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Automotive Parts and Services- China

Automotive Components Market

China

Overview

China’s Automotive Components Market Information (USD Millions)

x	2004	2005	2006(As of November)
Total Market Size	55,700	73,400	88,600
Total Local Production	48,600	65,800	89,100 (est)
Total Exports	6,710	9,400	14,119
Total Imports	8,850	8,443	10,058
Imports from the U.S.	501	459	639

Notes:

1) Statistics collected from National Bureau of Statistics and World Trade Atlas.

2) 2006 figures are projected based on 2006, 3rd Quarter data.

3) Automotive Component figures based on five categories: engine parts, chassis parts, automotive body, electrical systems, and general parts.

Best Prospects/Services

· Engines for motor vehicles and motorcycles;

· Auto and motorcycle casting blanks;

· Key automotive parts and components including disc-type breaking assembly, drive axle assembly, automatic transmission box, diesel engine fuel pump, engine admission supercharger, engine displacement control device, electric servo steering system, viscous continuous shaft device (for four-wheel drive), air shock absorber, air suspension frame, hydraulic tappet, and compound meter;

· Auto electronic devices and instruments (including control systems for engine, chassis and vehicle body);

· Fuel cell technology;

· Automotive accessories;

Opportunities

China’s goal to develop its automotive industry into a key industry of the national economy by 2010 is quickly coming to fruition. It is now the 3rd largest automotive market in the world, trailing only the United States and Europe. China now has 6,322 automotive enterprises, which are scattered in five sectors: motor vehicle manufacturing, vehicle refitting, motorcycle production, auto engine production, and auto parts manufacturing. This includes approximately 100 OEMs, with 40 producing passenger vehicles, and over 4000 auto parts/accessories companies. All tiers of the industry are being driven by the booming sales of the OEM sector. Nearly 80% of the revenue for the auto parts and accessories market is through new vehicle sales.

In 2006, seven million new motor vehicles in China are expected to be sold, according to statistics from Automotive Resources Asia Ltd.. As of November 2006, China had already produced 6.6 million vehicles, a 27.92% rise over 2005’s figures. The total output value of the automotive sector for Q3 2006 was $143 billion dollars.

China’s fulfillment of WTO requirements has helped drive new vehicle sales. As of July 1, 2006, China fulfilled its WTO requirements by lowering import tariffs for auto parts and accessories to 10% and import tariffs for new automobiles to 25%. The reduction of tariffs on automotive parts and China’s agreement to eliminate local content requirements after WTO entry have placed domestic automotive parts manufacturers in direct competition with their international counterparts.

The main goals for automotive components, parts, and accessories manufacturers are to improve technology and quality and to develop design capability. Most of the domestic automotive parts manufacturers’ R&D capabilities are limited due to the small scale of their operations and a shortage of capital as compared to international companies. In the next five years, the Chinese Government will continue to encourage foreign investment in automotive component development and manufacturing. In the meantime, there is a growing market for imports and American products are generally highly regarded by Chinese customers.

Many U.S. firms have already begun exporting to this quickly growing market. U.S. automotive component firms enjoy a good reputation for quality and many U.S. firms are already well known to Chinese end-users. Domestic OEM firms encourage U.S. suppliers to establish plants in China or work more closely with local firms to upgrade product quality. As more parts are sourced locally, the total cost of production decreases, as there is no import tariff on locally made products.

The reductions in automobile tariffs will make it much more cost effective for U.S. firms to export finished vehicles to China and reduced tariffs on parts will allow companies to import essential components that cannot currently be found domestically. Additionally, as China’s restrictions on trading and distribution are reduced, American companies are gaining the right to distribute most products, including automobiles and related parts, in any part of China, whereas formerly, foreign companies could only distribute parts to one interior destination in China and they were not allowed to ship or distribute products between cities without employing a Chinese freight company.

Shanghai and its surrounding provinces (Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Anhui) are the centers for component manufacturing, representing around 44% of national production. Shanghai is home to Shanghai General Motors, Delphi, Visteon, and other notable American automotive companies and, as such, provides a good starting point for U.S. automotive component exporters to begin to explore the Chinese market. Other major automotive centers in China include Guangzhou (South China), Chongqing (West China), and Changchun (North China).

Resources

1. Major Shows/Exhibitions:

4th China Automotive Roundtable, Shanghai

February 7-8, 2007

http://www.economistconferences.com/asia.html

The 4th Guangzhou International Automobile Air-conditioning & Cold Chain Technology Exhibition China

March 13-15, 2007

The Liuhua Complex of Chinese Export Commodities Fair, Guangzhou

http://www.84t.cn/kt/en/index.htm

Bus World Asia

March 13-15, 2007

Shanghai New International Expo Center