Weblog with daily updates of the news on a frugal, fair and beautiful China, from the perspective of internet entrepreneur, new media advisor and president of the China Speakers Bureau Fons Tuinstra
China’s President Xi Jinping met last week with the country’s major tech leaders, for the first time he did so since 2018. Business analyst Shaun Rein, author of The Split: Finding the Opportunities in China’s Economy in the New World Order, discusses the importance of this policy change after the country’s tech industry suffered from a major crackdown in the past years, he tells at the Thinkers Forum. China’s industrial leaders heard it is ok to make money again after a long time, he added
2024 was a bumper year for BYD, but it might face tough challenges to maintain its current lead in the automotive market, says marketing analyst Arnold Ma, founder of Qumin, in Campaign Asia. “Initiatives such as reducing carbon footprints, ensuring fair labour practices, and engaging in community development that resonate positively with stakeholders should continue to stay in focus,” he writes.
Arnold Ma:
Looking ahead, BYD’s brand prospects appear very positive and robust, but certain challenges must be addressed to maintain momentum: Imminent tariffs from the EU and potential ones from the US pose risks to BYD’s international sales. To mitigate their impact, BYD is investing in local production facilities, such as the planned factory in Hungary, to circumvent import duties and strengthen its presence in key markets. In markets where Chinese brands face scepticism, BYD should focus on building trust through quality assurance, customer service excellence, and transparent communication. Tailoring marketing messages to address local consumer concerns and preferences will be crucial to them. Continuous investment in R&D is essential to stay ahead of competitors. BYD will likely continue to prioritise advancements in battery technology, autonomous driving, and connectivity features to meet evolving consumer expectations and regulatory standards. BYD’s commitments to sustainability and ethical practices can enhance its brand reputation globally. Initiatives such as reducing carbon footprints, ensuring fair labour practices, and engaging in community development that resonate positively with stakeholders should continue to stay in focus.
China’s EV brands like NIO and BYD are currently beating Tesla, says Shanghai-based business analyst Shaun Rein at CNBC. While China’s automotive industry is pushing out new models and innovations, Tesla looks old-fashioned with a model that has not changed over the past six, seven years, he adds.
Business analyst Shanghai Rein hits out at the NEV taxes the US has implemented and the EU is planning to start too. China has dealt with domestic pollution as asked by the rest of the world and developed its electric car industry, and now gets hit, he argues. While tensions between China and the EU are growing, they will not be as back at the US-China trade war, he expects, as China still needs investments from Europe.
Tesla is losing its China market in the competition with its Chinese competitor. It might lose the rest of the world unless foreign protectionism saves the American car, says Shanghai-based business analyst Shaun Rein at CNBC. Nobody can beat China when it comes to price wars, he adds, and Chinese manufacturers will dominate the market in five to ten years, he adds.
Warren Buffett visited this week China's electric car maker BYD in Shenzhen, where he invested 230 million US dollar to buy ten percent of the company. BYD stands for "Build Your Dream", recalls Helen Wang on her weblog, one of many dreams in China.
Helen Wang:
It does not take much research to discover that BYD are the initials of the Chinese charactersBi Ya Di, which does not mean anything but sounds foreign or Western. Many Chinese companies use Western-sounding names to make their companies or product brands sound modern, or to imply their businesses have Western connections.
Despite some nationalistic tendencies among Chinese youths, most of China’s upwardly mobile middle class consumers favor Western brands because of their quality and reputation. A recent article in Harvard Business Review reveals that only 45 percent of Chinese consumers prefer local brands, down from 57 percent three years before.
