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Now, with Daimler's accession, the "circle of friends" in the Ningde era has been expanded again. Interestingly, why did Daimler not first consider "old partner" BYD instead of Ningde era?
With the success of Ningde Times and Daimler, the unicorn in the power battery industry has added a new customer of a heavyweight vehicle factory. According to German media reports, on May 2, local time, Sabine Angermann, Daimler Group's purchasing director, said that Daimler Group had signed a contract with Ningde Times New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL), and Ningde Times entered into Daimler's battery supply chain system.
In addition, Cai Che, CEO of Daimler, recently revealed to the media that in the future, Mercedes-Benz's electric cars will use Chinese cores in both China and the world.
The "circle of friends" expanded again in the Ningde Era
In March this year, after taking the power battery order of Volkswagen Group MEB project, the Ningde Times partners list has gathered Yutong, SAIC, Geely, BMW, Volkswagen and other traditional vehicle manufacturers, as well as Weilai automobile and other emerging automobile manufacturers.
Now, with Daimler's accession, the "circle of friends" in the Ningde era has been expanded again. Interestingly, why did Daimler not first consider "old partner" BYD instead of Ningde era?
In this regard, automobile analyst Zhang Zhiyong believes that "this should be a comprehensive decision, out of the battery supplier's position in the industry, product quality, cost control and other considerations."
Open data show that in 2017, the installed capacity of Ningde era battery reached 10.5 Gwh, supporting models reached 390, and the market share was nearly 30%.
At the same time, Ningde era has prominent advantages in lithium ternary, the mainstream technology of passenger car power battery. It is understood that BYD is one of the earliest car companies to develop lithium iron phosphate power battery. Since then, BYD has also adhered to the lithium iron phosphate line, while the Ningde era has adhered to the parallel of lithium ternary and lithium iron phosphate routes.
In contrast, the three yuan lithium battery has higher unit energy density and longer endurance. After 2015, ternary lithium batteries began to dominate the passenger car market, and the new energy vehicle subsidy policy introduced this year has greatly increased the requirement of battery energy density per unit. Therefore, the three yuan lithium system is more familiar with the layout of the earlier Ningde era has become the first choice for many car companies.
In addition, as many car companies choose the Ningde era, the scale effect also appears in the company. Data show that from 2015 to 2017, with the increase of customer orders and the cooperation of the whole industry chain, the cost of Ningde era has been further controlled. In the past three years, the price of power battery system in Ningde era is 2.28 yuan/Wh, 2.06 yuan/Wh and 1.41 yuan/Wh, and the unit cost of power battery system is 1.33 yuan/Wh, 1.13 yuan/Wh and 0.91 yuan/Wh, respectively. For well-known automobile companies like Daimler, when choosing partners, they must go through extensive investigation, research, and organize project bidding activities, among which cost is an important indicator.
In response to this information, BYD officials responded to the Daily Economic News reporter, saying, "At present, the battery business cooperation with Daimler is also under discussion. In addition, BYD and Daimler set up joint venture Teng power is BYD power battery. "
For specific cooperation details, BYD did not disclose.
It is understood that the Daimler group will invest 10 billion euros in the development of new energy vehicles. By 2022, Daimler is expected to release more than 50 new energy vehicles, including more than 10 pure electric vehicles. This shows that Daimler's demand for battery quality and capacity is very large.
BYD accelerates transformation
In fact, Daimler did not choose BYD as the first battery partner, which is also related to the business development of the latter. Liu Yanlong, secretary-general of China Chemical and Physical Power Industry Association, said this was related to BYD's closed-loop supply model. "In addition to power battery products, BYD also has vehicle business. There is a competition relationship between them."
Reporters learned that the vertical system has always made BYD's batteries basically self-produced and sold. For other vehicle manufacturers, BYD is not only a battery supplier but also a competitor. In the Ningde era of pure battery supply, there is not much direct competition with the whole vehicle enterprises.
In the new market situation, BYD is also beginning to accelerate the pace of transformation. In March this year, BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu said, "We should learn from the lessons of Nokia's strategic mistakes and change the relatively closed business model of traditional automobile companies."
It is understood that BYD's transformation will be carried out in two aspects: First, BYD's power battery technology route will be tilted from lithium iron phosphate to lithium ternary. BYD has previously announced that from 2018, the company's passenger vehicle unit will be fully reloaded three yuan lithium battery.
"Increasing the proportion of ternary lithium batteries is mainly due to the high energy density and low cost of ternary lithium batteries, as well as national policy-oriented factors." The relevant person in charge of BYD said to the daily economic news reporter.
On the other hand, BYD will separate the battery business separately. Previously, at a public event, Shen Sheng, deputy general manager of BYD's lithium-ion business, said that the divestiture of BYD's power batteries business had been carried out, and that it was expected to be completed in 2018 or early 2019; and that BYD's power battery company would be listed independently in 2022 or 2023.
"Regarding the separation of battery business, we hope to give more decision-making and management authority to the battery business group, so that it can develop independently better, and at the same time help to establish a better one.