China's electric vehicle industry

The world's largest EV market
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China has one of the fastest growing EV markets in the world with an estimated 500 electric car makers having piled into the world's largest vehicle market. As the Chinese government prods indigenous innovation, home-grown brands such as Nio, Xpeng and Li Auto, have sprouted to get a larger slice of the market under the Made in China 2025 industrial master plan. What are the infrastructure limitations, socioeconomic factors, and battery market competition that are having an impact?

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China EVs
Robot arms are seen at work on a car production line at a factory of FAW-Volkswagen in eastern China’s Shandong province on March 12. Photo: AFP
China EVs
China leans on German carmakers; BYD founder bets on new tech: 7 EV reads
From Spain’s new electric car plan to BYD’s founder betting on new tech to win back customers, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.
Labourers work on an assembly line at a factory in Chongqing, China, in May. Beijing has pressed German carmakers to help resolve disputes over the European Union’s anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Photo: EPA-EFE
Global Economy
China leans on German carmakers to help break Brussels tariff deadlock
Commerce vice-minister urges German industry leaders to leverage their clout to push the European Commission towards a compromise on the anti-subsidy probe.
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The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra electric car is displayed at the 2025 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Chinese electric vehicle brands have rapidly gained ground in Europe in recent months. Photo: Xinhua
China Economy
‘A big opportunity’: why Spain’s new electric car plan hands an opening to China
Madrid’s ambitious strategy may hinge on attracting more Chinese investment, giving China’s firms greater leverage, analysts say.
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Malaysians are increasingly turning to campervans for cheaper and more adventurous holidays. Photo: SAIC
Lifestyle & Culture
Malaysians swap hotels for RVs to drive down holiday costs
Rentals are up 200 per cent, with families finding a six-berth campervan more affordable than booking seaside resorts.
In 2022, BYD dethroned Tesla for the first time as the world’s largest EV builder. Photo: Reuters
China Business
BYD founder bets on new tech to win back customers as sales decelerate
Company is pinning its hopes on a 12,000-strong R&D team to come up with technological breakthroughs.
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A Xiaomi SU7 Ultra electric vehicle is displayed during a media day for the Shanghai Auto Show, April 23, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Big Tech
China’s Xiaomi says returns from AI investments ‘far exceed expectations’
Xiaomi’s smart EV, AI and other new initiatives turned a profit for the first time in the third quarter.
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Image: Shutterstock
Daily Pulse|Beijing rebuffs Takaichi, Macron-Xi talks, key economic meeting
This week: China rejects Takaichi’s Taiwan climbdown, Macron visits Xi in Beijing, US deepens Taiwan ties, PBOC slams stablecoins. Next week: economic planning meeting, November trade and inflation data, Hong Kong Legco elections and more.
Staff at a factory in Tianjin operated by FAW-Volkswagen, a joint venture between the Chinese and German carmakers. Volkswagen has been among the noisiest corporate objectors to the EU’s tariffs targeting Chinese electric vehicles. Photo: Xinhua
China Economy
EU launches 1st formal review of Chinese EV tariffs after VW Anhui’s submission
Bloc’s acceptance of a narrow review process from a manufacturer may give others hope that tariffs could be reduced or removed.
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China Future Tech Briefing|Flying cars take off as China extends drone-market domination
Chinese electric-vehicle makers are branching into making flying cars, adding to the nation’s booming low-altitude economy.
A Tesla logo seen on a Model 3 electric car. Photo: AFP
China EVs
Tesla’s China plant sees shipment surge ahead of subsidy expiry
However, the rebound may not be sufficient to help the company reclaim lost ground in China, an analyst says.
Robot arms are seen at work on a car production line at a factory of FAW-Volkswagen in eastern China’s Shandong province on March 12. Photo: AFP
Global Economy
Germany’s China playbook: if you can’t beat them, partner up
More than half of surveyed German firms plan deeper ties with local partners in China to match the rapid innovation cycles of domestic competitors, the German Chamber of Commerce has found.
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Workers inspect solar panels, an increasingly popular sustainable energy option for homes and businesses to generate electricity, in Mosul, Iraq, on July 9. Photo: Reuters
China Opinion
Opinion|Battery revolution set to spark Global South’s century of prosperity
The rise of the sodium-ion battery promises to supercharge a green energy transition that will help level the global playing field.
Voyah’s monthly sales rose for a fourth straight month, with deliveries rising 16.2 per cent month on month to 20,005 vehicles. Photo: Xinhua
China Business
China’s EV makers post stellar sales before incentives are phased out next year
Leapmotor leads the pack with record sales for a seventh month in a row, while Voyah and Zeekr put on a strong performance.
Xpeng’s next-generation Iron humanoid robot interacts with the media during a tour of the company’s headquarters in Guangzhou last month. Photo: AFP
Big Tech
Changan Auto becomes latest Chinese carmaker to join humanoid robot bandwagon
State-owned carmaker invests US$31.8 million to take a 50 per cent stake in Changan Tianshu Intelligent Robotics Technology.
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Illustration: Craig Stephens
World Opinion
Opinion|How Cop30 laid bare the new geopolitics of climate action
Fractures, even among the Global South, show the energy transition is not just a technical challenge but a deeply political negotiation.
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Xpeng Mona M03 electric vehicles are displayed outside the venue of a launch event in Beijing on August 27, 2024. Photo: Reuters
China EVs
China EV profit woes fuel market anxiety over challenging 2026
Investors quickly turn against EV makers as earnings fall short, and next year looks even more difficult, analysts say.
A journalist touches a hand made for Xpeng’s second-generation Iron humanoid robot at the company’s Guangzhou headquarters on November 6. Photo: AFP
China Economy
China’s top economic planning agency warns of rise of too many robots
NDRC says there are now more than 150 humanoid robot manufacturers in the country and highlights risk of potential investment bubble.
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China’s EV makers are expected to be among the top 10 in the world league table by 2030. Photo: Xinhua
China Business
Chinese EV makers tipped to storm global top 10 carmakers by 2030, McKinsey says
Chinese carmakers are expected to climb the global league tables over the next five years, as technology and scale disrupt the leaders.
Leapmotor announced this week that two of its models would make their debuts in Brazil and Chile. Photo: Handout
China Business
Chinese EV makers step on gas abroad amid weakening mainland sales
A growing export drive by Chinese EV makers aims to soak up overcapacity and secure better profits as incentives fade.
International robotics research has been sharpening its focus on dexterous hands – a system designed to mimic humanlike hand and finger movements. Photo: Shutterstock
Big Tech
Xiaomi hires engineer from Tesla’s Optimus team to lead robotic hand development
Zach Lu Zeyu joins Xiaomi as lead of its dexterous hand research and development operations.
Tesla has offered a vote of confidence to the more than 400 Chinese manufacturers that supply car components to Tesla’s Shanghai factory. Photo: Reuters
China Business
Tesla affirms confidence in Chinese partners, repudiates supplier ban
American EV maker says rigorous standards – not geographic origins – guide its vendor choices.
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Xpeng’s next-gen Iron humanoid robot speaks to media during a showroom tour at its headquarter in Guangzhou, in southern China’s Guangdong province, on November 5. Photo: AFP
China EVs
Chinese carmakers boost robotics efforts, Xpeng posts record revenue: 7 EV reads
From a Chinese team reducing car part production time with lasers to Xiaomi’s first profit, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.
An aerial view of Volkswagen Group China Technology Company in Hefei, in eastern China’s Anhui province. Photo: Handout
China EVs
Volkswagen revs up designed-in-China approach to catch up in EV market
Carmaker says mainland operations can now design and validate new models without approvals from Germany, reducing development time and cost.
Unitree founder Wang Xingxing (left) and AgiBot co-founder Peng Zhihui have been named to China’s new robotics standardisation committee. Photo: Handout
Policy
China’s robotics twin stars join national committee to shape industry standards
Unitree’s Wang Xingxing and AgiBot’s Peng Zhihui have been appointed to the Standardisation Technical Committee for Humanoid Robots.
BMW’s luxury electric sedan, the i7 M70 xDrive, is an impressive addition to the carmaker’s collection. Photo: Handout
Design
Style Edit: BMW’s luxury electric sedan, the i7 M70 xDrive
BMW’s i7 M70 xDrive is its top-of-the-range electric sedan, offering comfort without compromising on performance and sustainability.
Employees work on an electric vehicle production line at a factory of Chinese automaker NIO in Hefei, in eastern China’s Anhui province on September 24, 2025. Photo: AFP
Science
Chinese team cuts laser weapon, EV part production time from 1 hour to 1 second
High-intensity heating and cooling method speeds up creation of sought-after electrical component.
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Nickel mining operations are seen near Cagdianao, Dinagat Island, on November 8. Photo: Jeoffrey Maitem
Health & Environment
‘Please stop’: Philippines nickel mining boom brings floods and failed crops
Nickel is vital to the global green transition, but its extraction is bringing environmental disaster to Filipinos on the front line.
A Xiaomi car seen outside the company’s electric vehicle factory in Beijing. Photo: AFP
Big Tech
Xiaomi open-sources AI model spanning autonomous driving and robotics
EV and AI initiatives have become an increasingly important part of Xiaomi’s business.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus meeting in Tianjin, China, on September 1. Photo: EPA/Iranian Presidency handout
China Opinion
Opinion|The rise of a Beijing-led ‘Global South Consensus’
As the Global South seeks a better development model and China looks for alternatives to mature markets, a match made out of mutual need is emerging.
Illustration: Craig Stephens
China Opinion
Opinion|The bright side to US-China decoupling and global self-reliance drives
And despite opposing perspectives, it may reduce mutual dependence such as to assure a strategic peace of mind for both the West and China.
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Opinion
Asian Angle|Thailand’s ‘China plus one’ successes mask a middle-income quagmire
FDI figures hide the painful truth: an ageing workforce, structural challenges and low-value assembly threaten economic stagnation.
Donald LowThomas Lam Chun-kai
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Editorial|CATL’s debut a sign that Hong Kong’s IPO market is roaring back
The world’s biggest listing so far this year has propelled the city back to the top spot in global equities fundraising.
SCMP Editorial
Editorial|Cautious route best for Hong Kong’s self-driving cars
Hong Kong aims to shift up a gear with trial runs for vehicles on more testing roads, but public safety must remain a priority.
SCMP Editorial
On Balance|How Trump’s erratic tariffs could crash his US car production goals
While levies may prompt some foreign carmakers to start scaling up US-based production, many see a market plagued by uncertainty and risk.
SCMP ColumnistRobert Delaney
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My Take|China’s ambitions in electric vehicles go beyond making lots of cars
To become a powerful car nation, China must lead in smart automotive technologies, China’s former industry minister argues.
SCMP ColumnistZhou Xin
1
My Take|China’s green tech firms largely insulated from latest tariff war
With their reliance on the US market already limited, these battle-worn companies are better equipped to weather the coming decoupling storm.
Brian Rhoads
My Take|Will AI and robots drive China’s next consumer spending spree?
China is seeking the next ‘big items’ to encourage consumers to open their wallets. Technology looks to be a key.
SCMP ColumnistZhou Xin
2
Editorial|Charging woes take the spark out of the electric vehicle surge
With strong demand for EVs expected to continue, it is important for authorities to foster development of vital infrastructure.
SCMP Editorial
1
Editorial|Robust exports show China is embedded in global supply chain
As Trump administration looms, record trade performance for 2024 will fuel talk of overcapacity and increase pressure on Beijing to rebalance the economy.
SCMP Editorial
Editorial|Accelerating electric dreams depends on smooth transition
The Hong Kong government is offering subsidies and enhanced infrastructure for recharging stations in push for bus and taxi operators to switch to EVs.
SCMP Editorial
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Outside In|Europe’s battery crisis a humiliating reminder of China’s EV dominance
The collapse of a Swedish EV battery maker underscores just how much the green transition still depends on supply chains dominated by China.
David Dodwell
1
My Take|Tesla is getting love from Chinese state media, but can the affair last?
Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily praised Tesla for sparking an EV boom, but Musk’s role in a new Trump administration could complicate matters.
SCMP ColumnistZhou Xin
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