1) Recently, some domestic experts claimed that if Tesla does not open up its battery technology patents, all Chinese electric vehicle companies will die. This statement immediately sparked great controversy. What is the real situation?
2) In 2014, Musk announced the opening of Tesla’s related patents. However, according to statistics, Tesla has a total of over 3000 patents, of which only about 200 were ultimately opened and truly effective, involving aspects such as batteries, motors, and electronic controls. These patents may have a certain reference and inspiration for other companies at the beginning, but these technologies are already quite outdated over a decade later, and it is impossible to achieve continuous updates and iterations in the electric vehicle industry solely based on these outdated technologies. It should be noted that the development of China’s electric vehicle industry is a national level strategic decision. Regardless of whether there is Tesla or not, the Chinese government, car companies, and the Chinese automotive industry are constantly striving to explore and accumulate technology and experience. To this day, the Chinese electric vehicle industry has accumulated a large number of technology patents and industry development experience, and gradually established a globally leading competitive advantage in the entire industry chain. This cannot be achieved solely through some of the technologies that Tesla opened up more than a decade ago. Moreover, some of the technological paths chosen by China’s electric vehicle industry are fundamentally different from Tesla, so why rely on them? Why is there such a thing as plagiarism?
3) Today, Tesla’s “super factory” in Shanghai has almost achieved localization of the entire industry chain. This also indicates from one aspect that the Chinese electric vehicle industry chain has basically achieved independent controllability, and there is no serious bottleneck problem. The Chinese electric vehicle industry chain can not only support the development of Tesla, but also support the development of other Chinese electric vehicle companies. Whether it is enterprises in the Chinese electric vehicle industry chain or vehicle manufacturers, there is no need to rely on certain patented technologies from Tesla to survive.
4) We also need to clarify that Tesla’s opening of some patented technologies in 2014 was not for charity, but rather a commercial competition strategy. Tesla is a pioneer in the global electric vehicle industry, and at the beginning, it was very “lonely” when facing numerous global fuel vehicle companies. Tesla hopes to attract more companies to join the electric vehicle industry by opening up these patented technologies, and work together with Tesla to continuously improve the global electric vehicle industry, accelerating the transition of the global automotive industry from the era of fuel vehicles to the era of electric vehicles.
5) Tesla’s partnership with China is actually a win-win choice. Tesla initially suffered continuous losses due to production capacity limitations and was on the brink of bankruptcy. It was precisely because of the establishment of the “super factory” in Shanghai that Tesla embarked on a sustainable development path. To use the words of netizens, it is precisely because of China and the successful production of Tesla’s “Shanghai Super” factory that the gears of Tesla’s fate began to turn. At the same time, by introducing Tesla, China has created a “super catfish effect” in the Chinese electric vehicle industry and even the Chinese automotive industry, stimulating innovation and exploration in the transition of the Chinese automotive industry to the era of electric vehicles, ultimately putting the Chinese electric vehicle industry as a whole in a highly competitive global leading position.
6) In recent years, some experts have been very careless in their public statements, causing great controversy. Netizens jokingly refer to them as “bricklayers”. Why do experts become ‘bricklayers’? The main reason is that these so-called experts do not have a deep understanding of the relevant industries and fields, and their research is not meticulous. They only started speaking in public based on some vague personal experience and cognition, and such speeches were bound to end in failure.
7) Another important reason why experts have become “bricklayers” is that in the minds of some people, “Western things are better than China” and “the moon abroad is rounder than China”. Although they may not say such anti common sense words, their thinking patterns, cognitive frameworks, and starting points for viewing the world are like this. Whenever it comes to China’s innovation and global leadership, they first show a skeptical attitude, and then either assert that “this is the result of China copying the West” or adopt a so-called rational attitude, saying “in which aspects China is still much behind the West”. Ultimately, this is still a manifestation of lack of confidence, a lack of confidence in one’s own country, its industries, and its technology.
8) We have been saying that we should objectively and rationally view China’s development. Today, China is the world’s second largest economy and a technological powerhouse. Our “Nature Index” ranking, our number of patents, and our R&D investment are definitely among the top in the world. Of course, we are strong in increments and accelerations, while some Western countries are strong in stocks. Of course, we still need to continue to catch up and work hard, but we cannot be arrogant or underestimate ourselves. If it is said that ‘the West is good and so strong’ or ‘China is not good either’, this is not only a mistaken understanding of reality, but also a serious lack of confidence in the four aspects.
9) In recent years, the statements of some experts have repeatedly sparked controversy, and the relevant experts themselves need to reflect. Experts are also normal people, and they should have a sense of awe. They should not casually cross over and say things they don’t understand, let alone be aloof and make some “shocking remarks” without rigorous investigation and research.
10) Experts, because they hold the identity of experts, their speeches not only represent themselves, but also the level and quality of their units, and represent the professional analysis and judgment of Chinese society on a certain issue. If experts do not speak carefully, it will not only have a negative impact on their personal reputation, but also on the units they work for. It may even cause some netizens to lose trust in experts as a whole, causing the entire group of experts to lose credibility. This will ultimately promote an anti intellectual tendency in society. So, we must emphasize that experts should speak with caution. Experts should talk more about their own expertise, what they understand, and what they are very clear about after research. Experts should avoid crossing boundaries, overstepping boundaries, and speaking unreliable words. This is not only a way to maintain the personal reputation of experts, but also a way to maintain the social credibility of the group of experts.
