By Jamila Talishli, Year 12
While the rest of the world is struggling with slow electric vehicle (EV) adoption, China has emerged as a global leader, revolutionizing sustainable transportation at a remarkable pace. With its unmatched success in the EV market, China is miles ahead of other countries in the global shift towards green transportation- it is not just leading the electric revolution, but redefining the future of automotives.
China’s electric vehicle market is going through a transformation which could change global automotive markets. According to information from research groups like HSBC and four investment banks, the electric vehicle market in China is expected to grow 20% annually to pass over 12 million sales in 2025, while traditional car sales are expected to fall over 10% to under 11 million, compared to 14.8 million in 2020. The great shift in customer behavior and preferences drives electric vehicles to surpass the sales of traditional cars for the first time in China.
The Chinese government is a driving force behind this transition, offering subsidies of $2,800 for any customer which chooses to switch from traditional petrol to electric or hybrid vehicles, as well as subsidizing urban planning to create an environment which supports the adoption of sustainable transport.
Technology companies are also playing a big part in the transition- Xiaomi, a large Chinese technology company, has already delivered 130,000 units of its first ever EV models in 2024. Additionally, BYD, China’s largest automotive manufacturer, has sold over 4.3 million electric vehicles in 2024, and is now making discounts on some of their EV models to drive their price down and promote their sales, with similar promoting tactics now being used by other large automotive brands like Nio to attract more customers. The increased competition in the Chinese EV industry is driving down the price of EVs and is fueling more innovation, expanding the accessibility and reach of sustainable transport in China.
China’s EV adoption is moving at a remarkable pace, and if it reaches its target of 50% EV sales in 2025, then it will be a whole decade ahead of their original Beijing-led 2035 plan, which pushes for a greener and more sustainable economy in Beijing.
Although China is experiencing remarkable growth and success in its domestic market, expanding their market internationally remains a challenge. In comparison to Western nations, China’s rapid progress in electric vehicle adoption puts them miles ahead, with the country’s EV market growing at nearly three times the rate of Europe and North America.
In China, the foreign-branded car market is experiencing a huge loss, falling extremely low to 37%, in comparison to 64% in 2020. This plummet highlights the shift in automotive market dynamics and in consumer behavior.
As China continues to push for the adoption of electric vehicles, it demonstrates the massive potential of clean energy transportation. By leading the global EV revolution, China is transforming the future of technology, the environment, and sustainable progress.
