The Competition Among China's Leading Auto Brands Intensifies

As China's independent brands, led by BYD as a super giant along with Geely, Chery, and Changan as the top three, dominate the automotive market, the rising competition among them has never ceased. In the first half of this year, various forms of competition among these brands, whether through online disputes or corporate strategies, have highlighted the fierce rivalry in the market. Data from the first half of 2024 shows notable shifts, such as Geely surpassing Chery by approximately 200,000 units, whereas in 2024, Chery had led Geely by 340,000 units. BYD maintained a lead over the second place by 1.74 million units in 2024, which narrowed to 710,000 units in the first half of this year, indicating a visible acceleration in the race. Geely's lead over Changan has also grown from 530,000 units to about 580,000 units in the same timeframe. The growth rates for BYD, Geely, Chery, and Changan in the first half were 31.5%, 47.4%, 14.8%, and 3.8%, respectively, reflecting who is truly excelling in this competitive landscape. The core issue revolves around who can seize the key areas of competition in new energy, as this will dictate the pace of their strategic offensive. The emergence of new energy brands like Galaxy, Qiyuan, and Fengyun from Geely, Changan, Chery, and Great Wall opens the door for these companies to enter the mainstream market. As we approach 2025, all four major independent brands are gearing up to compete closely with BYD. Analyzing their respective new energy segments reveals insights about their future trajectories in the market and who among them stands a better chance of closing the gap with BYD. Geely's strategy, particularly with the Galaxy brand, has led to rapid growth, while Chery's Fengyun and Changan's Qiyuan have struggled to maintain momentum. The competition is intensifying, and companies must adapt quickly to the evolving market to succeed. The strategic focus and investment will become the core driving forces for development in this increasingly competitive automotive landscape.