672辆纯电公交不到3年大面积停运！发展本地产业岂能依赖扶持回避竞争

Core Viewpoint - Longzhou Co., Ltd. is facing two significant lawsuits due to contract disputes involving its subsidiary, Dongguan Zhongqi Hongyuan Automobile Co., Ltd., with a total claim amount of 431 million yuan [1][2]. Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The lawsuits are initiated by Dongguan Bus Co., Ltd., the largest public transport company in Dongguan, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dongguan City Bus Transportation Co., Ltd. [1] - The disputes stem from the procurement of electric buses with manganese lithium batteries, which began experiencing battery failures and performance issues starting from late 2021, leading to widespread vehicle downtime [2][3]. Group 2: Battery Technology Issues - The procurement process mandated the use of manganese lithium batteries, which are known for their low energy density, short cycle life, poor high-temperature performance, and rapid battery degradation, resulting in a declining market share of only 1.9% by 2018 [4]. - The restriction to manganese lithium batteries significantly limited competition during the bidding process, favoring less mainstream suppliers, which ultimately proved detrimental due to the inherent technical flaws of the batteries [4]. Group 3: Market Competition and Business Viability - The situation illustrates a failure of local government efforts to support the local automotive industry by artificially reducing market competition, which has led to a decline in the operational performance of Zhongqi Hongyuan since 2018, including a halving of net profits in 2019 and subsequent years of significant losses [5]. - The lack of competitive pressure has hindered the growth of local enterprises, emphasizing the need for a fair and open market environment to foster sustainable business development [5].