The automotive industry is really changing. In 2018, Suzuki announced its withdrawal from China and transferred the Japanese Suzumoto,
and 100% of the equity of Changan Suzuki and Suzuki China to Changan and 100% of the equity of Changan for 1 yuan cash.
Today, four years later, according to the latest news from Reuters on December 12, 2022, the UK said: "Volkswagen is considering withdrawing Skoda from China, and is expected to make a decision in 2023. "
As soon as this news came out, the industry issued various doubts. What is the reason why the strong Volkswagen skoda is considering withdrawing from the Chinese market? What exactly happened behind ? Does history really have similar moments?
prompts people's thoughts to return to the regretful scene of Japan's Suzuki withdrawing from China: In 1993, Japan's Suzuki and China's Changan jointly established as Changan Suzuki Automobile Company.
Changan Suzuki, which focuses on cheap small cars, is popular in the Chinese market. Its annual sales reached 100,000 vehicles in 2003. By 2010, its sales doubled to 200,000 vehicles, and it is known as the "king of small cars".
Among them, Alto was also jokingly called "the brother of Audi ". It is the "magic car" in the minds of a generation. For a long time, it has come and go in the streets and alleys of China like the wind.
The joint venture between Suzuki and Changan is undoubtedly very successful. Changan Suzuki's products hit the pain point of automobile consumption at that time well, because most families who had just become rich, in addition to being solid in their first car,
also had low expenses and affordability, which undoubtedly matched the lightweight and compact brand characteristics that Changan Suzuki pursued.
However, as more and more families become richer and consumption upgrades, many car consumers are no longer only sensitive to price. has put forward higher requirements for the performance, space and luxury of the vehicle.
However, Suzuki Auto does not make innovations and improvements, and still mainly focuses on light and small models. Therefore, sales have declined rapidly.
During this period, a car market research manager advised Japan's head Suzuki repair many times that it should focus on developing medium and high-end models, and at least improve and expand the interior space first.
After all, China is generally a family of five, and its living standards have also been greatly improved. Buying a car is not only for the convenience of travel, but also to support "face".
However, Suzuki Shuo, who is stubborn and blindly confident, said, " I will never bow to the Chinese market even if I die, and I will never compromise. "
So, when Chinese private car consumers started to change cars and buy a second car,
could not provide more high-end products, and could only end the years of enjoying the good times in China and with regrets, he withdrew from the Chinese market.
In the four years since Suzuki withdrew from the Chinese market, China has long developed into the world's largest automobile market, new energy vehicle market. Many joint venture brands are enjoying good times,
But, similar scenes will repeat themselves. After 4 years, according to the latest news from Reuters on December 12, 2022, "Volkswagen is considering withdrawing Skoda from China, and is expected to make a decision in 2023."
However, the reason why Skoda considers withdrawing from the Chinese market is different from the reason why Suzuki withdrew from China. Skoda is not not improving or innovating, but the competition in the Chinese automobile market is too fierce and I feel pressured.
Skoda CEO Klaus Zellmer said in an interview with the German auto publication Automobilwoche, "The competition for in China is very fierce, and we will study with the Chinese joint venture to study what should be done next.”
In fact, this is true. In recent years, competition in the Chinese automobile market has been very fierce. Both domestic independent brands and joint venture brands have risen one after another. One model with great highlights and characteristics has emerged on the market.
has led to a rapid decline in sales of Volkswagen Skoda in the past two years. Among them, in 2020, Skoda's annual sales were 1 73,000 vehicles, fell 38.7% year-on-year compared with ;
In 2021, Skoda was even cut in half, with sales of only 71,200 vehicles, a year-on-year decline of 58.8%; data shows that in the first 10 months of 2022, Skoda's cumulative sales were 38,000 vehicles, a year-on-year decline of 61.32%.
Such sales are really terrible See, so some netizens joked that the cumulative sales of Skoda in three years are less than 300,000 vehicles, which is not as good as the sales of GAC Toyota in three quarters.
As a joint venture brand, Volkswagen Skoda cannot sell GAC Toyota, and the reason behind this is hard to describe.
In fact, there are major reasons for GAC Toyota's sales in the Chinese market. As soon as Toyota entered the Chinese market, Toyota Akio Toyota's president said many times, " The purpose of our car manufacturing is to adapt to local conditions and meet the needs of the Chinese people, and our technology is indeed the most advanced. After all, the competition in the Chinese market will be very fierce. ”
Therefore, since the joint venture, GAC Toyota has used rigorous and advanced technology to create models that meet consumer needs. Now it has covered sedan, MPV, SUV models to expand consumers' choice needs.
Also, GAC Toyota has the design of new energy vehicle, intelligent technology, safety technology, driving performance, and battery safety energy consumption. All aspects have unique advantages, giving people a safe choice.
For example, GAC Toyota bZ4X, it is GAC Toyota's first pure electric mid-size SUV with e-TNGA architecture concept.
Among them, in terms of body size, the length, width and height of bZ4X are 4690/1860/1650mm respectively, the wheelbase reaches 2850mm, and the trunk volume 452L, the whole model looks very atmospheric.
is equipped with a 12.3-inch floating central control screen, a knob-type gear shifting mechanism and a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel.
is wrapped in a large area of genuine leather material, and is decorated with piano painted decorative panels and chrome trim strips, which raises the mature sense of grade several levels.
In terms of power system, GAC Toyota bZ4X provides two power forms: front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, for consumers to choose freely. The maximum power of the front-and-rear motor in the front-and-rear motor is 150kW (204Ps), and the maximum power of the front-and-rear motor in the
four-wheel drive version is 80kW (109Ps), and the acceleration from zero to 100 kilometers is 6.9 seconds. In terms of safety performance, the bZ4X is equipped with the newly upgraded Toyota Safety Sense Smart Safety (Toyota Collision Avoidance Assistance Set),
expands the detection range of mmWave radar and monocular cameras, while upgrading the original functions,
has added PDA prejudgment active driving assistance system, EDSS emergency driving stop system and RSA road sign identification assistance system to ensure that car owners achieve active and passive safety during driving; in terms of intelligent configuration of
, GAC Toyota bZ4X is equipped with front seats Ventilation/heating, PVM panoramic monitoring system,
face ID recognition system, OTA remote upgrade and other intelligent systems, which can meet the safe, relaxed and comfortable driving experience of car owners.
In addition, GAC Toyota bZ4X new car is equipped with a ternary lithium-ion battery pack with a capacity of 66.7kWh, and the maximum range of CLTC conditions can reach 615km.
is enough to meet the needs of daily cars of the family.
