https://www.scmp.com/rss/37239/feed Volkswagen Group is the largest carmaker in Europe, selling vehicles under the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, SEAT, Škoda and Volkswagen marques. It also sells Ducati motorcycles and commercial vehicles under the MAN and Scania marques. The VW Beetle was its first bestselling model, and the Golf, launched after it stopped production of the Beetle, has become the third best-selling car of all time. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. The Iran war could widen China’s EV lead over its global rivals. Here’s why 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... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3348606/chinas-electric-cars-and-iran-war-byds-profit-run-ends-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3348606/chinas-electric-cars-and-iran-war-byds-profit-run-ends-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 07:30:07 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Volkswagen will withdraw its mass-market car brand Skoda from mainland China after years of lacklustre sales, as international marques continue to lose their appeal in the world’s largest automotive market. “Skoda Auto has realigned its global strategy to focus on growth markets such as India and the Asean region,” a Volkswagen spokesperson said on Thursday in a written response to the South China Morning Post, without denying earlier reports that the Czech brand would cease selling new vehicles... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3348007/vw-pulls-skoda-brand-china-after-years-falling-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3348007/vw-pulls-skoda-brand-china-after-years-falling-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:30:08 +0000 Cao Jiaxuan Cao Jiaxuan China and Germany have pledged to elevate ties as they seek to rebalance relations amid global uncertainties. Chinese President Xi Jinping told visiting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Beijing on Wednesday that he was “willing to work together with the chancellor to continuously advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Germany to new levels”. Merz echoed Xi’s call to strengthen bilateral relations, according to state broadcaster CCTV. “The more turbulent and complex... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344618/meeting-merz-xi-urges-efforts-advance-china-germany-ties-new-levels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3344618/meeting-merz-xi-urges-efforts-advance-china-germany-ties-new-levels?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:34:57 +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 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings German companies are turning towards investments in China as they lose confidence in the United States over President Donald Trump’s policies, but they still see obstacles in the world’s second-largest economy, according to an executive at a German chamber of commerce. That landscape would form the backdrop of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s planned visit to China later this month, said Oliver Oehms, executive director and board member of the German Chamber of Commerce in North China. Merz... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342667/stung-trumps-policies-german-multinationals-cautiously-pivot-towards-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342667/stung-trumps-policies-german-multinationals-cautiously-pivot-towards-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 09:22:18 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Brazil has ended a temporary tariff exemption that allowed electric and hybrid vehicles assembled using imported parts from China to enter the country at sharply reduced costs, closing a measure that fuelled months of confrontation between the government, Chinese carmaker BYD and Brazil’s established automotive industry. The exemption expired on January 31 and was not renewed, the South China Morning Post confirmed with multiple sources on Wednesday. Companies such as BYD and Great Wall Motor... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342454/brazil-scraps-ev-tariff-break-china-carmaker-byd-amid-pressure-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3342454/brazil-scraps-ev-tariff-break-china-carmaker-byd-amid-pressure-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:32:30 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Major international marques, from Tesla to Volkswagen, continued to lose market share in mainland China, as consumers increasingly favoured new domestic electric vehicle (EV) models equipped with hi-tech features. But in 2026, foreign carmakers are expected to stage a comeback when they launch models with innovative technologies, which are expected to attract buyers in spite of sluggish consumer demand, according to industry officials and analysts. “Finally, foreign OEMs [original equipment... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340887/major-foreign-carmakers-set-stage-comeback-china-year-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340887/major-foreign-carmakers-set-stage-comeback-china-year-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 Jan 2026 02:00:24 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Neil Denslow Brian Rhoads,Neil Denslow The European Union resolved a long-running dispute with China over electric vehicle (EV) production subsidies by opening a way for carmakers to avoid tariffs. Duties will be waived if car companies set minimum prices “adequate to eliminate the injurious effects of the subsidies”, the European Commission said on Monday (see SCMP Quick Digest). Investment plans in the EU and possible limits on import volumes will also be among factors weighed by officials considering pricing proposals. All offers... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3339728/china-eu-deal-evs-marks-rare-agreement-frosty-relations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3339728/china-eu-deal-evs-marks-rare-agreement-frosty-relations?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 09:00:57 +0000 Hao Nan Hao Nan China and the European Union began 2026 with another trade clash. As the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism entered its definitive phase, Brussels tightened compliance and Beijing warned of countermeasures. However, this week, the two sides signalled progress on defusing the electric vehicle dispute; the EU issued guidance to Chinese EV exporters on submitting minimum price plans. The juxtaposition underlines the point: even when one high-profile area shifts from escalation to technical... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3339329/can-europe-rebuild-its-strength-trade-china-without-fear?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3339329/can-europe-rebuild-its-strength-trade-china-without-fear?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jan 2026 08:30:10 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Germany’s trade deficit with China is on track to hit a record high in 2025 amid shrinking demand for German goods – a trend that appears unlikely to be reversed in the short term and which could trigger a protectionist backlash, according to analysts. China, already Germany’s biggest import partner, is set to increase its total exports to Germany by 7.2 per cent, with the value reaching €168 billion (US$197 billion), according to a forecast last week by Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI), an... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337464/germanys-trade-deficit-china-nears-new-high-analysts-warn-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3337464/germanys-trade-deficit-china-nears-new-high-analysts-warn-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:00:20 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi Xiaofei Xu,Ji Siqi China’s Ministry of Commerce has expressed strong opposition to recent European Union investigations into Chinese companies and vowed to use necessary means to defend their rights. “The European Union has recently launched a series of Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) investigations targeting Chinese enterprises … such actions are egregious, with clear targeting and discriminatory intent,” ministry spokesman He Yadong said during a press conference on Thursday. Last week, Brussels launched an... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3336941/china-slams-eu-subsidy-probes-egregious-and-discriminatory?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3336941/china-slams-eu-subsidy-probes-egregious-and-discriminatory?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:30:09 +0000 Abishur Prakash Abishur Prakash Last month, Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL), the world’s largest battery company, started building a massive joint venture plant in Spain. It came weeks after Spain’s King Felipe visited Beijing, seeking a stronger EU-China relationship as US commitments wobble. Except Spain, electrified by the potential job creation, ran into a problem: CATL wants to bring 2,000 Chinese workers to build the plant. What’s happening in Spain is part of a complicated new showdown between the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3336510/complicated-new-eu-china-showdown-quietly-taking-shape?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3336510/complicated-new-eu-china-showdown-quietly-taking-shape?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 21:30:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters The European Commission unveiled a plan on Tuesday to drop the EU’s effective ban on new combustion-engine cars from 2035 after pressure from the region’s vehicle sector, marking the bloc’s biggest retreat from its green policies in recent years. The move, which still needs approval from EU governments and the European Parliament, would allow continued sales of some non-electric vehicles. Carmakers in regional industrial powerhouse Germany and in Italy had sought easing of the rules. The EU... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3336682/eu-drops-2035-combustion-engine-ban-victory-carmakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3336682/eu-drops-2035-combustion-engine-ban-victory-carmakers?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:20:16 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Two leading Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers, Xpeng and Li Auto, have been granted licences to test their level 3 (L3) autonomous driving technologies in designated urban areas, the latest sign that Beijing is encouraging wider use of advanced driver assistance systems amid a slowing automotive market. The green light came just one day after the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) gave another two carmakers – Changan Automobile and BAIC – approvals to start assembling new... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336664/xpeng-li-auto-latest-get-approval-test-hands-driving-amid-slowing-car-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336664/xpeng-li-auto-latest-get-approval-test-hands-driving-amid-slowing-car-market?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:45:56 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Volkswagen is making a major bet in China, the largest and one of the most cutthroat auto markets in the world. The question is whether it will work. The German carmaker, which once dominated the market with a more than 50 per cent share, has invested €3 billion (US$3.5 billion) in a sprawling research and development centre – its largest outside its home country – in Hefei, a low-key central China city of 10 million people. It is a sea change from how foreign carmakers operated in China for... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336472/volkswagens-us35-billion-bet-can-it-regain-share-chinas-competitive-car-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336472/volkswagens-us35-billion-bet-can-it-regain-share-chinas-competitive-car-market?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:25:53 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng plans to establish a production base in Malaysia targeting Southeast Asian customers, in its latest move to expand overseas to improve profitability. The Guangzhou-based company, 5 per cent owned by Volkswagen Group, said on Monday that it would partner with Malaysian firm EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB), an investment conglomerate focusing on automotive manufacturing and engineering, to locally assemble its intelligent electric cars tailored to the needs... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3336166/xpeng-steps-go-global-drive-malaysian-ev-assembly-hub-southeast-asian-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3336166/xpeng-steps-go-global-drive-malaysian-ev-assembly-hub-southeast-asian-market?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:00:14 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren China’s leading battery makers for electric cars – Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) and Gotion High-tech – are adding momentum to the country’s efforts to build new-energy vessels, with their latest products supplied to large ocean carriers amid an accelerated decarbonisation drive. Chinese-made pure electric-powered container vessels were also set to extend Beijing’s lead over global rivals in shipbuilding, according to industry officials and analysts. CATL, the world’s largest electric... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336169/chinas-ev-battery-giants-wade-shipbuilding-bolster-beijings-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336169/chinas-ev-battery-giants-wade-shipbuilding-bolster-beijings-dominance?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 01:00:16 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Beijing pressed German carmakers to help resolve disputes over the European Union’s anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and the Nexperia semiconductor saga, in separate video meetings on Monday. Vice-Minister of Commerce Ling Ji made the appeal to German industry leaders, seeking to leverage their influence in Brussels. Ling spoke with Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), and Ola Kallenius, president of the European Automobile... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3335644/china-leans-german-carmakers-help-break-brussels-tariff-deadlock-fix-nexperia-mess?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3335644/china-leans-german-carmakers-help-break-brussels-tariff-deadlock-fix-nexperia-mess?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:58:33 +0000 Finbarr Bermingham Finbarr Bermingham The EU has for the first time launched a formal review of a price undertaking offer from a company seeking to avoid its tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles, following a submission from Volkswagen’s Chinese joint venture. Over the course of 12 to 15 months, the European Commission will examine whether VW Anhui can replace its countervailing duties with a managed price system in a move that would effectively equalise the impact of the tariffs. While the commission is not reopening its... https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3335220/eu-launches-1st-formal-review-chinese-ev-tariffs-after-vw-anhuis-submission?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3335220/eu-launches-1st-formal-review-chinese-ev-tariffs-after-vw-anhuis-submission?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:30:24 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu German companies are accelerating efforts to partner with Chinese rivals, conceding in fresh survey results that the local competitors appear poised to seize the lead in global innovation. While business sentiment among surveyed German firms in China has seen a slight uptick, optimism has been tempered by fierce price competition and a nationalist “Buy China” push, according to findings from the German Chamber of Commerce’s 2025/26 Business Confidence Survey. About 56 per cent of surveyed firms... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3334907/buy-china-trend-price-wars-push-german-industry-localise-seeing-rivals-leaders?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3334907/buy-china-trend-price-wars-push-german-industry-localise-seeing-rivals-leaders?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:00:24 +0000 SCMP SCMP Catch up on some of SCMP’s biggest China stories of the day. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China’s private defence companies see opportunities amid growing conflicts Escalating global conflicts could create opportunities for China’s private defence companies as customers, both at home and abroad, seek affordable and reliable military equipment, according to industry insiders. 2. Why China’s space sector is grabbing attention – including from Elon... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3334247/chinas-private-defence-firms-see-growth-beijing-sets-yuan-fix-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3334247/chinas-private-defence-firms-see-growth-beijing-sets-yuan-fix-scmp-daily-highlights?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:15:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Volkswagen Group has ramped up its “all in” strategy for China, banking on local development capabilities and a new electric vehicle (EV) architecture to fight back against domestic rivals and regain its leading position in the world’s largest vehicle market. The German carmaker’s China operations are now able to design and validate new models without going through approvals from headquarters, reducing development time and costs to respond quickly to local needs. On Tuesday, the company... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3334159/volkswagen-revs-designed-china-approach-catch-local-rivals-ev-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3334159/volkswagen-revs-designed-china-approach-catch-local-rivals-ev-market?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 01:54:17 +0000 Ni Tao Ni Tao For years, many foreign companies treated China as a vast consumer base or a low-cost manufacturing hub. Now that paradigm is shifting dramatically. China is not just where multinationals scale production or sell at volume; it is increasingly where they make strategic decisions, engage in serious research and development and innovate in ways that will have a global impact. For example, take Toyota’s R&D centre in Changshu, Jiangsu province. Led by local engineers, it has helped develop electric... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3333238/chinas-tech-rises-companies-must-rethink-their-rd-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3333238/chinas-tech-rises-companies-must-rethink-their-rd-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Nov 2025 21:30:09 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng The Nexperia factory in Dongguan, in the heart of southern China’s Pearl River Delta, has long been a poster child for successful globalisation. Since its launch in 2000, the plant, which covers an area the size of 10 football fields, has operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, non-stop. Following its most recent upgrade in 2018, its annual production capacity surged to 90 billion units, making it the largest assembly site in the Chinese-owned Dutch chipmaker’s global network. Yet, this... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3332814/us-china-tech-war-nexperia-saga-exposes-europes-loosening-grip-chip-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3332814/us-china-tech-war-nexperia-saga-exposes-europes-loosening-grip-chip-supply-chain?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 15 Nov 2025 03:00:09 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Chinese EV maker BYD’s sales surge in Europe, narrowing gap with Tesla Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD recorded surging sales in Europe last month after it launched more models and expanded its sales network, narrowing its gap with market leader Tesla. 2. Nexperia saga sees... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3332418/byds-sales-surge-europe-teslas-robotaxi-debut-china-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3332418/byds-sales-surge-europe-teslas-robotaxi-debut-china-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 07:15:13 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Volkswagen Group is poised to launch a new electric vehicle (EV) next year that leverages Chinese technology to compete with established domestic players like BYD and Geely in the world’s largest automotive market. The German carmaker, which has seen a decline in market share in mainland China since 2020 amid a rapid adoption of EVs, said on Tuesday that its coming SUV, co-developed with Chinese partner Xpeng, would be its most intelligent model to date. The announcement follows the inclusion of... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3332310/volkswagen-bets-ev-developed-xpeng-regain-ground-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3332310/volkswagen-bets-ev-developed-xpeng-regain-ground-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 07:00:20 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu The first shipments of Nexperia chips are already on their way to Europe after Beijing granted exemptions to its export restrictions, German auto suppliers told the Post, easing the pressure on the battered European car industry. But supply chain risks remain as Beijing and The Hague have yet to hammer out a final deal to decide the chip firm’s fate and US-China tensions continue to linger in the background. “The decision by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce to ease the previously existing export... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332272/nexperia-chips-have-begun-flowing-europe-again-auto-suppliers-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332272/nexperia-chips-have-begun-flowing-europe-again-auto-suppliers-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 02:59:41 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese companies signed a record US$83.5 billion in import deals at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, reinforcing the importance of mainland consumers as growth drivers for global businesses and the world economy less than two weeks after the US and China reached a trade truce. The total – the fifth straight record high for the annual six-day event, which concluded on Monday – represented a 4.4 per cent increase from a year earlier, according to the organiser, the CIIE... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3332228/chinas-importers-sign-record-us835-billion-deals-ciie-after-us-china-trade-truce?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3332228/chinas-importers-sign-record-us835-billion-deals-ciie-after-us-china-trade-truce?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:00:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren International brands led by Tesla are intensifying their efforts to compete with Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) manufacturers like BYD, as they showcase advanced intelligence and autonomous-driving technology to attract visitors at the world’s largest import-export trade fair in Shanghai. The 12 major carmakers, including General Motors and Volvo, are leveraging the China International Import Expo (CIIE), which runs through Monday, to promote their latest models featuring longer ranges, enhanced... https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3332025/tesla-and-global-carmakers-race-against-chinese-ev-rivals-shanghai-import-expo?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3332025/tesla-and-global-carmakers-race-against-chinese-ev-rivals-shanghai-import-expo?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Nov 2025 02:00:14 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu With Beijing signalling a restart of Nexperia’s chip exports to safeguard the global semiconductor industry, uncertainties continue to swirl around the resumption of deliveries from China, said a major German automobile supplier amid plans to reduce its production and slash working hours at individual locations. “Our task force is working intensively to secure our chip supply. The situation remains very tense across the industry,” a spokesman with German car-part supplier ZF Friedrichshafen told... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3331748/nexperia-saga-sees-wary-german-auto-firms-scramble-mitigate-chip-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3331748/nexperia-saga-sees-wary-german-auto-firms-scramble-mitigate-chip-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:00:14 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Volkswagen Group plans to develop its own advanced semiconductors in China to power its locally made semi-autonomous vehicles, ramping up efforts to regain ground in the world’s largest car market amid heightened competition. The German carmaker on Wednesday said Carizon – a venture it jointly owned with Horizon Robotics, a designer of artificial intelligence integrated circuits – would develop a system-on-a-chip (SoC) that would be delivered in the next three to five years. “We are accelerating... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3331675/volkswagen-make-own-advanced-chips-china-locally-made-autonomous-vehicles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3331675/volkswagen-make-own-advanced-chips-china-locally-made-autonomous-vehicles?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 13:22:00 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng says it will roll out robotaxi services using Alibaba Group Holding’s mapping service Amap in 2026 as it applies artificial intelligence capabilities to marketable services and products. Three robotaxi models, along with a humanoid robot and two flying cars, would be the latest Xpeng products to woo consumers by applying its new vision language action (VLA) AI model, said He Xiaopeng, Xpeng chairman and CEO, on Wednesday. Xpeng’s driverless vehicles would be... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3331658/chinese-ev-maker-xpeng-roll-out-driverless-cars-alibabas-amap-take-tesla-fsd?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3331658/chinese-ev-maker-xpeng-roll-out-driverless-cars-alibabas-amap-take-tesla-fsd?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 11:24:50 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Premier Li Qiang is expected to promote free trade, encourage foreign investment, soothe concerns about the country’s slowing economy and highlight a trade deal with the US in a keynote speech as the eighth China International Import Expo (CIIE) opens on Wednesday. Li will for the third consecutive year address hundreds of government officials, business leaders and merchants from about 150 countries and regions to open the world’s largest import trade fair in Shanghai, Xinhua news agency... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3331301/premier-li-qiang-highlight-us-china-pact-worlds-largest-trade-fair-ciie?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3331301/premier-li-qiang-highlight-us-china-pact-worlds-largest-trade-fair-ciie?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:00:09 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang China’s Ministry of Commerce on Saturday said it is looking to exempt some Nexperia orders from an export ban that it imposed after the Netherlands seized control of the Chinese-owned Dutch chipmaker. “We will comprehensively consider the actual situation of enterprises and grant exemptions to exports that meet the criteria,” a ministry representative said in a statement. According to the ministry, exemptions were being considered to stabilise the supply of Nexperia chips in global supply... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3331155/china-eyes-export-ban-exemption-some-nexperia-orders-amid-chip-supply-chain-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3331155/china-eyes-export-ban-exemption-some-nexperia-orders-amid-chip-supply-chain-turmoil?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Nov 2025 04:31:07 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao A “state-level” testing platform for automotive semiconductors has opened in Shenzhen in China’s latest effort to boost technological self-reliance, as a Sino-Dutch dispute over chipmaker Nexperia puts the global car sector’s supply chains at risk. The platform, which commenced operations on Tuesday, was jointly established by two state-owned enterprises: China Reform Holdings, an investment vehicle focused on industries related to national security and the economy, and research institute China... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3330764/chinese-state-owned-firms-launch-car-chip-testing-platform-shenzhen-amid-nexperia-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3330764/chinese-state-owned-firms-launch-car-chip-testing-platform-shenzhen-amid-nexperia-row?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:00:12 +0000 Xiaofei Xu,Wency Chen,Coco Feng Xiaofei Xu,Wency Chen,Coco Feng Semiconductor manufacturer Nexperia’s homebase in Nijmegen – the biggest city in Gelderland, the Netherlands’ largest province – offers few clues that it sits in the eye of a storm that threatens to disrupt the global car industry’s supply chain. Dutch daily newspaper De Gelderlander, for example, featured more local stories including an explosion at a neighbourhood cannabis store, referred to as “coffeeshop”. There were no banner headlines to be found about talks in Brussels on Tuesday between... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3330305/nexperia-crisis-sino-dutch-dispute-over-chipmaker-puts-car-industry-supply-chain-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3330305/nexperia-crisis-sino-dutch-dispute-over-chipmaker-puts-car-industry-supply-chain-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Oct 2025 03:00:27 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Nexperia’s Chinese subsidiary has publicly rejected a decision by the Dutch headquarters to remove John Chang as vice-president of global sales and marketing, declaring the dismissal legally ineffective in China and escalating a conflict that has garnered international attention. Nexperia China, the chipmaker’s primary entity in the country, said the dismissal “shall not have legal effect within the jurisdiction of China”, claiming it violated local company and labour laws, according to a... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3330152/nexperia-china-defies-dutch-head-offices-order-remove-veteran-chinese-executive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-war/article/3330152/nexperia-china-defies-dutch-head-offices-order-remove-veteran-chinese-executive?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Oct 2025 04:00:13 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan After years of fiery protests, lawsuits and intense scrutiny over alleged Communist Party ties, the plan for a controversial multibillion-dollar Chinese electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan is officially dead. The setback comes just days before President Xi Jinping will meet US counterpart Donald Trump to talk about fair trade and economic relations in South Korea. On Thursday, the state’s economic arm announced that it had suspended US$175 million in grants for the enterprise after... https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3330126/ev-battery-maker-gotion-abandons-plan-build-us24-billion-factory-michigan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/us/economy-trade-business/article/3330126/ev-battery-maker-gotion-abandons-plan-build-us24-billion-factory-michigan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Oct 2025 18:56:02 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) maker Li Auto has set up its international headquarters in Hong Kong, paving the way for its overseas expansion amid intensifying competition at home. The Hong Kong operations would serve as a strategic base for the Beijing-based carmaker to “oversee its research and development [R&D], intellectual property management and international supply chain functions”, said InvestHK, the Hong Kong government’s investment promotion arm, in a statement on Thursday. Li Auto,... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3329313/chinese-ev-maker-li-auto-eyes-global-market-hong-kong-headquarters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3329313/chinese-ev-maker-li-auto-eyes-global-market-hong-kong-headquarters?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 01:37:10 +0000 Kok How Lee Kok How Lee For all the hype about reshoring and “America first”, the world’s quietest and smartest geopolitical strategy right now can be summed up in three words: “wait Trump out”. Across boardrooms and foreign ministries, “wait Trump out” has quietly become the name of the game. Few are betting on confrontation; most are calculating how to buy time. In an age of volatility, the most rational move is not to fight the chaos, but to time it. US President Donald Trump’s second term is disruptive but finite.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3328904/why-fight-trump-when-you-can-wait-him-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3328904/why-fight-trump-when-you-can-wait-him-out?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 08:30:09 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu This year marks half a century of formal diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, as well as the 25th anniversary of the founding of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. The latest story in our series examining ties between the two powers focuses on intensified competition in the auto industry, a bedrock sector for Europe and an area where China has made enormous strides, particularly in electric vehicles and other hi-tech advancements. When Volkswagen engineers... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3328961/chinas-ev-boom-has-eu-setting-roadblocks-can-cooperation-clear-way?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3328961/chinas-ev-boom-has-eu-setting-roadblocks-can-cooperation-clear-way?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 22:00:08 +0000 Igor Patrick Igor Patrick Chinese carmaker BYD inaugurated what it describes as its largest electric vehicle plant outside Asia on Thursday, highlighting Brazil’s bid to lead South America’s shift towards clean mobility while drawing renewed scrutiny of Beijing’s expanding industrial footprint. The opening of the vast Camacari complex in Bahia state brought together President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin, state and local officials and dozens of industry figures. It coincided with the roll-out... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3328433/byd-opens-massive-brazil-plant-its-biggest-investment-outside-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3328433/byd-opens-massive-brazil-plant-its-biggest-investment-outside-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 17:15:50 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu A proposed increase to EU steel tariffs has already sown alarm among the continent’s car manufacturers, with stocks of major players plunging in the immediate aftermath of the announcement and industry insiders warning the measures could worsen cost pressures already weighing down growth in the sector. Following a Tuesday statement from the European Commission that it would cut tariff-free quotas for imported steel products by nearly half and double duties on excess shipments to 50 per cent – a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3328372/new-eu-steel-tariffs-meant-curb-chinese-imports-giving-carmakers-migraine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3328372/new-eu-steel-tariffs-meant-curb-chinese-imports-giving-carmakers-migraine?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 14:00:10 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers, from bellwether BYD to start-up Dreame, have stepped up efforts to crack overseas markets as earnings prospects at home look dim amid vicious price competition. They are choosing to either assemble vehicles overseas or open more showrooms abroad to promote their smart EVs fitted with sophisticated in-car entertainment systems and high-performance battery packs, in hopes of taking market share from international marques like Volkswagen and Toyota. “Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3328074/chinese-ev-makers-go-global-bid-boost-profits-amid-price-war-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3328074/chinese-ev-makers-go-global-bid-boost-profits-amid-price-war-home?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Oct 2025 23:30:07 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren China’s state-owned carmakers are realigning their operations on the mainland, forming tie-ups with domestic partners after relying on foreign marques for decades, as they focus on electric vehicles (EV) in the world’s largest market for clean-energy cars. Juggernauts from FAW Group, mainland China’s oldest carmaker, to SAIC Motor, the country’s largest carmaker until 2023, are taking steps to adopt home-grown technologies like autonomous driving software and digital cockpit systems to grow... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3326732/chinas-state-owned-car-giants-embrace-home-grown-tech-dominate-ev-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3326732/chinas-state-owned-car-giants-embrace-home-grown-tech-dominate-ev-market?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 25 Sep 2025 23:30:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Xpeng, part owned by Volkswagen Group, has begun production in Europe in partnership with a contract manufacturer in Austria, as mainland Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers make inroads into the continent and circumvent punitive tariffs. The Guangzhou-based carmaker said on Monday that it had started assembling the G6 and G9 SUVs at Magna Steyr’s plant in Graz. Xpeng did not elaborate on its planned output, but added that cooperation with its partner would deepen over time. “[The roll-out]... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3325572/chinas-xpeng-launches-ev-production-europe-austrias-magna-steyr?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3325572/chinas-xpeng-launches-ev-production-europe-austrias-magna-steyr?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Sep 2025 08:30:11 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren The release of two electric vehicle (EV) battery packs targeted specifically at the European market has brightened the earnings outlook for Contemporary Amperex Technol­ogy (CATL) whose market share jumped in China last month. Fujian-based CATL, the world’s largest EV battery producer, delivered 26.45 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of batteries in August, up 26 per cent from the previous year. Its share of the domestic market hit 42.4 per cent for the month, up from 41.4 per cent in July, according to the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3325580/ev-battery-giant-catls-earnings-outlook-brightens-it-extends-market-share?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3325580/ev-battery-giant-catls-earnings-outlook-brightens-it-extends-market-share?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:34:53 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers are out in force in Munich for Europe’s largest auto show, stepping up competition with the continent’s local producers and potentially fanning China-European Union trade tensions. The country has a record 116 exhibitors in total at the IAA Mobility 2025 expo, the highest number for any nation except Germany, according to the show organisers. There are about 750 exhibitors at the event, which is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday. BYD, Xpeng and... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3325027/china-automakers-europe-drive-spurs-bmw-volkswagen-response?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3325027/china-automakers-europe-drive-spurs-bmw-volkswagen-response?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Sep 2025 09:01:25 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Contemporary Amperex Technol­ogy (CATL) is betting on two specially designed battery packs to win over customers in Europe, as the world’s largest maker of power sources for electric vehicles (EVs) counts down to flicking the on switch at its plant in Hungary in December. The first pack is a long-life variant that is usable for up to 12 years, offering 758km (471 miles) of driving range, CATL said in a statement on Sunday. The second variant is a fast-charging lithium-ion phosphate (LFP) power... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3324729/catl-bets-batteries-bmw-volkswagen-win-europe-it-revs-hungary-plant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3324729/catl-bets-batteries-bmw-volkswagen-win-europe-it-revs-hungary-plant?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 07:56:41 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg China’s carmakers are readying a new crop of hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) for Europe, using next week’s Munich car show to kick off the next phase of their expansion in the region. BYD, Xpeng and Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology are among manufacturers showing off new models at the IAA Mobility 2025 expo, moving to broaden their lineups and extend gains made in recent years. Their push into Europe is intensifying as an EV price war rages at home, while the lucrative US market is practically... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3323925/chinese-carmakers-gear-munich-show-ev-competition-heats-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3323925/chinese-carmakers-gear-munich-show-ev-competition-heats-home?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:22:06 +0000