中汽协发倡议，众专家亮观点（三）| 郑赟：借鉴国外经验制度，避免无序价格战

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese automotive industry is facing a new wave of price wars, which has raised concerns about unhealthy competition, profit erosion, and potential risks to product quality and consumer safety [1][6]. Group 1: Price War Characteristics - The current price war is characterized by three main features: greater intensity, broader scope, and faster response times. Over 20 mainstream brands have participated, with discounts typically ranging from 10% to 30%, and some models seeing reductions exceeding 40% [5]. - The inventory pressure in the automotive sector has reached alarming levels, with the inventory warning index hitting 62% in April 2025, indicating a significant oversupply [4]. - Consumer sentiment has shifted, with many now associating price cuts with reduced quality, leading to a decline in brand loyalty [7]. Group 2: Impact on the Industry - The ongoing price wars are expected to compress profit margins significantly, with projections indicating that leading automakers' net profit margins could drop from 8% to below 5% by 2025 [7]. - The average R&D intensity in the automotive industry is forecasted to decrease from 5.2% in 2024 to 4.1% in 2025, potentially hindering technological advancements and product safety [7]. - The pressure on supply chain companies is increasing, with component manufacturers facing forced price reductions that could lead to systemic risks in battery safety and chip supply [7]. Group 3: Recommendations to Address Price Wars - To mitigate the effects of the price war, it is suggested that automakers establish rational competition mechanisms, potentially modeled after the German automotive industry's practices [9]. - The government is encouraged to enhance regulatory oversight and implement stricter controls, including quality traceability systems for discounted models [9]. - Industry organizations should create collaborative platforms to improve supply and demand forecasting mechanisms [10].