7月初，中国第2000万辆新能源汽车下线，中国汽车产业迎来又一个里程碑。实现第二个1000万辆，中国新能源汽车行业仅用了1年零5个月时间。作为最具潜力的“中国制造”板块，新能源汽车行业也对法律服务提出了截然不同的要求。
2023年前5个月，中国新能源汽车产量、销量分别完成300.5万辆和294万辆，同比分别增长45.1%和46.8%。
“4月举办的2023上海车展上，新能源汽车是几乎所有品牌新车发布的主旋律，电动化、智能化是主流和趋势。”“造车新势力”之一的蔚来公司副总裁、全球总法律顾问高岗先生介绍道。
累计超1500台整车在上海车展集中亮相，其中三分之二为新能源汽车，最热门的展台都集中于新能源，传统汽车制造巨头的新车发布也都是已交付或即将交付的量产电动车。
火爆的背后，有国家政策的支持。“财政部、税务总局、工业和信息化部等多个部门出台了优化新能源汽车车辆购置税减免政策，对于蔚来等车电分离的换电车型，将不对电池征收车辆购置税。”高岗补充道，政府层面还从充电基础设施建设、新能源汽车下乡、农村地区新能源汽车服务管理等层面入手，推动产业发展，多个地方政府也推出了当地的特殊补贴政策和充电设施管理办法。
北京市道可特律师事务所管理合伙人林蔚律师在本科时学习电气工程，参与了电动汽车的实验研究，他也是资深汽车和和电子产品爱好者，这让他在近年借助对行业相对深度的理解，服务了五家车企。
林律师认为，汽车行业正面临迭代和发展机会，以新能源化为代表，其产值和规模甚至要高于2010年以来的移动互联网的浪潮。
“新能源车不仅是动力的革命，不仅是‘三电’（电池、电机、电控）技术的发展和应用，还包括‘三智’（智能网关、智能座舱和自动驾驶）的创新与应用。”林律师说，“汽车工业原本就是产业链最长、产值最大、最能代表一个国家工业实力的行业，随着新能源智能汽车的出现，其涉及到的硬件、软件、数据各要素全部汇集在一起，规模前所未有。”
下一个“超级智能终端”
在商业模式上，新能源汽车也寻求与传统汽车不一样的发展路径。“新能源智能汽车行业将打破传统汽车4S模式，打破依赖极高零整比的售后暴利市场。新能源车售后市场将更多地在服务收费、软件订阅、数字消费、硬件升级方面展开创新与竞争。”林蔚律师说。
“造车新势力”的商业价值不止步于造车。在6月举办的2023 ALB上海企业法律顾问峰会上，蔚来国际业务法务负责人王琦就曾表示，蔚来始终追求贴近市场和客户，围绕“产品+服务”，为客户输出更多价值。
高岗也强调，智能电动汽车是改变大众生活方式的产品和服务，而法务部在智能电动车的不断演进中扮演了关键的角色。蔚来法务部不仅全力支持各项业务，并在数据合规、自动驾驶等领域进行前瞻性的探索。“我们团队在深入了解技术、产品、服务和商业模式的同时，积极地与同行、监管机构和科研机构进行探讨和合作，从而更好地支持智能电动汽车产业的发展。”
“比如，自动驾驶作为新兴技术，在中国乃至世界各国，都存在法律法规方面的建设需要和很多亟待解决的法律问题，我们团队一直密切关注和跟进中国、欧盟、联合国等方面的法律法规发展，并一直积极配合相关机构的各项调研和预研工作，包括智能网联汽车准入和上路通行的试点工作的申报、国家标准及行业标准的制定等。”高岗说。
林律师则将新能源智能汽车比作一个超级智能终端：“此前在芯片、计算机、互联网、移动互联网、大数据、人工智能上的所有应用和场景都会在这里交汇，这是一个至少持续20年、每年价值数万亿（仅中国）的朝阳赛道。更重要的是它还与能源革命、内需刺激、产业升级和科技攻关等政策高度贴合。”
法律专家成为更为多元的角色
作为“造车新势力”的法务部，ALB观察到，他们也在更为积极地展现工作内容和团队个性，法律人在新能源车企中开始扮演起法务+公关的多元角色。
今年5月，蔚来、小鹏、零跑的法务部纷纷开通微博官方账号，“蔚来法务部”抖音号也已启用，理想汽车、特斯拉法务部则分别在2022年、2021年登陆社交媒体。
对此，高岗表示，蔚来欢迎媒体和公众的监督，开通社交媒体账号旨在传递有利于行业及社会发展的正面信息，同时对于一些误导性甚至恶意污蔑的信息进行及时反馈和澄清。“近期蔚来遭受了非常多不实的污蔑，蔚来用户也遭受了恶意攻击，有一些甚至涉嫌有组织的侵权犯罪行为，我们会积极应对，以维护用户和企业的合法权益，促进行业的健康发展。”
“另一方面，中国智能电动汽车产业发展处在关键时刻，未来还有不少挑战，蔚来呼吁健康积极清朗的舆论环境，这样大家能够把精力和资源更多投入在发展技术、为用户提供更优质的产品和服务上面。”高岗补充道。
由此可见，造车新势力的法务部门发挥的职能远超出传统想象。林蔚律师对此进行分析道：“该行业涉及到的法律服务的深度和广度是历史上任何一个行业无法比拟的，可以说会涉及到所有的部门法。其中最重要的几个法律服务的板块是：投融资、知识产权、竞争法、数据合规、能源基建、企业与用户关系、公共关系与传播。”
值得注意的是“企业与用户关系”和“公共关系与传播”两个板块，从名称上看，这两项服务应归属于售后、客服和公关部门，但林律师解释道：“事实上，当新能源智能汽车变成一个科技和互联网产品时，我们会发现用户成为了短时间内既能载舟、亦能覆舟的关键因素，这是其区别于传统汽车行业的重要特点。同时，媒体和自媒体在此间亦起到相当重要的作用。因此，这两个方面的法律服务需求是区别于传统汽车法律服务尤为重要的组成部分，也非常为委托人所看重。”
为此，从外部角度，林律师认为服务于新能源车企的律师要特别做到“打开思路”，积极协助处理好客户特别关心的六种“对外关系”问题，包括：客户与竞争对手、与资本市场、与监管、与上下游、与媒体，以及与用户的关系。
更广阔的服务前景
高岗介绍道，蔚来近百人的法务团队涉及众多业务、法律领域及司法辖区，每年处理的法律事务和合同超过一百万件，而在未来，法务部需要做的事情只会更多。
“新能源汽车行业下一阶段发展的关键包括数字座舱、自动驾驶等在内的智能化，亟需配套法律法规能够适时跟上。我们也很高兴地看到，相关政府机构、研究机构、企业同行在这些方面已经做了相当多工作。”
“蔚来法律创新研究院也和清华大学法学院携手，针对自动驾驶专题进行了深入的研究，包括其中的数据合规、侵权责任、保险制度、知识产权以及道德伦理问题。我们相信，不久的将来会看到更多法律法规、标准、最佳实践。”
为了跟上智能化发展的步伐，蔚来要求法务团队成为极具前瞻性和深度研究能力的组织。“法务团队的每个律师都要有前瞻性研究、快速迭代和模式创新的能力和持续学习的热情，这样才能更好地支持业务的发展。同时，蔚来定期组织境内外员工培训，内容涉及数据合规、知识产权、争议解决、公司治理等多个方面。”高岗说。
对自身要求颇高的新能源汽车法务部自然也期待“旗鼓相当”的外部伙伴，蔚来国际业务法务负责人王琦就曾对ALB表示，希望服务EV领域的外部律师懂业务知识、有商业思维，甚至能想到企业没想到的问题。
这与林蔚来律师给同行提出的建议十分相似：“律师如果想要介入新能源这个万亿大赛道，可以着力提升四方面素质：精深法律专业；读懂吃透委托人的技术；贴合委托人的商业需求；为委托人实现正面传播效果。”可见，深耕新能源法律服务的律师在提升本职法律工作的基础上，已将技术、商业、传播沟通三方面能力纳入到实际业务之中。
FULLY CHARGED
In early July, China’s 20 millionth electric vehicle rolled off the production line, marking another milestone for China's auto industry, and the second 10 million took less than 18 months. Regarded widely as the "Made in China" sector with the greatest potential, the EV industry however brings a complete different set of requirements for legal services, and lawyers need to prepare accordingly.
China's electric-vehicle (EV) industry is clearly operating at full throttle. In the first five months of 2023, approximately 3 million EVs were manufactured, and about 2.94 million were sold in the country, marking year-on-year increases of 45.1 percent and 46.8 percent, respectively.
And there is no doubt at this point that EVs are poised to dominate the automobile industry, emerging as one of China's most exciting sectors in the near future. Auto Shanghai 2023 in April showcased over 1,500 complete vehicles, with two-thirds of them being EVs. Furthermore, the most popular booths featured electric vehicles, and even the new releases from traditional auto manufacturing giants were predominantly mass-produced EVs, either already in circulation or soon to be delivered.
"At Auto Shanghai 2023, new energy vehicles took center stage in the product launches of nearly all brands, with electric vehicles and smart operations serving as the prevailing themes and trends," says Karl Gao, vice president and global general counsel of NIO, a prominent EV manufacturer.
Unsurprisingly, this growth has garnered strong support from state policies. "The Ministry of Finance, the State Taxation Administration, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and other government departments have issued policies aimed at optimizing the reduction and exemption of purchase taxes on electric vehicles. Furthermore, vehicle purchase taxes will not be applied to EVs equipped with swappable batteries, such as NIO's vehicle models," explains Gao. He goes on to mention that the government has also actively promoted industry development by investing in charging infrastructure, introducing new energy vehicles to rural areas, and enhancing the management of new energy vehicle services in rural regions. Many local governments have implemented special local subsidy policies and measures to manage charging facilities effectively.
Lin Wei, managing partner at Beijing DOCVIT Law Firm, pursued his undergraduate studies in electrical engineering and actively engaged in experimental research related to EVs. Lin is also a passionate enthusiast of cars and electronic products, a combination of interests that has uniquely equipped him to provide counsel to five car manufacturers in recent years, leveraging his profound industry knowledge.
Lin firmly believes that the automotive industry is currently poised for significant iteration and development. Spearheaded by new energy vehicles, the industry is poised to generate an output value and scale even greater than the mobile internet wave that began in 2010.
"New energy vehicles represent more than just a revolution in power sources. They encompass the advancement and application of battery, motor, and electronic control technologies, alongside the innovation and implementation of smart gateways, smart cockpits, and smart driving systems," Lin asserts. "Historically, the automotive industry has boasted the longest industrial chain and the highest output value, making it an ideal showcase of a nation's industrial prowess. With the emergence of new electric vehicles, hardware, software, data, and other crucial elements are converging on an unprecedented scale."
NEW GROWTH TRAJECTORY
In terms of business models, new energy vehicles are charting a distinct growth trajectory compared to traditional vehicles. Lin explains, "The new energy smart vehicle industry is poised to disrupt the traditional 4S model and the profit-oriented after-sales market that relies heavily on a disproportionately high parts-to-whole price ratio. Instead, the after-sales market for EVs will emphasize innovation and compete more in terms of service charges, software subscriptions, digital consumption, and hardware upgrades."
The commercial value of the "new car-making forces" extends beyond vehicle manufacturing. At the 2023 ALB Shanghai In-house Legal Summit held in June, Wang Qi, legal director of NIO's international business, emphasized NIO's commitment to staying closely connected to the market and its customers. NIO places a strong focus on "products + services" to create added value for its customers.
Gao further underscores the transformative impact of smart EVs on public lifestyles and the pivotal role played by in-house departments in this ongoing evolution. NIO's in-house department not only offers comprehensive support to various business aspects but also conducts forward-looking research in areas such as data compliance and autonomous driving. Gao elaborates, saying, "Our team strives to gain deep insights into technology, products, services, and business models. Simultaneously, we actively engage in discussions and collaborations with industry peers, regulators, and research institutes, all aimed at better supporting the development of the smart EV industry."
"For instance, as an emerging technology, autonomous driving presents numerous unresolved legal challenges and calls for the further enhancement of laws and regulations in China and other countries worldwide. Our team diligently tracks the developments in laws and regulations within China, the European Union, the United Nations, and beyond. We actively collaborate with relevant institutions on various research and pre-research efforts, including applications for pilot market entry and the utilization of intelligent connected vehicles," Gao explains.
Lin draws a compelling analogy, likening new energy smart vehicles to super-smart terminals: "All the applications and scenarios that were previously confined to chips, computers, the Internet, mobile Internet, big data, and artificial intelligence will converge within this industry. Consequently, the new energy smart vehicle industry is poised to become a trillion-dollar sunrise sector annually in China alone for at least the next 20 years. Moreover, this industry aligns closely with policies related to the energy revolution, domestic demand stimulation, industrial upgrading, and scientific and technological breakthroughs."
DIVERSE ROLES
Based on ALB's observations, the in-house teams of these EV manufacturers have become increasingly proactive in showcasing their work and team culture. Legal experts have also taken on dual roles as legal advisors and public relations professionals within EV companies.
In May of this year, the in-house teams of NIO, XPENG, and Leapmotor established official Weibo accounts, with NIO's in-house team also making an appearance on China's TikTok platform. Li Auto and Tesla introduced their in-house teams to Chinese social media in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Gao shares that NIO welcomes media and public scrutiny. Their social media presence serves a dual purpose: to disseminate positive news that benefits the industry and societal development, and to provide timely feedback and clarification in response to misleading or maliciously slanderous information. Gao states, "Recently, we have encountered numerous false allegations, and our customers have been subjected to malicious attacks, some of which may even involve organized infringement activities. We will respond firmly to these attacks to protect the legitimate rights and interests of our users and ourselves, and to promote the healthy growth of the industry."
"On the other hand, China's smart EV industry stands at a critical juncture of development, with numerous challenges ahead. NIO advocates for a healthy, positive, and transparent public discourse environment, enabling all stakeholders to channel more energy and resources into technological advancements and delivering superior products and services," adds Gao.
It is evident that the roles performed by the in-house teams of these new car manufacturers go beyond traditional expectations. As Lin aptly describes it, "The depth and breadth of legal services required in this industry are unparalleled in history. This industry touches upon various legal aspects, with the most prominent ones being investment and financing, intellectual property, competition, data compliance, energy infrastructure, corporate and user relations, as well as public relations and communication."
Significantly, though named as "corporate and user relations" and "public relations and communication," these domains encompass aspects traditionally associated with after-sales, customer service, and public relations departments. Lin elaborates, "In fact, as new energy smart vehicles evolve into a type of technology and internet product, we soon realize that users have become the key determinant of a product's success or failure in a short period. This represents a critical distinction from the traditional auto industry. Simultaneously, media and self-media outlets also wield significant influence. Hence, the demand for legal services in these two areas becomes exceptionally important, setting the new energy smart vehicle industry apart from the traditional auto sector. Clients highly value such legal services."
For this reason, Lin believes that external lawyers serving EV companies should adopt an open-minded approach and actively assist clients in effectively managing six types of "external relations" that are of particular concern to them. These include their relationships with competitors, the capital market, regulators, upstream and downstream stakeholders, the media, and users.
BROADER PROSPECTS
According to Gao, NIO's in-house team, consisting of nearly 100 members, engages in a wide range of business activities, legal domains, and jurisdictions. They manage over one million legal matters and contracts annually, with expectations of an even higher workload in the future.
"The pivotal next-stage developments in the new energy vehicle industry encompass digital cockpits, smart driving, and other intelligent applications, necessitating synchronized progress in supporting laws and regulations. It's encouraging to witness substantial efforts from relevant government agencies, research institutions, and our industry peers on these fronts," states Gao.
He further adds, "The NIO Institute of Legal Innovation has partnered with Tsinghua University Law School to conduct comprehensive research on autonomous driving, covering areas like data compliance, tort liability, insurance, intellectual property, as well as moral and ethical considerations. We anticipate the emergence of more laws, regulations, standards, and best practices in the near future."
To match the pace of development in smart applications, NIO requires its in-house team to evolve into a highly forward-thinking unit with deep research capabilities. Gao emphasizes, "Each team member must be capable of supporting forward-looking research, iteration, and innovation, displaying a commitment to continuous learning to better support business development. Concurrently, NIO organizes staff training both domestically and internationally, encompassing subjects like data compliance, intellectual property, dispute resolution, corporate governance, and more."
In-house departments within EV companies, known for setting high standards, naturally seek external partners who are equally proficient. Wang from NIO shared with ALB that the ideal external lawyers serving EV companies should possess business knowledge, exhibit business acumen, and even proactively identify potential issues that the company might not have anticipated.
These expectations align closely with Lin's guidance to fellow legal professionals: "Lawyers aspiring to make their mark in this trillion-dollar industry can focus on enhancing themselves in four key areas: cultivating deep legal expertise, developing a profound understanding of clients' technologies, aligning closely with clients' commercial requirements, and fostering positive publicity for their clients."
