French media: Chinese technology products are surging across Europe, drones, TVs, robots...

Today, the European market is being overwhelmed by a wave of technological products from China, such as drones, TVs, and robots. French media point out that China's economic development no longer satisfies itself with imitation, but instead continuously innovates, offering cutting-edge products at competitive prices.

In 2016, Paolo Falcioni first attended the Shanghai International Electrical and Electronic Exhibition. This trade exhibition, which focuses on consumer electronics, was established in 1992 and was still in its early stages at that time. There were not many exhibitors, concentrated in one hall. Last March, this head of the main association representing European household appliance manufacturers, APPLiA, went back to this special city in China. He pointed out to French media that this contrast is very clear.

Now, industry experts consider this exhibition to be among the largest in the world, alongside CES in Las Vegas and IFA in Berlin. The exhibition spans 16 halls, with local brands thriving and bustling. Paolo Falcioni explained: "This shows that in just ten years, interconnectivity, artificial intelligence, and everything related have become driving forces for China's economic growth."

China was once called the "world factory," but we are far away from that era now. Now, Chinese companies are innovating at an astonishing speed and developing high-tech products at unparalleled prices.

Notably, they have real marketing strategies. Vincent Redrado, founder of the strategic and operational consulting company DNG, recalls: "Until recently, there were no well-known Chinese brands in the market. These factories produced products for European companies, which then resold them under their own brands."

These production bases now have dual roles: they continue to produce products for other companies and also develop their own product lines. "The close connection between research, industry, and investors makes the response speed very fast," explained Stéphane Bohbot, founder of Innov8 Group. This group searches for new electronic products in China each month for major French distributors (such as Fnac-Darty and Boulanger).

The rise of Chinese brands in various fields

In Europe, the high-tech wave is booming in physical stores and e-commerce platforms.

DJI (drones), TCL (TVs), Unite (humanoid robots), Shokz (earphones)... almost every field has Chinese companies occupying a large share of the global market, even dominating it. Jean-Charles Vogel, secretary-general of the French Association of Furniture and Home Products Retailers, lists: "TCL has made a huge impact on Japanese brands in the TV field. Some of their products in the refrigerator and washing machine fields can rival European brands. It is the same in air conditioners and small appliances."

GoPro, which once dominated the action camera market, is now losing market share to Chinese company Insta360. In Spain, Cecotec dominates the coffee maker sales market. Roborock, established ten years ago, has become a benchmark company in the robot vacuum cleaner industry and continues to apply for patents. "What impresses me is the remarkable progress these companies have made in all fields," said a former official of a French industry association: "They have taken the lead in almost all industries except industrial robots."

Europe is facing a dilemma. The giant Chinese company Xiaomi, which has entered the smartphone, consumer electronics, and more recently, the electric vehicle field, has paved the way for other companies. Stéphane Bohbot asserts: "Xiaomi's success shows that it is completely possible for Chinese companies to succeed overseas. Behind it, a complex industrial product system has developed, giving rise to numerous other companies."

Faced with this tsunami-like impact, Europe seems helpless. "We should not deceive ourselves: after the energy shock, Europeans found themselves in serious difficulties," says François Chimet. "Although the Draghi report has been released, we are still far from a true political awakening that benefits our own industry." The solution is likely to involve a new mode of cooperation with China: exchanging technology transfer for access to the European market. Like Airbus twenty years ago, but now in the opposite direction.

Source: rfi

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847874873801863/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author."