"However, German machine manufacturers do not always meet the price-performance expectations of local customers with their high-performance and comparatively expensive offerings," explains Wolfgang Albeck, research associate at ifm Mannheim. Competitive suppliers are increasingly emerging in China, offering alternative products locally. German companies therefore need to think about adapting their products and business models more closely to local needs. However, only a quarter of the companies that took part in the study know their Chinese rivals as well as their European competitors, which makes targeted competitive measures more difficult, according to Albeck.