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China’s share of Europe’s electric car market accelerates as UK leads sales

China's share of the European electric car market has more than doubled in less than two years, with the UK being the largest market for Chinese electric car brands, as new battery electric technology and lower prices have boosted sales and wiped away concerns about lower-quality cars, posing an "imminent risk" to the European industry, according to industry experts.

theguardian.com
Relevant topic timeline:
- Sales of electric vehicles are growing at a rate of 55% per year. - California and the EU have banned the sale of new combustion vehicles after 2035. - However, analysts predict that by 2050, there will still be up to 1 billion combustion vehicles on the roads. - This will worsen extreme weather conditions and contribute over $1 trillion in revenue to the oil industry. - Major automakers will have more time and resources to transition to electric vehicles.
- Major automakers have largely shunned India when it comes to investing in electric vehicle (EV) assembly plants and battery gigafactories. - However, some leading industry players, including Tesla, Byd, Fisker Motors, Nissan, and Renault, have shown interest in manufacturing EVs and batteries in India. - India has become the world's third-largest auto market and surpassed China as the most populous nation. - The Indian government recently blocked Byd's proposal, potentially due to geopolitical tensions between India and China. - Tesla CEO Elon Musk has expressed optimism about India's EV potential, stating that it has "more promise than any large country in the world."
- China currently dominates the electric vehicle, battery, and critical metals industries. - However, other countries, such as Australia, India, and the US, have started pushing back against Chinese investment in these industries. - There is suspicion and concern about Chinese EV companies in countries like France, which is calling for an investigation into unfair subsidies by the Chinese government. - This could potentially lead to new tariffs on Chinese EV imports to the EU. - China's recent actions, such as threatening to curb exports of important materials and banning coal imports from Australia, have further fueled concerns about dependence on China.
Huge price reductions and increased availability are driving growth in the electric vehicle market, which saw record sales in 2023, as major manufacturers like Tesla, Ford, and General Motors lower their prices and pass on cost savings from raw materials to consumers.
The article discusses the potential for the West to use China's economic slowdown to gain an advantage in the electric car race, highlighting the need for a different approach to counter China's advantage. The author suggests welcoming Chinese investment and immigration of skilled Chinese scientists to strengthen the American EV industry and potentially weaken China.
China has announced new guidelines to boost car sales, with a focus on new energy vehicles, aiming to sell around 27 million new vehicles this year and increase sales of electric cars to approximately 9 million units, as the country looks to revive its post-Covid economy.
BMW and Mercedes are intensifying their efforts in the electric vehicle market, unveiling new platforms and concept cars in response to competition from Chinese automakers and Tesla, although they may still lag behind in certain aspects.
Chinese companies have increased their presence in cutting-edge materials and electric vehicles, making it challenging for other countries to reduce their dependence on Chinese supply chains, despite protectionist measures.
Europe's automakers are showcasing their latest electric vehicles at the IAA Mobility car show in an attempt to compete with Tesla and counter the increasing competition from Chinese companies such as BYD and Xpeng.
Europe's carmakers are facing a tough battle to catch up with China in the development of affordable and consumer-friendly electric vehicles, with Chinese EV makers already a generation ahead, according to industry analysts and executives at Munich's IAA mobility show.
Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng plans to expand into more European markets, including Germany, Britain, and France in 2024, following its successful entry into the Netherlands and Norway.
Tesla was able to boost its sales in China by 9.3% in August, thanks to price cuts.
The EU's plan to ban new gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2035 poses a significant risk to European car manufacturers who may struggle to compete with Chinese EV manufacturers in a price war, according to BMW chairman Oliver Zipse.
Chinese car makers BYD and XPeng saw their stock prices rise ahead of a major auto show where they will compete with Tesla, which is making its first appearance at the event in Munich.
Disappointing economic data in Asia-Pacific markets, overinvestment in China, and Chinese electric vehicle companies expanding in Europe are among the key factors impacting global markets, while the price of bitcoin remains volatile with conflicting predictions about its future.
Millions of auto workers and suppliers in China are facing pay cuts and layoffs as an electric vehicle price war leads carmakers to reduce costs, impacting the industry and the broader economy.
European manufacturers, such as Volkswagen, have an advantage over Chinese EV makers due to their vehicle know-how, quality, and brand legacy, according to VW CEO Oliver Blume.
Lucid is exploring the possibility of entering the Chinese electric car market, but has not yet set a timeline for its entry, according to a top executive at the company. Lucid recognizes China as the world's largest and fastest adopting EV market, but wants to ensure it enters on the right terms to avoid mistakes. The company is currently assessing the viability of entering the market and considering factors such as pricing and manufacturing strategy. Additionally, Lucid plans to expand its product range to include lower-priced vehicles, with a mid-sized car potentially being unveiled in 2026. However, entering the mass-market segment will take time and require a strong supply base and the right pricing.
Tesla and BYD are currently leading the Chinese electric-vehicle market, while Lucid is taking its time to enter the race.
China's passenger vehicle sales experienced growth in August, driven by discounts and tax breaks on environmentally friendly and electric cars, despite a weak economy, and Tesla's share of the Chinese electric vehicle market nearly doubled.
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers are slashing prices to attract buyers, but analysts believe that these cuts may be the last for a while due to strong sales and thin profit margins.
Volkswagen is facing significant challenges in the global electric vehicle market, particularly in China, as it lags behind local competitors and Tesla, putting its position as an industry leader and German economic stability at risk.
China's automobile and component exports have doubled in 2021, leading to an investigation by the European Commission into subsidies given to Chinese electric vehicle makers, as European automakers express concern over competition from China in the growing electric vehicle sector.
Tesla is expected to benefit from European protectionist measures as regulators crack down on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) competition, causing stocks of Chinese EV companies like NIO and XPeng to plunge.
The European Commission has launched an investigation into whether to impose punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports that it considers to be benefiting from state subsidies, as the Chinese share of the European EV market has reached 8% this year.
The European Union is investigating China's state support for electric vehicle makers due to concerns about the impact on European auto manufacturers, with Chinese companies already gaining a substantial market share in Europe through cheaper prices and subsidies.
China accuses the European Union of "blatant protectionism" following an "anti-subsidy" investigation into China's electric vehicle makers, posing a threat to China-EU trade relations and potentially leading to tariffs on Chinese EVs.
The European Union's increasing scrutiny of Chinese electric-vehicle companies has caused tension between the two, impacting the EV space and EU-China relations.
Americans' hesitations to buy electric vehicles (EVs) are largely due to concerns around charging, with surveys showing that a lack of charging stations is a significant barrier to purchase, but efforts are being made to expand and improve the U.S. charging landscape through major incentives, partnerships, and the development of a single charging standard like Tesla's NACS plug design.
In the Netherlands, plug-in electric car sales are reaching a majority share of the market, with 45 percent of total sales and all-electric cars holding one-third of the market.