Chinese Cars: Building Recognition, Reputation, and Heritage on the Global Stage
To truly dominate roads outside China, Chinese automobiles need three core elements: recognition, reputation, and heritage. The first two are well within reach. By delivering consistently high-quality vehicles, Chinese brands can prove their competitiveness, showing they are not inferior to, and can even outshine, rival makers. This is the same path that Japanese automakers followed, followed later by South Korean brands, to forge a stronger image in global markets.
Heritage, however, presents a more intricate challenge. China lacks a long-standing, globally recognized tradition in car manufacturing and a storied lineage in vehicle design. That scarcity makes it harder for Middle Kingdom brands to penetrate the premium segment where heritage and tradition hold substantial sway.
Still, the journey toward worldwide acknowledgment has already begun. In 2021, more than 125 Chinese brands sold a combined 13.2 million vehicles worldwide, including domestic sales. That figure marked a 21% year-over-year rise, while the global automotive market grew only about 6%. The result was a notable gain in China’s share of the world market, underscoring the rapid expansion of its automotive footprint.
Industry data show that roughly 885,000 of those 13.2 million vehicles were exported. In other words, overseas shipments jumped by 113% versus 2020. The trajectory for 2022 remained to be fully determined as the year unfolded.
- A new urban crossover was on display and slated to reach showrooms soon.
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