Rise of the Machines: China Copes With Robot Glut

(Bloomberg) -- China wants to own the 21st Century economy. That's why Beijing economic planners have mapped out a full-on strategy called Made in China 2025 to dominate in artificial intelligence, robotics, electric vehicles and other key sectors. The government is spending big on tax breaks and subsidies to get these industries off the ground quickly.

Call it industrial policy on steroids.

The U.S. and European Union chambers of commerce in China both warned in March the country is becoming more closed to foreign business, and its Made in China drive will make matters worse.  (The Chinese government says the playing field remains level for local and global firms.) Put that question aside, though, and consider this: Will the Chinese strategy of throwing massive resources at new industries create world-beaters or end up being a massive waste of resources in an already heavily indebted economy?

Take the electric-vehicle industry. China plans to halt issuing permits to produce electric vehicles in the world’s biggest auto market, according to Bloomberg News, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The National Development and Reform Commission, which oversees new investments in the auto industry, wants to evaluate the program after handing out 15 production licenses since March 2016.

China has identified new-energy vehicles as a strategic emerging industry and aims to boost annual sales of plug-in hybrids and fully electric cars by 10-fold in the next decade. Besides giving generous subsidies for both consumers and manufacturers, the government created a class of permits allowing companies, including billionaire Lu Guanqiu’s Wanxiang Group and a Volkswagen AG joint venture, to produce only electric vehicles, while imposing a moratorium on new capacity for the manufacture of conventional gasoline-run vehicles.

The state support helped China surpass the U.S. in 2015 to become the world’s biggest market for new-energy vehicles -- comprising EVs, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell cars. That's impressive, but there are now more than 200 electric-vehicle makers in China, a big economy for sure, but one that's been decelerating in recent years. There's no question a cathartic shake-out is coming. It's only a matter of when.

Robot Superpower

The same living-large investment is taking place in robotics, another industry Beijing hopes the country will dominate. China is home to the world's fastest-growing robot market, and competitive industrial robotics makers like E-Deodar Robot Equipment Co., Anhui Efort Intelligent Equipment Co. and Siasun Robot & Automation Co. hope to take on foreign players, including Japan’s Fanuc Corp. or California-based Adept Technology Inc., for leadership in the $11 billion market.

Yet does China need 800 robotics companies? Lured by tax breaks and cheap land, some startups have set up shop, bought key components from Western and Japanese firms, put them in a robot shell with an arm, and then slapped on a Chinese brand name, said Chai Yueting, director of the National Engineering Laboratory for E-Commerce Technologies at Tsinghua University.

“China has lots of robot companies. But their technology often is from the Japan or U.S.,” Chai said. “China’s own specific robot technology is still very limited.” He predicted at least half of China’s robot makers will eventually shut their operations.

Chinese planners are throwing massive resources into the industries they deem critical to the nation's future prosperity. Who knows? Maybe China will produce national champs that eventually will rule electric cars and robots. Yet, if so, it likely will be a very messy -- and very expensive -- undertaking.  

-- With assistance from Tian Ying, Dexter Roberts and Rachel Chang
 

To contact the author of this story: Brian Bremner in Tokyo at bbremner@bloomberg.net.