奔驰CEO：竞争高强度，我们在中国可不“天真”

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that German automakers, particularly Mercedes-Benz, face significant challenges in the Chinese market due to intense competition from over 100 local manufacturers, and they are not naive about the difficulties ahead [1][3] - Mercedes-Benz's sales in China dropped by 27% in the third quarter, contrasting with a slight increase in European sales, highlighting the tough competition and external pressures such as increased import tariffs from the U.S. [3] - The automotive industry is a key area of investment for Germany in China, with manufacturers expected to invest approximately 4.2 billion euros from 2023 to 2024, marking a 69% increase [6][7] Group 2 - BMW has invested around 3.8 billion euros in a battery project in Shenyang, making China its largest R&D hub outside Germany, and is exporting electric SUVs produced in China back to Europe [7] - The Chinese passenger car market saw sales of 10.9 million units in the first half of the year, significantly outpacing Europe's 6.8 million units, with new energy vehicles in China reaching 5.524 million, more than three times that of Europe [7] - The German automotive industry is adapting to a competitive landscape in China, with companies like Mercedes-Benz and BMW focusing on cost reduction and strategic partnerships to maintain their market positions [4][5]