- German carmakers under pressure in China
- Green finance – Beijing’s green credentials are deceptive
- Monsieur Macron’s problems with the CAI
- Talks ahead of Biden’s climate summit
- Huawei steps up smart car investment
- VW holds on to car plant in Xinjiang
- Profile: Audrey Tang
All those years at the conference table with China have paid off for Maria Martin-Prat: The EU negotiator for the investment agreement between the community of states and Beijing (CAI) has been promoted to deputy director-general within the EU Directorate for Trade. Meanwhile, no progress is being made for the CAI in the European Parliament: The responsible monitoring group of the Committee on International Trade has suspended its meetings since the imposition of Chinese sanctions against several EU parliamentarians. The agreement will not be touched again until Beijing withdraws the punitive measures against MEPs, according to trade committee circles. With the sanctions, there is no majority for the CAI in the EU Parliament. If necessary, work on the agreement will be suspended until the French EU Council presidency begins – which is in January 2022.
It is precisely this agreement and the EU Council presidency that could now become decisive for the political future of French leader Emmanuel Macron – because the debates about and the vote on the agreement are complicating Macron’s domestic election campaign. France’s election is in the spring of 2022 – and criticism of the deal is hailing from both the left and the right. Therefore, China.Table takes a look at relations between Paris and Beijing today.
China is the self-proclaimed largest market for green bonds – but the environmentally-friendly appearance is deceptive when one takes a closer look at the supposedly green loans. Nico Beckert analyses what Beijing means by green bonds and presents the reforms it is aiming for in this area.
This week the “Auto China” starts in Shanghai. Frank Sieren is on-site for China.Table and already takes a look at the trends of the auto show, the market opportunities, and challenges. He comes to the conclusion that this year will be one of the most decisive for the German automotive industry in China.
Felix Lee also introduces you to one of the most exciting women in world politics today: Taiwan’s Digital Minister Audrey Tang.
Have a great start to the week!
Amelie Richter
Feature
German carmakers under pressure in China
“Only if we develop vehicles with alternative energies will we manage to go from being a great car country to a powerful center of the auto industry,” China’s party and state leader Xi Jinping declared back in 2014. In Germany, no one wanted to believe that. Until the government introduced mandatory quotas for EVs in China. A race against time began, in which the Chinese are ahead so far.
The goal: 25 percent of newly registered vehicles in China should be powered by alternative engines by 2025. The figures suggest that the plan is working: According to Reuters, around 226,000 EVs and plug-in hybrids were sold nationwide in March, more than twice as many as in February. Compared to the same month last year, the increase is 239 percent. The only question is whether Xi’s plan to change China’s drive system will also work for the German auto industry.
Chinese dominance
Almost 3.2 million EVs and plug-in hybrids were newly registered worldwide last year. This represents an increase of over 40 percent. Internationally, Tesla leads as a provider of EVs with almost 500,000 vehicles sold, followed by VW with 220,000 and BYD from Shenzhen with 179,000. BMW came in fifth with 163,000 units, followed by Mercedes with 145,000. Audi still landed in ninth place with 108,000. If you measure the unit numbers, Germany is now the second largest market for EVs behind China.
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