Representatives from major global automakers attending the ongoing 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which runs from April 25 to May 5, say they remain bullish about the Chinese market.
With the biggest car show in China returning after four years, automakers are using the event to release 117 brand new models and 41 new concept cars. The show, which has 278 new energy vehicles (NEVs) on display, comes as NEV sales hit a milestone in early April, accounting for over 50 percent of cars sold in China, showing an overwhelming trend that the Chinese market is going electric.
Foreign auto industry representatives said they face stiff competition from Chinese automakers but still have high expectations for the world's largest auto market.
Thorsten Godulla, president of the Sales and Marketing Division at SAIC Audi, a joint EV venture between Chinese carmaker SAIC and the German auto giant, said he hopes for promising sales growth in cooperation with the company's new partners in China.
"Let's talk about Audi in general, which have sold last year nearly 730,000 cars. We from SAIC Audi, we have sold more than 30,000 cars, and that was only in our second year. And this year already in the first quarter we have delivered 12,000 cars to our happy and young SAIC Audi customers. So, this year we will reach a new record for SAIC Audi and this is just in our third year. [Automakers in] China are very strong, there is no doubt. They bring new ideas to the market. And I always say competition is good, because when you have competition, you will grow, you need to improve yourself. And that's what we are doing, as we are doing also with the cooperation with SAIC and Mr. Dollner (Audi CEO) said today also very clearly how important this cooperation between the two strong players SAIC and Audi is for the future of the Audi brand in China," said Godulla.
Automotive suppliers from around the world also praised China's determination in promoting NEVs and said they hoped to enhance cooperation with Chinese companies in this field.
"[We are in the] process of trying to get EV vehicles also in Ghana to use. So, once we have seen a lot of them here we will communicate to our bosses and then our companies and then we see how best we can have EV vehicles in Ghana. EV is really taking over China and it is globally acceptable because of emissions, you are controlling emissions and it's good for China to grow in the market. So EV vehicles for China is the best to go now," said Ing Charles K. Tei, technical director of J.A. Plant Pool, an auto dealer in Ghana.
Automakers optimistic about Chinese market as China's largest auto show opens
