Chongqing- Since the beginning of this year, a host of domestic carmakers have accelerated going global. Among them are both new entrants such as NIO, WM Motor, and NETA and traditional players represented by SAIC, Geely Auto, and GWM. Chongqing's carmakers have also beefed up efforts in this regard.
At the Tianding Automobile Park in Hechuan District on March 25, 48 container carriers loaded with BAIC Ruixiang's high-quality vehicles left for the export port, marking the start of the venture to overseas markets.
The launch ceremony of BAIC Ruixiang entering the international market. (Photo provided to iChongqing)
So far, BAIC Ruixiang has received more than 1,500 export orders of knocked-down (KD) and whole-vehicle.
At the same time, it has branched out in Vietnam, Myanmar, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other countries, gradually opening up the markets among overseas agents and distributors.
"BAIC Ruixiang has benefited a lot from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The export fees and export cycle has been greatly reduced. We have established a KD production line in Vietnam. This line will be used to produce some commercial models of BAIC Ruixiang," said Liao Xionghui, CEO of BAIC Ruixiang.
"We have cultivated a group of fans overseas, thanks to our constantly focusing on customers' experience, attaching with local culture in service after sales," Liao added.
Master Changan Motors, a joint venture of Changan Automobile and Pakistani Master Motors, also enjoys encouraging growth as its last year's car sales volume rose by 293% year on year to 18,000.
This figure has secured Master Changan Motors first place and fifth place among Chinese and global brands in Pakistan in terms of export sales volume. Moreover, the joint venture can be established thanks largely to the Belt and Road Initiative.
In the future, Changan Automobile will roll out high-end and new energy products to branch out overseas at a faster pace, striving to raise its overseas sales volume to 400,000 by 2025.
Another Chongqing carmaker Sokon Group has built more than 600 sales points overseas, a European marketing service center, and an African marketing service center, selling its products to more than 70 countries and regions worldwide.
Besides, Sokon Group's EV unit Seres has sold smart EVs to Germany, France, the UK, Italy, and other European countries via the China Railway Express and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.
Last May, Lifan Technology obtained Chongqing's first vehicle registration certificate and export license. It exported 16 Volkswagen used electric cars to the UAE, with their value reaching 250,000 US dollars.
According to Chongqing's customs data, Chongqing's car export volume recorded 12.32 billion yuan last year, up 1.1 times, ranking fifth nationwide.
As more Chinese carmakers go global, China's car export volume has seen a marked rise. In 2021, China's car export volume crossed the mark of two million for the first time.
Zhang Xiang, a researcher at the Automobile Industry Innovation Research Center of the North China University of Technology, said that going global is more than selling more cars and developing new markets. It will not only help a car company increase market share and attract investors but also help the car brand go premium.