Doha Just as the balance of power in the world of politics fluctuates from one era to another, the balance of economics changes accordingly. China, which in the past was a “burden” on the world from the point of view of some, due to its huge population and few resources, has today become an industrial empire competing with the big players for their thrones on the basis of “quality and reasonable price.”
Many Chinese industries fall under this rule, perhaps the most important of which is the automobile industry, which is the focus of our report in which we investigated the reasons for the growing share of Chinese cars in the Qatari market, and how they have become a real competitor on the roads.
Today, you cannot walk in one of the streets of Qatar without noticing a new and different type of luxurious and unusual vehicles that rival Japanese, American and European ones.
bad past
Ahmed Al-Subaie, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Nukhba Motors Company in Qatar (agent of Chinese cars), says that the Chinese industry in this field, at the beginning of its renaissance, was somewhat poor, compared to Japanese or American cars, for several reasons, the most important of which are:
- Lack of experience in the automobile industry among the Chinese.
- Lack of interest in quality and providing a product that does not compete with global cars.
- Focusing on the idea of industry for industry’s sake without paying attention to the details.
- Frequent breakdowns and lack of a disciplined mechanism in the export process and provision of spare parts.
How did Chinese cars spread?
Al-Sabai confirmed – in his interview with Al Jazeera Net – that 2019 was a turning point in the history of the Chinese car industry, as companies this year were able to provide high-quality products at low prices, which shocked the world of the car industry.
According to the figures revealed by Al-Sabai, the share of Chinese cars constituted 15% of the overall Qatari market share during 2022, which represents a significant increase in total sales, compared to previous years, when they recorded:
- 0.1% of sales volume in 2017.
- %2 in 2018.
- 4% in 2019.
- 6% in 2020.
- 8% in 2021.
Al-Sabai expected that the share of Chinese cars in the Qatari market would reach 30% in 2025, thus outperforming European and American cars and becoming a strong competitor to the Japanese.
Chinese car Jetour T2 🚙
Invading the Qatari markets 🇶🇦#Qatar_Messenger | #Qatar | #Gator pic.twitter.com/qlb6066b4d— Marsal Qatar (@Marsalqatar) June 26, 2024
Number 1 and the secret is in the cost
The Chairman of Elite Motors Company stated that China has increased the volume of its car manufacturing over the past few years to become a difficult number in this sector, and has become the largest manufacturer and largest exporter in the world.
According to the same speaker, the total global automobile industry has reached 70 million vehicles annually, while China’s share of it has reached 27 million cars.
Al-Subaie said that the great interest in quality, industry and high technology made Chinese cars the best choice for many in Qatar and the Gulf.
He added that the automobile industry needs large numbers of workers, as their number in one factory reaches more than 20 thousand workers, pointing out that the secret of the low price of Chinese cars is mainly due to the low cost of labor there, compared to the markets of Japan, America and Europe.
He pointed out that the cost of a worker in Europe ranges between 2,000 and 3,000 euros per month, the cost of a worker in Japan is 4,000 dollars, while the cost of a worker in China may not exceed 300 dollars.
5 year challenge
Qatari car expert Saad Al-Ahmad believes that Chinese vehicles are good “mechanically” compared to their price, but they do not compare to the quality of Japanese vehicles, for example, pointing out that the true evaluation of Chinese cars will actually become clear after 5 years from now, when they have crossed the barrier of 100 or 150 thousand kilometers on the streets of Qatar.
Regarding the most prominent challenges facing Chinese cars, Al-Ahmad said – in his interview with Al Jazeera Net – that the high temperatures in Qatar during the summer, in addition to the lack of significant experience among the workforce in the field of car repair, are the biggest challenges facing Chinese vehicles in the country.
In turn, Qatari car enthusiast Mohammed Al-Jaber believes that Qatar is an open market that accommodates everyone. He told Al Jazeera Net that the idea of competition between Chinese car companies and other traditional cars was in the interest of the customer first and foremost, as the competition, in his opinion, has established the idea of “diversification” and all companies’ attempts to satisfy the customer.
Our exclusive coverage of the 2023 Geneva International Motor Show in Qatar
JAC J8 Advanced Car
Three rows expand the family and with very high-end services, materials and technology
….
The car has a total length of 4820 mm and a wheelbase of 2820.The car comes with a 2.0-liter TGDI four-cylinder engine with 257 horsepower and 100 lb-ft of torque. pic.twitter.com/rC9kRjzmSl
— Chinese Cars Network (@ChineseCarsME) October 10, 2023
Car age
In turn, the director of a German car agency in Qatar – who preferred not to reveal his name – believes that Chinese cars are actually enjoying wide popularity among consumers in Qatar and the Gulf at this time, especially among young people, due to their reasonable cost, in addition to their innovative and unique designs.
But he expressed his fears about Chinese cars in general, and said – in his interview with Al Jazeera Net – that the lifespan of any Chinese car does not exceed 5 years, after which it loses its value and quality for several reasons, the most important of which are:
- Lack of continuous and immediate availability of spare parts.
- Weakness in the refrigerants (air conditioning) and its wear and tear over time.
- Many faults in the “fancy” technology provided by Chinese cars.
- The lack of a “resale” feature after purchase makes the Chinese car a “problem” for its owner.
The lifespan of a Chinese car is almost equal to that of a European or American car if maintained.
The response comes from Al-Sabai, who says:
- For example, the Chinese company Chery has a huge center in Jebel Ali in the Emirates that provides spare parts to Qatar within days.
- The lifespan of a Chinese car is almost equal to that of its European and American counterparts if it is maintained and serviced regularly.
- Technological faults are possible in any car, whether Chinese or from any other country, and the most important thing is the warranty and immediate treatment provided by Chinese companies.
- The Gulf countries are very hot during the summer, which is why Chinese companies have provided a super-high-performance thermal insulator that gives the car a distinct coolness from the inside.
Chinese car prices do not exceed a quarter of the price of German cars
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Qatari citizen Mohammed Al-Aqidi did not hide his great admiration for the wonderful vehicle industry that China offers. He said that Chinese cars provide specifications similar to those available in German, American and Japanese cars, but their prices do not exceed a quarter of the price of German cars, and they are also less by a third of the price of Japanese cars.
He confirmed – in his interview with Al Jazeera Net – that the Qatari and Gulf consumer in general usually intends to replace his car after 5-7 years in most cases, and during this period Chinese cars provide service without problems, and this is something that no other car company provides.
Al-Aqidi concluded his speech by saying that Chinese cars are sweeping the Qatari and Gulf markets, “and are clearly spreading in our streets, and no one can deny that.”
