According to a recent report by itdcw, several Chinese new energy companies unveiled ambitious overseas expansion plans during the last week of September, with the highest investment commitment reaching almost a billion dollars.

This development comes as global demand for batteries skyrockets, driven by the rapid growth of the overseas new energy automotive and energy storage industries. Chinese companies in the new energy industry chain are strategically positioning themselves across the globe to better serve the expanding oversea markets.

Five Companies Announce Overseas Expansion in a Week

The hustle week could tracked back to a significant announcement from Ningbo Shanshan Co., LTD on September 27th. Their intention to establish a project company in Finland, aiming to invest in the construction of an integrated base capable of producing 100,000 tons of lithium-ion battery negative electrode materials annually. The total investment for this venture is not expected to exceed 1.28 billion euros.

On the very same day, a subsidiary of Lopal Technology signed a MOU with LG Energy Solution, Ltd. This agreement outlines their collaborative venture to operate a cathode material factory in Indonesia, further expanding the global footprint of Chinese battery companies.

XTC New Energy Materials also made a significant move on September 26th, announcing their plans to establish Joint Venture in France. This strategic collaboration with the French company Orano is set to build a production line with an annual output of 40,000 tons of ternary cathode materials, bolstering their presence in the European market.

Not to be outdone, CATL unveiled their investment plans in Indonesia on September 25th. Their vision includes the construction of Indonesia’s first project for the production of 30,000 tons of high-nickel power battery ternary precursor materials in the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park, Central Sulawesi Province. The total investment for this endeavor is approximately 109.6 million RMB.

Additionally, South Korea’s LG Chem is gearing up with Huayou Cobalt on September 24th. Together, they are planning to establish an electric vehicle battery material factory in Morocco, slated to commence production in 2026. Their target is an annual output of 50,000 tons of lithium iron phosphate cathode materials.

Not Random: Calculated Choice to Overseas Moves for Expansion

China’s surplus battery production capacity and skyrocketing prices in recent times have left the battery industry chain market sluggish. This has prompted companies to explore overseas markets as a natural expansion strategy. The EU’s new battery regulations and the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act have set new standards and prerequisites for Chinese battery industry chain enterprises venturing abroad.

Europe’s appeal stems from its stringent EU environmental regulations, which have been pushing for the development of electric vehicles. Hungary’s strategic location has positioned it as a major export production hub for renowned automakers like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi. Its prime geographical location and excellent transportation links make it an ideal gateway to the entire European market.

Indonesia’s selection is attributed to its abundant resources, particularly nickel, of which it holds a quarter of the world’s reserves. Moreover, Indonesia ranks high in global cobalt production. This makes it an attractive destination for battery companies and upstream material enterprises, ensuring a stable supply of essential raw materials.

South Korea is appealing primarily due to its opportunities for collaboration with local companies. Battery material enterprises often find the initial capital requirements and other aspects of independent overseas expansion daunting. With recent international policy changes, Chinese counterparts are favoring collaborative approaches to establish a presence in South Korea.

However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that expanding abroad, while offering access to more overseas market resources, also amplifies risks and pressures borne by these enterprises. This strategic move will test their adaptability and resilience in navigating the complexities of global markets.

In summary, Chinese battery companies are aggressively expanding into overseas markets to meet the surging global demand for batteries, with Europe, Indonesia, and South Korea serving as key strategic locations. While the challenges are significant, these companies are poised to make a significant impact on the global battery industry.

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(Image and Source: Signing Ceremony between XTC and Orano – © Orano / Cyril Crespeau)

Several Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturers disclosed their delivery and sales data for September on Sunday, October 1. GAC Aion, in particular, reached a significant milestone by surpassing 50,000 in sales, while Li Auto Inc. experienced a remarkable 200% surge in deliveries.

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As reported by Nikkei Chinese, Mitsubishi Motors from Japan has made the decision to halt car manufacturing operations in China. This move comes as Mitsubishi Motors engages in final discussions with its local joint venture partner, Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Motor).

In China, Mitsubishi Motors has been struggling with reduced sales due to the growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) and the increasing appeal of local brands. This strategic shift might have wider implications for other Japanese automakers. What lies ahead for the production facility originally situated in Changsha, Hunan?
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As the pace of electrification accelerates in the global automotive market, and various governments worldwide implement subsidy policies that encourage consumer EV purchases, sales of new energy vehicles（NEV, which includes BEV/PHEV/FCV）are continuing to rise as well. NEV sales for 2021 are projected to reach 4.35 million units, a 49% increase YoY.

Due to the vast scale of the Chinese market, as well as domestic policies favorable for the growth of BEV/PHEV/FCV, various NEV brands have quickly emerged in China in recent years, such as BYD Auto, Aion（formerly GAC NE）, and BAIC BJEV. At the market’s peak, NEV manufacturers in China once numbered in the hundreds, although that number has since dwindled somewhat, as the intense competition resulted in declining sales and market shares for many automakers, including BAIC and JAC.

Four rising stars among emerging NEV manufacturers in China include NIO, XPeng, Lixian（or Li Auto）, and Weltmeister, all of which have been shipping tens of thousands of mass production vehicles each year. In particular, while NIO, XPeng, and Lixiang registered significant growths in the past few years, Weltmeister also ranked number two in terms of sales in 2019, though it fell to fourth place in 2020 as it delivered fewer vehicles compared to the top three competitors last year.

In light of the aforementioned four automakers’ current expansions, TrendForce has summarized several key aspects of their growths, including the following:

1. Autonomous Driving Technologies: Autonomous driving is not only part and parcel of these automakers’ core competencies but also a reflection of what consumers and investors expect of the automotive industry. In pursuing advanced autonomous driving technologies, the four automakers have been adopting increasingly powerful processors and computing platforms, with Nvidia being the most common partner among emerging NEV manufacturers. Remarkably, XPeng stands out as the only player making a noticeable effort to develop in-house chips.

2. LiDAR: LiDAR is integrated into an increasing number of vehicles in response to the growing demand for advanced self-driving functionalities. Although LiDAR remains out of reach for vehicles in certain price segments, autonomous driving sensors including LiDAR are no longer limited to flagship models since new NEV models’ E/E architectures are expected to be compatible with OTA updates.

LiDAR sensor demand from NEV manufacturers has significantly increased because only by pre-installing  hardware ahead of time in their vehicles can automakers enable autonomous driving functionalities as a paid subscription service through OTA updates later on.

3. Battery-swapping: Battery-swapping are relatively attractive for the Chinese NEV industry for several reasons: First, battery-swappable vehicles are excluded from China’s NEV subsidy limits*; second, automakers can now afford to lower the retail price of vehicles by turning batteries into a subscription service; finally, it’s much convenience for driver because battery swapping is faster than battery charging.

For instance, NIO’s entire NEV lineup is compatible with both battery charging and battery swapping. NIO has been pushing its BaaS（battery as a service）and  second-gen battery swap stations since 2020. On the other hand, Weltmeister and XPeng are also making their respective battery-swapping strategies.

4. Capacity Expansion and Overseas Strategies: The aforementioned four automakers all place a heavy emphasis on both expanding their production capacities and growing their overseas market shares. Their capacity expansion efforts include building in-house production lines, acquiring other facilities, or jointly funding automotive production with OEMs/ODMs. Regarding overseas expansion, their primary destination is the European market, which is relatively favorable to NEVs.

For instance, NIO and XPeng choose Norway as their first target market in Europe. However, while the European automotive market is conducive to the growth of NEVs in terms of both policies and cultures, competition among automakers is also correspondingly intense. In addition, most European countries prefer either domestic brands or other European brands. Therefore, Chinese automakers must prioritize gaining consumer trust via establishing a trustworthy brand image.

*China’s subsidies for NEV purchases are restricted to NEVs with a retail price of CN¥300,000 and under. However, NEVs with swappable batteries do not fall under this restriction.

（Cover image source: Unsplash）