Why Are Chinese New Energy Vehicle Firms Joining Forces with Foreign Giants? (AI Translation)
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- Global automakers like Volkswagen, Stellantis, and Renault are forming new partnerships with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) companies such as XPeng and Leapmotor to leverage each other's strengths in technology and market access.
- Volkswagen has partnered with XPeng to co-develop models and utilize VW's supply chain for cost reduction. Stellantis invested approximately €1.5 billion for a 20% stake in Leapmotor, aiming to accelerate its presence in China and globally.
- These collaborations mark a shift from previous joint ventures where foreign companies sought market access in exchange for technology. Now, Chinese EV firms are seen as tech leaders, contributing to the global automotive industry's transition towards electrification and intelligent driving systems.
文｜财新周刊 余聪 戚展宁
By Caixin Weekly's Yu Cong, Qi Zhanning
大众牵手小鹏，Stellantis（斯特兰蒂斯）投资零跑，雷诺亦在寻求中国合作方，跨国车企和中国新能源车企纷纷开启全新合作模式。
Volkswagen partners with XPeng, Stellantis invests in Leapmotor, and Renault is also seeking Chinese collaborators, as multinational automakers and Chinese new energy vehicle companies embark on new cooperative ventures.
2月29日，全球销量第二大车企大众汽车集团和中国造车新势力公司小鹏汽车（NYSE：XPEV/09868.HK）共同披露，已签署平台与软件联合开发协议，研发两款大众品牌中型车；另外双方还订立了联合采购计划，小鹏可以借助大众供应链能力降低成本。大众汽车集团（中国）董事长兼首席执行官贝瑞德（Ralf Brandstätter）近期透露，第一次共同采购已经开始。
On February 29, Volkswagen Group, the world's second-largest automaker by sales, and Chinese electric vehicle startup XPeng Motors (NYSE: XPEV/09868.HK) jointly announced that they have signed an agreement to co-develop a platform and software for two Volkswagen-branded mid-size cars. In addition, the two companies have also established a joint procurement plan, allowing XPeng to reduce costs by leveraging Volkswagen's supply chain capabilities. Ralf Brandstätter, CEO of Volkswagen Group China, recently revealed that the first joint procurement has already commenced.
大众和小鹏于2023年7月官宣牵手，当时双方都面临着空前的压力——大众在中国的燃油车销量从2019年顶峰时的423万辆逐年跌落，2023年在全行业价格战形势下压力加剧；小鹏产品换代失利，2023年上半年交付仅4.14万辆车，销量同比大降近40%，在“蔚小理”三家新势力品牌中垫底。何小鹏此前对财新谈及这次备受关注的中外合作时称：“大众和小鹏能力互补，大众需要电动化、智能驾驶上的能力，而且需要更高的效率。”
In July 2023, Volkswagen and XPeng officially announced their partnership, at a time when both companies were facing unprecedented pressures—Volkswagen's sales of gasoline vehicles in China had been falling annually from its peak of 4.23 million units in 2019, with the pressure intensifying in 2023 amidst an industry-wide price war; XPeng suffered from a failed product transition, delivering only 41,400 vehicles in the first half of 2023, marking a nearly 40% drop in sales year-over-year and placing it last among the three leading new energy vehicle brands "Wei, Xiao, Li". He Xiaopeng previously discussed this highly watched Sino-foreign cooperation with Caixin, stating: "Volkswagen and XPeng have complementary capabilities. Volkswagen needs capabilities in electrification and intelligent driving, as well as higher efficiency."
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