Interview with SVOLT's Europe president + Switzerland struggles with China Strategy • China.Table

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Dear reader,

This decade the roles have been reversed: China is coming to Germany as a technologically superior investor. “Europe cannot accomplish the shift to electric vehicles on its own,” Kai-Uwe Wollenhaupt tells China.Table in our Monday interview. In the interview, the European head of battery manufacturer SVOLT explains why his company is starting with cutting-edge technology in Saarland right away, while European industry has mostly only brought the previous generation to China.

Wollenhaupt thus describes nothing less than a turning point in time that should trigger a complete rethink among the public. “The equation ‘China bad, Europe good’ does not fit our global times,” he concludes. “There are many levels on which we encounter China. Some as rivals, others as partners.”

It is the precise dilemma of “partner or rival?” that Switzerland is currently struggling with. Amelie Richter analyses why the overdue adjustment of China policy is so difficult for our neighbor. Even if Switzerland is smaller and does not belong to the EU, the issues discussed in Bern provide a taste of what the new German government will deal with after the election.

Wishing you a pleasant week.

Your
Finn Mayer-Kuckuk

Interview

‘The high acceptance of electromobility has taken the industry by surprise’

Kai-Uwe Wollenhaupt, President SVOLT Europe & Vice President SVOLT Energy Technology

The Chinese battery manufacturer SVOLT wants to start serial production in Saarland by 2024 at the latest. Nevertheless, European head Kai-Uwe Wollenhaupt warns of a battery bottleneck due to the enormous demand. He recommends car manufacturers to secure capacities now. However, SVOLT will not plunge the competition into a price war, the Dortmund native promises in an interview with China.Table. Marcel Grzanna conducted the interview.

Mr. Wollenhaupt, the number of possible locations for SVOLT‘s investment in Europe ran into the dozens. Why Saarland?

Many factors speak for this. But what has convinced us most is the very agile political environment in which we receive valuable help in implementing our plans thanks to the additional support from SHS Strukturholding Saar.

In what form?

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