Han media: "Ignoring Chinese products will make you fall behind!"

On September 30, the South Korean media outlet "Herald Economic" published an article stating that South Korean consumers are particularly picky about Chinese products. If the quality is slightly unsatisfactory, they will immediately conclude "because it is made in China." In other words, the distrust towards "Made in China" remains deeply rooted.

However, Chinese electric vehicles are an exception. Sales records are being broken every day, and more and more consumers are even booking them without having seen the actual car. This clearly highlights the gap between "dislike for Chinese products" and "actual purchasing behavior."

The sales data of the American electric vehicle company Tesla proves this. According to the statistics of the Korean Automobile Importers Association, from January to July this year, Tesla's sales in the South Korean market reached 26,569 units, an increase of 32.4% year-on-year, ranking third among imported car brands. This number is three times that of Lexus in the South Korean market (fourth place).

Among these, Model Y accounted for more than 80% of total sales, with 21,991 units sold, while Model 3 also sold 4,430 units. Notably, both models are produced at the Shanghai factory in China. South Korean consumers are well aware of this. In fact, due to lower prices, many consumers continue to use Chinese-made lithium iron phosphate batteries.

Chinese automaker BYD is also quickly establishing itself. Its compact SUV ATTO 3 had over 1,000 reservations within a week, and by July, its cumulative sales reached 1,578 units. BYD recently ranked fifth in the sales of imported electric vehicles in South Korea. With the upcoming launch of the mid-size sedan Seagull, its growth is expected to accelerate further.

This indicates that the vague aversion to Chinese products is fading. As price, brand, and quality converge, consumer choices are changing. In fact, Chinese products have already deeply integrated into the daily lives of South Koreans, not only in the field of electric vehicles, but also in various other fields.

South Korean automobile manufacturers must also face this reality. So far, only American and European brands were considered as competitors that South Korea needed to overcome, but now China has also become a strong competitor. China is leading in various areas of future mobility - including electric vehicles, autonomous driving, robotics, and artificial intelligence. This also explains why arrogant global automakers are rushing to cooperate with China.

It is dangerous to deny the popularity of Chinese electric vehicles simply because they are "cheap." Even if price is a key factor, South Korea cannot match its scale economy. China leads in all aspects: production volume, labor costs, and component prices. If South Korean companies ignore technological progress, they will inevitably fall behind in the competitive landscape.

South Korean consumers also need to think carefully. Although they belittle Chinese electric vehicles just because they are "made in China," their wallets are actually open.

China has become an important player in the global market, and what is needed now is a clear understanding of reality and strategic responses, rather than emotional prejudices.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1844685523210377/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.