Commentary
On Feb. 8, the Chinese state-run media Xinhua reported that Tesla, the U.S. automaker, was summoned by five government departments including the General Administration of Market Supervision, to discuss consumers’ complaints about quality issues such as abnormal acceleration, battery fires, and remote vehicle upgrades. On Feb. 9, Xinhua issued three commentaries on the incident, headlined: “Tesla responded to being interviewed by five departments: it will strictly abide by Chinese laws and regulations,” “What’s the warning behind Tesla being questioned,” and “Tesla, there’s no special treatment when faced with quality issues.”
Tesla was suddenly pushed to the forefront of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) propaganda. It should be directly related to the current U.S.-China relationship. Tesla is becoming a new bargaining chip for the CCP against the United States. It should serve a resounding warning to foreign companies operating in China. It’s a wake-up call: to gain access to the Chinese market, foreign companies may have to pay a price far beyond their imagination.
The responsibility falls on Tesla for products to be recalled and improved when there’s a quality issue. But Tesla’s response, promising to “strictly abide by Chinese laws and regulations,” is strange.
Tesla’s response is more like protecting itself in advance. Perhaps the executives at Tesla China have already sensed trouble. This is not just a product quality issue. The CCP is likely trying to make an example of Tesla. To avoid being accused of illegality, Tesla hastened to make a declaration. This is perhaps Tesla’s grievances in disguise.
Strictly speaking of quality issues, Tesla should be considered a rookie in the auto industry. Quality issues are not surprising. The world’s major auto manufacturers have experienced many similar problems before. Even so, with its technological advantages, Tesla’s overall quality of products should be much more reliable than mainland Chinese electric car makers. If Tesla’s quality wasn’t as good as its competitors, how could it have won the top spot in the Chinese market?
Tesla’s competitors in China should have no fewer quality problems than Tesla does. Quality issues should be considered normal for a new industry or product category. Limited by the overall lack of innovation and technological skill, China’s competitiveness in this new industry is still limited. Of course, the CCP is aware of the disadvantages of domestic brands. Yet, it publicized Tesla’s quality problems in a high-profile manner. The fundamental purpose is not to really help consumers resolve problems, but to fight against the United States.
Tesla’s response suggests that the firm wants to avoid political problems as much as possible. But even if Tesla can escape a catastrophe today, it will be difficult to control its future destiny.
Before Tesla entered the China market, the electric vehicle sector was already surging in China. The CCP gave a large number of subsidies to Chinese automakers to encourage tech innovations. By allowing Tesla to enter the China market, the CCP likely had its eye on Tesla’s technology.
Consumers have also made a clear choice. In 2020, Tesla sold more than 130,000 of the Model 3 in China. China has become Tesla’s second-largest market after the United States. For the three major Chinese-made brands, in 2020, NIO has just sold over 43,000 cars, Li Auto only 32,000, and XPeng Motors only 27,000. The three firms’ combined sales is lower than Tesla’s. In addition, Tesla also operates an electric-charging business in China, with more than 700 super charging stations and more than 5,700 super chargers covering 300 cities in China.
It is not difficult to understand that the CCP cannot allow Tesla to take the lead. Once Tesla’s main technology is set up for mass production, sooner or later, Tesla will be kicked out of the Chinese market. But the technology and equipment will have to stay, and the dollars will not be allowed to leave China. Of course, the CCP may use Tesla as a bargaining chip in the U.S.-China relationship as needed.
Tesla is keeping its head down in order to stay in the Chinese market. But Tesla may not realize that it won’t resolve the long-term hidden dangers—as long as it continues to deal with the CCP.
Tesla’s sales in China are growing, but investment has increased even faster. Tesla, which has accelerated mass production in China, is also constantly lowering prices, but it will take time to truly recover costs. Tesla has already set up shop in China. But as with other American companies that came before it, leaving the China market may be the ultimate unavoidable ending.
Zhong Yuan is a researcher focused on China’s political system, the country’s democratization process, human rights situation, and Chinese citizens’ livelihood.
Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
