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Electric & new energy vehicles

Electric & new energy vehicles
Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on electric & new energy vehicles, with a particular focus on China.
Drivers charge their vehicles at a Tesla supercharger station. Photo: TNS
Tesla

Tesla outraces China’s BYD in pure electric car sales to regain world’s top spot

Shrinking subsidies, new taxes sap China’s EV demand, giving Tesla an edge in global deliveries for first time since fourth quarter of 2024.

China energy security

Strait of Hormuz crisis

Automotive industry

Leapmotor targets global growth with Europe R&D hub, eyes Canada assembly

China manufacturing

China EV makers surge back in March as subsidies and financing spur demand

Carmakers report strong month-on-month gains as policy support and new financing schemes lift buyer sentiment.

The EV rebound has been underpinned by renewed policy support at the local level. Photo: AFP
SCMP Highlights

China’s electric cars and Iran war, VW pulls Skoda: 7 EV reads

From some Chinese carmakers raising prices to Xiaomi’s fresh fight with Tesla, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

Business of climate change

Ganfeng Lithium sees surge in battery demand amid China-US energy rivalry

Executives project an ‘explosive growth’ in energy storage, with Chinese firms extending their lead amid AI and data centre demand.

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Mainland China

Middle East oil shock jolts EV demand, putting Chinese exports in fast lane

Orders for Chinese NEVs are rising along with footfalls at EV dealerships both at home and overseas, according to Nomura analyst.

China’s self-developed car carrier BYD Shenzhen, the world’s biggest, sets off on its maiden voyage with more than 7,000 new energy vehicles on April 27, 2025, from Suzhou, Jiangsu province. Photo: Imago via Zuma Press/TNS
Energy

Video | Thai undertaker brings corpse to petrol station to prove he’s not hoarding

After being denied fuel, a Thai man live-streamed the moment he showed station staff an occupied coffin to prove his urgent need.

BYD

BYD’s four-year profit run ends, eyes global markets as next engine of growth

Earnings at China’s EV leader fall short of expectations amid intense domestic competition.

Future of transport

Pain at the pump fuels EV rush in China, driving a timely boost for carmakers

Brent crude above US$110 is pushing mainland buyers away from petrol cars, lifting China’s EV makers despite fading subsidies.

The oil price surge could offer timely relief for EV makers, which have been grappling with softer demand following the rollback of subsidies. Photo: Xinhua
China economy

Opinion | As oil-shocked world turns to renewables, China will reap the rewards

The biggest losers will be the Middle East and the US, as oil becomes less important and doubts grow about US might.

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The Xianshuiwo photovoltaic power plant in the Yi-Hui-Miao autonomous county of Weining, in southwest China’s guizhou province, is seen on July 3, 2025. Photo: Xinhua
Autonomous vehicles

China’s Pony AI to launch robotaxi service in Europe with Uber, local start-up

Partners aim to operate thousands of robotaxis in various European cities over the next few years after starting in Zagreb, Croatia, ‘soon’.

Automotive industry

VW pulls Skoda brand from China after years of falling sales

Czech brand’s mainland sales declined from 341,000 in 2018 to around 15,000 last year as domestic carmakers’ EVs won market share.

Mainland China

Video | Will oil shocks trigger a Chinese EV buying spree?

Oil shock from the Iran war might speed up the global EV shift and boost China’s auto industry, analysts say.

Motorists queue to pump gasoline into their vehicle at a gas station in Hanoi on March 10, 2026. Vietnam announced on March 9 it was scrapping tariffs on fuel imports, as the US-Israeli war with Iran disrupts oil supplies and pushes prices to their highest level since 2022. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP)
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Robotics

China’s lidar giants pivot to robotics in boost supply chain dominance

Hesai will spend US$28.9 million this year to design and manufacture ‘eyes and muscles’ for robots, creating a new growth engine.

The Hesai booth at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, January 9, 2025. Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images
China exports

EVs lead China’s going global push

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers, led by BYD and Geely, dominate global sales, and demand may accelerate in 2026 as Middle Eastern instability pushes up fuel costs.

Hong Kong stock market

Memory costs ‘beyond imagination’ hurting smartphone makers: Xiaomi leader

Firms are being drawn into a price-raising cycle that could reshape the industry, executive says as company reports 27 per cent profit drop.

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China energy security

China EV makers gain as Iran war drives up fuel costs

Oil supply disruptions and higher fuel prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have bolstered the outlook for China’s world-leading electric-vehicle makers.

Chinese drivers queue for fuel ahead of record price increases. Photo: EPA
China exports

The Iran war could widen China’s EV lead over its global rivals. Here’s why

The ‘eye-watering’ surge in oil prices may push consumers around the world to switch to electric cars, boosting Chinese brands, analysts say.

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Automotive industry

3 Chinese EV makers raise prices – but demand slowdown could force reversal

Xiaomi, Chery and FAW adjust prices amid surging chip and raw material costs, but analysts say soft sales could undermine gains.

China-EU relations

China and the Netherlands seek ‘pragmatic’ reset as Nexperia row rolls on

Wang Yi hails ‘positive signals’ from new Dutch minister as US pressure and EU de-risking leave The Hague juggling security and trade interests.

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Chinese-owned Dutch semiconductor company Nexperia has been at the centre of a row between China and the Netherlands. Photo: Reuters
China stock market

Chinese stocks shake laggard image amid oil shock as green transition pays off

China’s push into renewables helps shield its markets from the latest oil turmoil, with analysts pointing to limited downside risks.

An oil tanker is guided to a berth at a port in Qingdao, Shandong province. China has oil reserves of 1.3 billion barrels, enough for four months of supply, according to UBS Group and S&P Global. Photo: AFP
Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s new-generation SU7 launch sparks fresh EV fight with Tesla in China

Updated smart sedan debuts with improved safety and smart-driving features, intensifying competition with Tesla and domestic rivals.

Automotive industry

China presses EV makers to end price war and focus on innovation as demand cools

Oversight of China’s industry intensifies, with carmakers urged to move beyond discounts and focus on chips and self-driving systems.

China manufacturing

Global EV uptake expected to accelerate as Iran war causes petrol price hikes

With more than half of Chinese new car sales being electric in 2025, the nation could save US$28 billion a year in avoided oil import costs.

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Employees work on an electric vehicle (EV) production line at the Volkswagen Anhui factory in Hefei, Anhui province, China, as the Iran war pushes up petrol prices and global EV uptake is expected to accelerate. Photo: Reuters
SCMP Highlights

Geely speeds to the top, BYD’s quest for faster charging: 7 EV reads

From top Chinese carmakers selling more units overseas to Geely’s upper hand in local market, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

China’s bestselling EV model Galaxy Xingyuan. Photo: Handout
Mainland China

Leapmotor’s Stellantis tie-up pays off as EV exports jump nearly 400% last year

The Hangzhou-based carmaker exported 67,052 units in 2025, up from 13,726 in 2024, according to an exchange filing.

Automotive industry

Chinese carmakers step up global expansion using idled foreign facilities

Great Wall Motors, Geely and other Chinese carmakers are using an asset-light strategy to accelerate their growth overseas.

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