https://www.scmp.com/rss/318715/feed From electric cars to on-demand car service apps, companies like Uber, Google and Didi Dache are changing the way we get from place to place, and having a potentially irreversible effect on employment in this key sector. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sam Beltran Sam Beltran When Filipino motoring journalist James Deakin recently posted a photo of his fuel receipt – more than 4,000 pesos (US$67) after topping up on nearly 39 litres – his message to followers was blunt: “I’m seriously looking at an EV [or] hybrid now. What’s your breaking point?” He is far from alone. As the Philippines grapples with a national energy emergency triggered by the war in Iran, record pump prices are forcing consumers to rethink their transport methods, and Vietnamese electric vehicle... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349191/why-high-fuel-costs-could-accelerate-philippines-ev-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3349191/why-high-fuel-costs-could-accelerate-philippines-ev-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:15 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren A number of underperforming international car brands are likely to either exit the mainland Chinese market or scale down operations, as losses mount due to falling sales and shrinking market share. Carmakers delivering fewer than 1,000 units a month already faced a do-or-die situation in the world’s largest automotive market because the weak sales were not enough to cover their manufacturing and operating costs, according to analysts. Some carmakers are likely to follow Skoda, Volkswagen’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349083/more-foreign-marques-face-do-or-die-moment-chinese-buyers-shun-petrol-cars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349083/more-foreign-marques-face-do-or-die-moment-chinese-buyers-shun-petrol-cars?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese ride-hailing company CaoCao, backed by Geely, is betting on a heavy-asset strategy to emerge as a leading robotaxi operator, with plans to deploy 100,000 autonomous vehicles by 2030 as competition intensifies and self-driving technology matures. In an interview with the South China Morning Post, CEO Gong Xin said the future of robotaxis hinged on an asset-management model built around a closed-loop “trinity” of vehicle manufacturing, autonomous driving technology and fleet... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348985/hong-kong-listed-caocao-hails-fleet-first-strategy-chinas-robotaxi-race-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348985/hong-kong-listed-caocao-hails-fleet-first-strategy-chinas-robotaxi-race-gathers-pace?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 07:00:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Tesla has regained the global pure electric vehicle (EV) crown for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2024, after its deliveries rose 6.5 per cent year on year in the three months ending March. The modest increase was enough for the US carmaker to beat China’s EV king BYD, which posted a 25.5 per cent drop in sales during the first quarter of 2026. Tesla’s deliveries worldwide between January and March hit 358,023 units, it said in a statement on Thursday. Tesla builds only pure electric... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348898/tesla-outraces-chinas-byd-pure-electric-car-sales-regain-worlds-top-spot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348898/tesla-outraces-chinas-byd-pure-electric-car-sales-regain-worlds-top-spot?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:00:12 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Leapmotor, one of China’s strongest-performing electric vehicle (EV) makers this year, is accelerating its global push with a new innovation centre in Europe and plans for potential local assembly in Canada, as it looks to entrench production of its low-cost smart cars overseas. The Hangzhou-based carmaker, backed by Fiat owner Stellantis, has also raised its overseas sales target by 50 per cent, betting that higher fuel costs and easing trade barriers will bolster demand for Chinese-made... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348847/leapmotor-targets-global-growth-europe-rd-hub-eyes-canada-assembly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348847/leapmotor-targets-global-growth-europe-rd-hub-eyes-canada-assembly?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 02:00:14 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers posted a strong rebound in sales last month, shaking off the weak start to the year as local government subsidies and aggressive financing incentives drew in first-time buyers. Momentum is expected to carry through the coming months, with dozens of new models set to debut at the Auto China show in Beijing, likely to stimulate fresh demand. “The sweeping improvement in deliveries revived hopes for a steady [EV] market after a woeful performance in January and... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348799/china-ev-makers-surge-back-march-subsidies-and-financing-spur-demand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348799/china-ev-makers-surge-back-march-subsidies-and-financing-spur-demand?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:00:12 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang The breakdown of Chinese tech giant Baidu’s autonomous driving vehicles in Wuhan on Tuesday evening affected services and left many passengers stranded on highways with heavy traffic for hours, hurting the company’s autonomous driving ambitions as it moves to expand its robotaxi business globally. Phone calls for help from affected customers to the traffic police line in Wuhan, capital of central Hubei province, surged from 8.57pm, after many Apollo Go robotaxis stopped in the middle of the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348654/baidus-robotaxi-breakdown-wuhan-strands-riders-raises-safety-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3348654/baidus-robotaxi-breakdown-wuhan-strands-riders-raises-safety-concerns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 10:00:21 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings China has finished digging the underwater section of a high-speed rail tunnel stretching more than 14km (9 miles) under a busy segment of the Yangtze River, as the country increasingly turns to vast subterranean passages to expand its railway network. The tunnel beneath China’s longest waterway, which will link Shanghai’s Chongming Island with Taicang city in neighbouring Jiangsu province, is on track to be completed by the end of the year, state broadcaster CCTV reported. The project will allow... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348533/how-china-building-faster-high-speed-railways-using-vast-underwater-tunnels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348533/how-china-building-faster-high-speed-railways-using-vast-underwater-tunnels?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:00:08 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi The era of price wars in China’s electric vehicle (EV) market is giving way to a new contest: who can deliver better technology at the same price. On a cloudy evening in March, Shenzhen-based BYD put forward its answer with the unveiling of a battery capable of charging from 10 to 70 per cent in just five minutes – and to 97 per cent in nine minutes. The company said it would apply the technology to models priced as low as 155,000 yuan (US$22,500) while building 20,000 charging stations this... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3348131/how-chinas-ev-makers-think-they-can-outrun-disastrous-price-wars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3348131/how-chinas-ev-makers-think-they-can-outrun-disastrous-price-wars?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Daniel Ren,Cheryl Arcibal Daniel Ren,Cheryl Arcibal China’s electric vehicle (EV) king BYD posted its first annual profit drop in four years as it faced intensifying competition from domestic rivals in a cutthroat market. The Shenzhen-based company reported a net profit of 32.6 billion yuan (US$4.72 billion) for 2025, down 18.97 per cent from a year earlier, according to a filing to the Hong Kong and Shenzhen stock exchanges. That missed a consensus forecast of 35.4 billion yuan in a Bloomberg survey of analysts. Revenue grew 3.46 per cent to... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348207/byds-four-year-profit-run-ends-eyes-global-markets-next-engine-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348207/byds-four-year-profit-run-ends-eyes-global-markets-next-engine-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 14:00:12 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Rising fuel costs triggered by the Middle East crisis are emerging as an unexpected tailwind for China’s electric vehicle (EV) makers, as consumers increasingly pivot towards battery-powered cars to avoid surging petrol bills. With Brent crude climbing past the psychologically significant US$100-a-barrel mark – and now trading above US$110 – mainland buyers are turning away from petrol vehicles, according to dealers and analysts. “It’s a no-brainer for me now,” said Wang Wenbo, a 25-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3348200/pain-pump-fuels-ev-rush-china-driving-timely-boost-carmakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3348200/pain-pump-fuels-ev-rush-china-driving-timely-boost-carmakers?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:00:18 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese self-driving technology firm Pony AI plans to launch robotaxi services with partners Uber Technologies and Verne in Zagreb, Croatia, spearheading commercialisation of autonomous cabs in Europe amid an accelerated go-global drive. The three companies aimed to operate a fleet of thousands of robotaxis in various European cities over the next few years after achieving consistent performance and safety, Guangzhou-based Pony said on Thursday. Neither the starting date for the service nor the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348026/chinas-pony-ai-launch-robotaxi-service-europe-uber-local-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348026/chinas-pony-ai-launch-robotaxi-service-europe-uber-local-start?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:31:20 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren China’s two biggest makers of lidar sensors for cars, Hesai Group and RoboSense Technology, have ramped up investments in robotics products as the country consolidates its leading position in building a global supply chain for the fast-growing sector. Shanghai-based Hesai, the world’s largest producer of lidar sensors that help cars map terrain, planned to spend 200 million yuan (US$28.9 million) this year to design and manufacture “eyes and muscles” for robots, creating a new growth engine... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347995/chinas-lidar-giants-pivot-robotics-jensen-huang-praises-chinese-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347995/chinas-lidar-giants-pivot-robotics-jensen-huang-praises-chinese-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:12:13 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese self-driving technology developers continue to expand outside the mainland as WeRide seeks to launch robotaxi services this year in Hong Kong and Singapore, according to an executive. WeRide’s planned entry into Hong Kong was set to cover both robotaxis and robobuses, said senior director of public relations and marketing Maeve Zhang in a media briefing on Tuesday, without disclosing the operation areas or a launch date. Meanwhile, the Guangzhou-based company said it planned to launch... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3347747/chinas-weride-eyes-hong-kong-singapore-roads-robotaxis-self-driving-giants-expand?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3347747/chinas-weride-eyes-hong-kong-singapore-roads-robotaxis-self-driving-giants-expand?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:15:08 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Surging oil prices driven by the US-Israel war on Iran could accelerate the global adoption of electric vehicles – a sector that helped China overtake Japan to become the world’s largest seller of automobiles last year. “The closure of the Strait of Hormuz could be a game-changer for EVs,” said David Brown, director of energy transition research at Wood Mackenzie, in a report released on Friday. The “eye-watering” 50 per cent surge in global oil prices so far this month would further incentivise... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347583/why-iran-war-could-be-game-changer-evs-and-chinas-car-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347583/why-iran-war-could-be-game-changer-evs-and-chinas-car-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:00:16 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Three Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers have raised prices for some models in response to rising supply chain costs, but analysts say the increases are unlikely to be sustained given weakening domestic demand. Xiaomi became the latest manufacturer to adjust pricing on March 19, announcing that its new-generation SU7 standard version would start at 219,900 yuan (US$31,800) – a 4,000 yuan increase over the previous model. Founder and CEO Lei Jun had attributed the rise to aggressive surges in... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347527/three-chinese-ev-makers-raise-prices-analysts-warn-weak-demand-could-force-reversal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347527/three-chinese-ev-makers-raise-prices-analysts-warn-weak-demand-could-force-reversal?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 23:30:08 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong authorities have received more than 100 applications for innovative drone usage to pioneer the city’s “low-altitude economy”, with some pilot projects set to launch as early as in three months, the transport minister has said. Secretary for Transport and Logistics Mable Chan also pledged to push more advanced transport technologies to transition from trials to everyday use in 2026. In a blog post on the Transport and Logistics Bureau’s website on Saturday, Chan said “the industry... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347425/flying-start-low-altitude-economy-goals-100-drone-projects-proposed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3347425/flying-start-low-altitude-economy-goals-100-drone-projects-proposed?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:32:48 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Xiaomi’s updated SU7 electric vehicle (EV) is expected to bite into the market share of Tesla and some domestic rivals in China, as demand weakens and regulators tighten oversight. Founder and CEO Lei Jun on Thursday announced official pricing for the new-generation smart sedan, with the standard edition starting at 219,900 yuan (US$31,900) and the pro and max variants set at 249,900 yuan and 303,900 yuan, respectively. The figures are 10,000 yuan lower than pre-sale estimates, but 4,000 yuan... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3347259/xiaomis-new-generation-su7-launch-sparks-fresh-ev-fight-tesla-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3347259/xiaomis-new-generation-su7-launch-sparks-fresh-ev-fight-tesla-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:29:50 +0000 Themis Qi,Julie Zhang Themis Qi,Julie Zhang Chinese authorities have renewed their push for stricter oversight of the electric vehicle (EV) market, urging carmakers to move away from aggressive discounting and focus instead on technological innovation. The directive comes as domestic manufacturers struggle with cooling demand and the phasing out of long-standing government subsidies. At a high-level meeting on March 17, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission and the State... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347145/china-presses-ev-makers-end-price-war-and-focus-innovation-demand-cools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3347145/china-presses-ev-makers-end-price-war-and-focus-innovation-demand-cools?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 07:50:48 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Turbulence in the global oil market caused by the war in Iran revealed a quiet shift that could reshape global energy security: the rapid rise of electric vehicles. Global uptake of electric vehicle fleets has led to avoided oil consumption rising to the equivalent of 70 per cent of Iran’s exports in 2025, according to a new report. Last year, EVs worldwide saved 1.7 million barrels of oil consumption per day. During the same timeframe, Iran exported 2.4 million barrels of oil through the Strait... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346961/global-ev-uptake-expected-accelerate-iran-war-causes-worldwide-petrol-price-hikes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3346961/global-ev-uptake-expected-accelerate-iran-war-causes-worldwide-petrol-price-hikes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:31:17 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese carmakers, saddled with excess capacity and weak demand at home, are taking a new approach to global expansion: utilising idled facilities abandoned by international marques. By adopting an asset-light strategy, companies from Geely Auto to Great Wall Motor (GWM) can assemble their cars overseas at lower costs, broadening their influence on the global automotive sector, according to analysts. “Mindful of profitability as well as geopolitical and operating risks, Chinese carmakers are... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346472/carpool-chinese-giants-use-idled-foreign-plants-fuel-global-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346472/carpool-chinese-giants-use-idled-foreign-plants-fuel-global-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Betting on rising global demand for energy storage, shares of Chinese lithium battery makers continued to rally on Wednesday, led by Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL), which reported stronger-than-expected growth driven in part by its expansion into new energy storage markets. CATL shares surged more than 10 per cent to HK$608 during morning trading hours in Hong Kong on Wednesday – the highest level in five months – before closing 9 per cent higher at HK$599.50. That followed another 9... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346229/catl-profit-jump-fuels-hong-kong-battery-stocks-amid-global-energy-storage-boom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346229/catl-profit-jump-fuels-hong-kong-battery-stocks-amid-global-energy-storage-boom?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:00:06 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio has forecast a surge of up to 97 per cent in first-quarter deliveries, underscoring the turnaround after posting its first-ever quarterly profit and defying a slowdown that has hit most of its domestic rivals. Nio, ranked the 15th bestselling Chinese EV maker last year, set a delivery guidance of 80,000 to 83,000 vehicles for the first quarter of 2026, representing a year-on-year surge of between 90 per cent and 97 per cent. The growth projection bucked... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3346142/chinese-ev-maker-nio-forecasts-surge-deliveries-after-first-quarterly-profit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3346142/chinese-ev-maker-nio-forecasts-surge-deliveries-after-first-quarterly-profit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 22:30:08 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) reported a 42 per cent jump in net profit last year to 72.2 billion yuan (US$10.4 billion) on strong battery sales and an expansion into new energy storage scenarios. The Chinese battery giant’s sales volume of lithium-ion batteries – a key component for electric vehicles (EVs) – reached 661 gigawatt hours (GWh), up 39 per cent from the previous year, according to a filing released on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on Monday night. China’s EV industry... https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3346013/chinas-catl-profit-surges-42-battery-sales-and-expansion-boost-global-lead?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/climate-and-energy/article/3346013/chinas-catl-profit-surges-42-battery-sales-and-expansion-boost-global-lead?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:01:09 +0000 SCMP Style Reporter SCMP Style Reporter New versions of cars can sometimes be a little underwhelming – a slightly modified silhouette here, a few tweaks to the trim there. And then there’s the new BMW iX3, which doesn’t so much relaunch the vehicle as completely rewrite its design language, dramatically upgrading everything from aesthetics to electronics to sustainability. The car – the BMW iX3 50 xDrive – is the newest battery electric version of the company’s X3 compact luxury crossover SUV. But where the model it updates, the G08,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3345495/style-edit-bmw-ix3-rewrites-ev-rule-book-range-and-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3345495/style-edit-bmw-ix3-rewrites-ev-rule-book-range-and-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Aidan Jones,Ushar Daniele Aidan Jones,Ushar Daniele A man in a Mercedes drives up to a Bangkok forecourt, cash in hand, ready to buy an electric vehicle he hadn’t planned on owning. Southeast Asia’s EV revolution has found a new accelerant. “He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to fill up his car any more,” said Samart Prakotkancharna, managing director of Ratchapruek P Car Centre in Thailand’s capital, describing the scene that played out on his forecourt. Cash buyers had been streaming in all week, spooked by rising diesel prices and hunting for... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3345751/iran-war-oil-shock-accelerates-southeast-asias-ev-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3345751/iran-war-oil-shock-accelerates-southeast-asias-ev-revolution?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 02:00:09 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng The priorities outlined in drafts of China’s 2026 budget and next five-year plan overlap heavily with the ambitious projects championed by Elon Musk, including the Starlink constellation, electric vehicles, Neuralink interfaces and artificial intelligence. With Beijing allocating 426.42 billion yuan (US$61.7 billion) for the sector, it is positioning frontiers such as future energy, brain-computer interfaces and satellite internet as China’s future industries, with the nation doubling down on... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345576/does-chinas-science-budget-boost-confirm-it-listening-everything-elon-musk-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3345576/does-chinas-science-budget-boost-confirm-it-listening-everything-elon-musk-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:03:58 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial In 2022, the world’s largest electric cruise ship embarked on its maiden voyage in Yichang, Hubei province. The Yangtze River Three Gorges 1, which can carry up to 1,300 passengers, runs on battery power and can reportedly save 530 tonnes of fuel and 1,660 tonnes of harmful emissions per year. The vessel displayed the commercial and technical feasibility of electric ships. China is the world’s largest shipbuilder and the pre-eminent manufacturer of electric vehicles and advanced batteries. Now,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345393/china-steps-its-clean-energy-push-electric-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345393/china-steps-its-clean-energy-push-electric-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Themis Qi,Zhu Wenqian Themis Qi,Zhu Wenqian The head of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng said the country should accelerate the development of autonomous driving technology amid slowing sales growth in the sector. He Xiaopeng, founder and CEO of the Guangzhou-based company, said on Monday that the country should skip an intermediate step and move directly to a more advanced version of autonomous capabilities, adding that Beijing should adjust regulations and policies faster to make this happen. He said he would submit this... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3345163/why-wait-china-should-skip-step-self-driving-cars-xpeng-founder-and-ceo-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3345163/why-wait-china-should-skip-step-self-driving-cars-xpeng-founder-and-ceo-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:33:07 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Ahead of China’s annual legislative meetings – typically a window into Beijing’s top-level policy agenda – this is the fifth entry in a series examining the complex economic recalibration driving China’s growth philosophy and its wide-ranging implications for local governments, financial investors and private enterprises. Chinese government and industry officials are likely to discuss plans to control domestic electric-vehicle (EV) makers’ output, while encouraging them to prioritise... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3344899/top-chinese-officials-industry-leaders-may-discuss-capping-ev-output-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3344899/top-chinese-officials-industry-leaders-may-discuss-capping-ev-output-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 08:00:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial For eight years, the “One-for-One Replacement Scheme” has been a powerful driver of Hong Kong’s transition to green transport. Shifting gears from an era of heavy subsidies for private electric vehicles (EVs) is understandable as market forces take over. The authorities, car industry and motorists must keep up the momentum. The policy change confirmed by Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po during his budget speech on Wednesday signalled that the city’s EV market has matured. When the scheme was... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344871/evs-hong-kong-must-compete-their-own-merits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344871/evs-hong-kong-must-compete-their-own-merits?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 22:45:11 +0000 Quentin Parker Quentin Parker Hong Kong sees itself as a modern, well-governed, global city that moves with the times. On finance, education, legal services and logistics, that self-image holds. But when considering the green transition, particularly transport electrification, the gap between rhetoric and reality is increasingly hard to ignore. Nowhere is this more evident than in electrifying the taxi fleet, where the quarter-century timeline floated bears little resemblance to what is standard practice in neighbouring... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344649/high-price-hong-kongs-slow-switch-electric-buses-and-taxis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344649/high-price-hong-kongs-slow-switch-electric-buses-and-taxis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong environmental groups have urged the government to focus on accelerating the commercial use of electric vehicles and enhancing green infrastructure, after scrapping a tax concession scheme for private cars that has cost HK$30 billion over the past decade. Green groups said on Friday that they supported the government’s decision to end the first registration tax (FRT) concessions for private electric cars, including the “One-for-One Replacement Scheme”. The move was announced by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344934/commercial-ev-use-needs-boost-after-car-owner-tax-break-ends-green-groups-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344934/commercial-ev-use-needs-boost-after-car-owner-tax-break-ends-green-groups-say?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 04:00:16 +0000 Vincent Chow Vincent Chow WeRide, one of China’s big three robotaxi companies, has cut research and development (R&D) costs by “millions” of US dollars by using artificial intelligence to train its fleet in virtual worlds, its CEO said. While rivals had also developed AI models simulating the physical world, WeRide’s efforts stood out as it was using its world model Genesis to support its global expansion strategy, said Tony Han. “It’s the first real marriage between physical AI and generative AI,” Han told the South... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344817/breakthrough-or-hype-how-weride-aims-steer-past-rivals-crowded-robotaxi-field?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3344817/breakthrough-or-hype-how-weride-aims-steer-past-rivals-crowded-robotaxi-field?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 02:00:38 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Geely Auto – assembler of mainland China’s bestselling pure electric vehicle (EV), the Galaxy Xingyuan – said it is betting on longer-range and faster-charging technologies, rather than price cuts, to consolidate its leading position in the world’s largest car market. Jerry Gan Jiayue, CEO of the firm’s car subsidiary, pledged that the carmaker, as a bellwether player, would “oppose involution”, while staying committed to driving the growth of China’s automobile sector. Involution refers to... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344489/chinese-ev-maker-geely-bets-longer-range-faster-charging-tech-over-another-price-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344489/chinese-ev-maker-geely-bets-longer-range-faster-charging-tech-over-another-price-war?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:47:39 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong’s transport authorities have given the green light for testing autonomous vehicles from the airport island to Sunny Bay and Tung Chung town centre on Lantau, marking the latest cross-district trial of driverless technology. The Transport Department said on Monday that the updated pilot licence – held by Baidu Apollo International – would support the city’s goal of applying driverless vehicles for cross-district use in a safe and orderly manner, as set out in the policy address and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344372/hong-kong-autonomous-vehicle-tests-move-gear-longer-routes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3344372/hong-kong-autonomous-vehicle-tests-move-gear-longer-routes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:24:12 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese insurers underwriting electric vehicle (EV) policies have a better chance of turning a profit this year, supported by higher premiums, intelligent pricing mechanisms and improved claims-handling efficiency. A turnaround in mainland China’s EV insurance market, against the backdrop of a bearish outlook for the automotive sector, will accelerate the pace of electrification on the country’s roads, according to industry officials and analysts. “Heavy losses in the insurance business used to... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344267/chinas-ev-insurers-move-towards-profitability-higher-premiums-ai-adoption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344267/chinas-ev-insurers-move-towards-profitability-higher-premiums-ai-adoption?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 02:30:08 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Having electrified its highways, China is mobilising its shipbuilding prowess and battery giants such as CATL to overhaul some shipping fleets, betting that the revolution in green transport can float as well as it drives. The shift towards clean energy underscores Beijing’s broader decarbonisation commitment – vowing to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve neutrality by 2060. These goals have spurred substantial strides in renewable capacity installation, end-use revamps, new technology... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344150/china-amps-electric-ships-push-decarbonise-waterways-leverage-ev-prowess?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344150/china-amps-electric-ships-push-decarbonise-waterways-leverage-ev-prowess?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 08:00:15 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Chinese railway giants look set to scout Eurasia in the years ahead to build high-speed train lines as the domestic market matures and some countries are more prepared than others for capital-intensive yet transformative ventures, analysts said. Inspired by China-invested projects such as the 142km (88-mile) Jakarta-Bandung high-speed line in Indonesia and the partly finished 350km (217-mile) Budapest-Belgrade railway, Chinese construction and engineering firms are expected to expand their... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344149/rail-ahead-high-speed-lines-saturate-china-how-far-can-their-global-reach-extend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3344149/rail-ahead-high-speed-lines-saturate-china-how-far-can-their-global-reach-extend?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Feb 2026 08:00:12 +0000 Cao Li Cao Li Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle (EV) brand owned by Geely Auto, has entered the Italian market, with customer deliveries and retail openings set to follow in spring. The move is part of its broader European expansion, following the launch of sales in Germany in December last year. In partnership with local distributor Jameel Motors Italia, Zeekr began taking orders for its full model range on Thursday, according to a press release. “Italy is a key market in our European expansion, and the... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3344079/chinese-ev-maker-zeekr-accelerates-european-expansion-italy-launch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3344079/chinese-ev-maker-zeekr-accelerates-european-expansion-italy-launch?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 04:43:31 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Rising battery costs and a cooling car market are likely to tilt China’s electric-vehicle race in favour of hybrids this year, as budget-conscious consumers turn away from fully electric models, analysts say. Material cost inflation is expected to slow momentum for battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), allowing plug-in hybrids to regain market share after years of rapid electrification in the world’s largest car market. “A loss of pure electric car sales can be expected this year due to consumers’... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3343905/chinas-ev-momentum-slows-pricier-batteries-steer-drivers-hybrids?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3343905/chinas-ev-momentum-slows-pricier-batteries-steer-drivers-hybrids?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:00:09 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin US President Donald Trump’s administration announced on Wednesday that it would rescind a rule rewarding electric vehicle production – eliminating the so-called “fuel content factor” – the latest in a series of actions rolling back federal support for EVs that analysts say could leave the US further behind in a global race increasingly shifting in China’s favour. The move comes as the US struggles to compete with China’s rapid growth in the EV sector, marking another setback for America’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343942/does-trumps-retreat-electric-vehicle-policy-risk-ceding-ground-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3343942/does-trumps-retreat-electric-vehicle-policy-risk-ceding-ground-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 19:12:50 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Owning a white vehicle in China may mean lower car insurance premiums because it is less likely to get in an accident, according to an executive from SunCar Technology Group, which uses artificial intelligence from ByteDance to personalise services. “This is what we found based on our massive data,” said SunCar chief strategy officer Breaux Walker in an interview with the South China Morning Post. Other factors also affect premiums, including car usage, commuting routes and driving habits.... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3343034/white-cars-cheaper-insurance-how-ai-changing-automotive-services-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3343034/white-cars-cheaper-insurance-how-ai-changing-automotive-services-china?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese self-driving technology firm Pony AI has started mass production of a robotaxi co-developed with Toyota, taking an important step forward in commercialising autonomous cabs worldwide. The Guangzhou-based company said on Monday that 1,000 driverless cabs of this kind would roll off the production line this year, to be deployed in top-tier mainland Chinese cities. The cars will reinforce Pony AI’s plan to operate a total robotaxi fleet of more than 3,000 units in various mainland and... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342953/pony-ai-and-toyota-roll-out-mass-produced-robotaxis-chinas-autonomous-drive-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342953/pony-ai-and-toyota-roll-out-mass-produced-robotaxis-chinas-autonomous-drive-push?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:28:20 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio plans to add another 1,000 battery swapping stations to its network this year, adding to its US$2.6 billion bet on the technology despite a challenge from fast-charging batteries as it touts its 100 millionth swap. The company’s 3,729 stations allow owners of compatible Nio EVs to exchange a spent battery pack for a charged one in just three minutes, and most navigate the car into position automatically. Created to ease anxiety over range and slow... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3342899/chinas-nio-raises-us26-billion-bet-ev-battery-swapping-plans-add-1000-stations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3342899/chinas-nio-raises-us26-billion-bet-ev-battery-swapping-plans-add-1000-stations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Feb 2026 07:00:30 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao Chinese aviation start-up AutoFlight, backed by electric vehicle (EV) battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), is emblematic of mainland China’s ambitions in the flying car market, part of the country’s broader push to dominate the low-altitude economy. The Shanghai-based company on Thursday unveiled Matrix, a five-tonne (11,000lbs) class electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, which it described as the largest of its kind in the world after completing a flight... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3342801/autoflight-unveils-worlds-largest-flying-car-china-races-lead-low-altitude-economy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3342801/autoflight-unveils-worlds-largest-flying-car-china-races-lead-low-altitude-economy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Feb 2026 06:30:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Tesla has begun operating a China-focused artificial intelligence training centre to enhance its cars’ self-driving capabilities in the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) market, following Beijing’s deregulation of the technology. Grace Tao, vice-president of Tesla, told Shanghai-based financial news outlet Cailian on Friday that the centre had sufficient computing power to support development of assisted-driving features. However, she did not disclose details such as the centre’s location or... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342726/tesla-launches-china-ai-training-centre-self-driving-race-accelerates?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342726/tesla-launches-china-ai-training-centre-self-driving-race-accelerates?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:07:39 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong authorities will form a new working group focused on the development of autonomous vehicles, as the government unveiled a raft of innovation and technology-led initiatives in its latest transport strategy blueprint. Other measures announced in the Transport Department’s plan released on Friday include the implementation of real-time adaptive traffic signals and a smart motorway management system for major roads to improve efficiency and convenience. “To further push the development of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3342686/new-working-group-push-autonomous-vehicles-technology-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3342686/new-working-group-push-autonomous-vehicles-technology-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:42:04 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Electric vehicle deliveries in mainland China slumped by more than 40 per cent in January, darkening the outlook for a sector grappling with rising production costs and the gradual withdrawal of government support. The country’s roughly 50 electric carmakers sold about 900,000 vehicles last month, down 42.3 per cent from 1.56 million units in December, according to preliminary data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) on Wednesday. The figures, which include retail sales,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342410/chinas-turbocharged-ev-market-hits-speed-bump-amid-falling-sales-and-rising-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342410/chinas-turbocharged-ev-market-hits-speed-bump-amid-falling-sales-and-rising-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:47:41 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Tesla has spearheaded a new round of low-interest, long-term loans to spur electric vehicle (EV) sales in mainland China, prompting domestic rivals such as Nio and Xpeng to follow suit in a cutthroat market grappling with raw-material inflation. However, fresh competition in car financing – while better than another bruising discount war – may not be enough to shore up deliveries as consumers refrain from buying cars due to reduced government incentives. “All EV makers are facing a dilemma this... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342310/tesla-xiaomi-vie-chinese-ev-buyers-cheaper-longer-loans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342310/tesla-xiaomi-vie-chinese-ev-buyers-cheaper-longer-loans?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 03:32:52 +0000