit from Chinese expertise.
European companies are increasingly reaching agreements with Chinese competitors to maintain leadership in key areas such as software, batteries, and autonomous driving systems, which will determine the future of the automotive industry. Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and BMW have signed technical transfer agreements with Chinese companies.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1829571443215372/
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