欧洲的工业正在快速关闭——这比你想象的更令人担忧
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgtDB2ea73E
2024年11月22日
欧洲的工业正在快速关闭——这比你想象的更令人担忧
欧洲正处于十字路口。几十年来,欧洲大陆一直以自己是工业创新、制造业实力和经济韧性的中心而自豪。但如今,其工业模式的基础正在出现裂缝。最紧迫的问题是:它是如何走到这一步的?中国制造业的崛起并不是秘密。但人们经常忽视的是其崛起背后的精准性和战略性,以及它如何让欧洲难以跟上。坚持下去,因为到最后,你会发现欧洲制造业的衰落不仅仅是一系列糟糕的决定——这是一个精心策划的现实,中国巧妙地利用了这一点。
欧洲制造业正面临前所未有的压力。德国通常被认为是欧洲工业的心脏,现在正面临着一系列挑战。能源成本上升、工资过高以及对传统行业的过度依赖使情况更加恶化。大众汽车是德国工业实力的象征,正面临销量下滑和竞争加剧的问题。该公司甚至将生产转移到中国等成本较低、电动汽车需求旺盛的国家。这不仅仅是一家公司的问题,而是整个工业领域崩溃的征兆。
欧洲的能源危机进一步暴露了其脆弱性。从化学品到钢铁,能源密集型行业几乎不可能与中国低成本、以煤炭为动力的制造业巨头竞争。中国对可再生能源的大规模投资,加上其制造业继续依赖更便宜的煤炭电力,使其具有竞争优势。另一方面,欧洲陷入了两难境地。中国对绿色能源的承诺推高了成本,但基础设施还不够强大,无法为其工业提供价格合理、稳定的电力。
以电解器生产为例,这对氢能至关重要。欧洲的公司正在努力扩大规模,而中国公司正在迅速扩张,用更便宜的替代品充斥市场。这种差距导致欧洲制造商失去合同,更重要的是,失去竞争优势。
中国并不是偶然进入这一地位的——它几十年来一直在为此努力。让我们来分析一下这一战略:
成本效益:中国大规模、低成本生产的能力一直是其成功的基石。但这不仅仅是廉价劳动力。政府大量补贴工业,确保企业能够在全球范围内以高于竞争对手的价格竞争。
技术转让:欧洲公司是第一批进入中国市场的公司之一,受到中国不断壮大的中产阶级的吸引。但作为市场准入的交换,许多公司被要求分享关键技术。几十年后,中国企业如今在电动汽车等领域处于领先地位,利用了欧洲曾经控制的技术。
积极扩张:从绿色技术到汽车制造,中国正投入数十亿美元用于研发和生产。例如,电动汽车行业发展如此迅速,以至于中国品牌现在不仅在国内市场占据主导地位,而且正在欧洲取得重大进展。一带一路计划 (BRI):通过这一计划,中国建立了广泛的贸易和基础设施网络,使其商品更容易出口到全球。政策和官僚机构分散的欧洲难以与这种凝聚力和愿景相媲美。
欧洲的挣扎在电动汽车 (EV) 行业中表现得最为明显。虽然大众和宝马等欧洲汽车制造商转向电动汽车的速度很慢,但中国公司很早就接受了这一转变。比亚迪和蔚来等品牌现在引领全球电动汽车市场,以具有竞争力的价格提供高质量的汽车。在中国,这些公司享受着政府的大力支持,包括研发补贴、消费者激励和基础设施建设。相比之下,欧洲面临着政策分散和对电动汽车普及的支持不一致的问题。这种差异导致中国制造的电动汽车大量涌入欧洲市场,削弱了当地制造商的竞争力。
Europe's Industries Are Shutting Down FAST – And It's More Alarming Than You Think
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgtDB2ea73E
2024年11月22日
Europe's Industries Are Shutting Down FAST – And It's More Alarming Than You Think
Europe is at a crossroads. For decades, the continent has prided itself on being a hub of industrial innovation, manufacturing prowess, and economic resilience. But today, cracks are forming in the very foundation of its industrial model. And the most pressing question is: how did it get here? China's rise in manufacturing isn’t a secret. But what’s often overlooked is the precision and strategy behind its ascent, and how it has left Europe scrambling to keep up. Stick with me because by the end of this, you’ll see how Europe’s manufacturing decline isn’t just a series of bad decisions—it’s a carefully orchestrated reality that China has capitalized on brilliantly.
Europe’s manufacturing sector is under pressure like never before. Germany, often considered the beating heart of European industry, is now grappling with a storm of challenges. Rising energy costs, high wages, and over-dependence on legacy industries have made the situation worse. Volkswagen, the symbol of German industrial might, is facing declining sales and mounting competition. The company is even shifting production to countries like China, where costs are lower, and demand for electric vehicles is booming. This is not just about one company—it’s a symptom of a broader industrial unraveling.
Europe’s energy crisis has further exposed its vulnerabilities. Energy-intensive industries, from chemicals to steel, are finding it nearly impossible to compete with China’s low-cost, coal-driven manufacturing juggernaut. China’s massive investments in renewable energy, combined with its continued reliance on cheaper coal-based power for manufacturing, give it a competitive edge. Europe, on the other hand, is caught in a double bind. Its commitment to green energy has driven up costs, but the infrastructure isn’t yet robust enough to deliver affordable, consistent power to its industries.
Take electrolyzer production, crucial for hydrogen energy. Europe’s companies are struggling to scale up, while Chinese firms are expanding rapidly, flooding the market with cheaper alternatives. This disparity is causing European manufacturers to lose contracts and, more importantly, their competitive edge.
China didn’t just stumble into this position—it’s been building towards it for decades. Let’s break down the strategy:
Cost Efficiency: China’s ability to manufacture at scale and at lower costs has always been a cornerstone of its success. But this goes beyond cheap labor. The government heavily subsidizes industries, ensuring companies can outprice competitors globally.
Technology Transfer: European companies were some of the first to enter China’s market, lured by its growing middle class. But in exchange for market access, many were required to share key technologies. Fast forward a few decades, and Chinese firms are now leading in sectors like EVs, leveraging the very technology Europe once controlled.
Aggressive Expansion: From green tech to automotive manufacturing, China is pouring billions into R&D and production. Its EV industry, for instance, has grown so rapidly that Chinese brands now dominate not just their home market but are making significant inroads in Europe. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Through this initiative, China has built an extensive network of trade and infrastructure, making it easier to export its goods globally. Europe, with its fragmented policies and bureaucracy, struggles to match this kind of cohesion and vision.
Nowhere is Europe’s struggle more evident than in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. While European carmakers like Volkswagen and BMW were slow to pivot to EVs, Chinese companies embraced the shift early. Brands like BYD and Nio now lead the global EV market, offering high-quality vehicles at competitive prices. In China, these companies enjoy massive state support, including subsidies for R&D, consumer incentives, and infrastructure development. Europe, in contrast, faces fragmented policies and inconsistent support for EV adoption. This disparity has led to a flood of Chinese-made EVs in the European market, undercutting local manufacturers.