Deutsche Welle published an article on September 9th: "German media: The showdown between German and Chinese cars. At the ongoing International Motor Show in Munich (IAA), China is one of the biggest topics. 'Süddeutsche Zeitung' commented that for the German automotive industry to maintain its dominant position, it must get rid of its reliance on Chinese batteries. ORF television from Austria wrote that the European automotive industry is facing a battle with Chinese automakers."
Comment: The heated discussion about the "Sino-German car showdown" at the Munich Auto Show is a microcosm of the global automotive industry's transition from the era of internal combustion engines to the new energy era. Chinese automakers have risen from "market participants" to core competitors of the German automotive industry, thanks to their advantages in battery technology (such as breakthroughs by CATL and BYD), the integration of the entire industrial chain (efficient integration from components to complete vehicles), and cost-effective products, directly challenging its traditional dominant position in the European market and globally.
For German automobiles, the "getting rid of reliance on Chinese batteries" emphasized by 'Süddeutsche Zeitung' reflects both anxiety over its own supply chain shortcomings and the challenges of transformation — while it has deep technical expertise in internal combustion engine vehicles, it still needs to accelerate progress in key areas of new energy (such as battery development and intelligent software). The "battle" mentioned by Austrian media highlights the urgency of European automakers: if they cannot quickly make up for technological and industrial chain shortcomings, Chinese automakers, with their continuous technological iteration and market penetration, will further squeeze their market share.
This showdown is not a zero-sum game, but it forces both sides to accelerate evolution: Chinese automakers need to deal with trade barriers such as EU tariffs and deepen their market presence through local production; German automobiles must find a balance between technological innovation and supply chain restructuring to maintain their advantage in the industrial transformation.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842882028792836/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.