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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.
A rare earth mine at Bayan Obo, in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region of China, seen in 2011. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
Science

China’s northeast, poor in rare earths, scores big find

A new type of deposit in Heilongjiang and Jilin promises easier, cheaper mining than in southern clay-rich areas, say scientists.

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Automotive industry

Peugeot, Jeep take on Chinese rivals with new models using local EV tech

Automotive industry

Chinese EV makers hunt for idled plants in Europe as they expand global influence

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US-China relations

Xi-Trump summit: Ford-CATL plant shows how global carmakers need China

Collaboration with Chinese suppliers ‘the only way international carmakers can compete with Chinese carmakers’, Morgan Stanley analyst says.

A view of the Ford BlueOval Battery Park under construction in Marshall, Michigan. Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Mainland China

Oil shock fuels BEVs to 9 of top 10 in sales, with China brands overtaking Tesla

Battery EVs take nine of top 10 sales spots amid surging oil prices, giving local brands the edge and pushing Tesla down April charts.

Tesla

Tesla lures budget-conscious Chinese buyers ahead of state visit by Trump

US President Donald Trump’s entourage for his three-day trip to China includes Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Tim Cook of Apple.

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SCMP Highlights

Chinese brands eye Europe; Geely joins Chery, BYD profit slide: 7 EV reads

From Malaysia’s import curbs to film-projecting headlights, here are seven EV stories you may have missed.

A humanoid robot poses at a BYD booth beside an electric vehicle at the Beijing auto show. Photo: Kyodo
2026 Xi-Trump summit

Musk joins Trump’s Beijing delegation as a ‘natural bridge’ for trade

Gigafactory stakes and a push for self-driving software approval cast the billionaire as a key US envoy while seemingly sealing a reconciliation with Trump.

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BYD

Chinese smart cars set to control 20% of western European market by 2028: JPMorgan

Amid surging demand for electrification and a worldwide energy crisis, domestic carmakers can benefit from the stepped-up ‘go-global’ drive.

Malaysia

‘Spare us’: Malaysians sneer at ex-Proton CEO’s self-reliance sermon

The man who once presided over one of Malaysia’s most heavily protected companies has told Malays to stop relying on the state.

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Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Tahir addressed a press conference in 2007 while he was managing director of Proton. Photo: AFP
Automotive industry

Tech and pricing edge behind China’s SUV surge against BMW, Mercedes and Audi

Chinese SUVs storm the premium segment with fresh momentum, giving German marques their toughest test in years.

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The NIO ES9 on display during the opening day of the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 24, 2026. Photo: AFP
Americas and the Caribbean

EVs surge in Bolivia amid fuel shortages, ‘junk gas’ scandal

The number of electric vehicles in Bolivia climbed from 500 to 3,352 in the last five years, and is set to triple again as broad appeal rises.

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Mainland China

KFC, McDonald’s drive-throughs in China get EV charging, upgraded smart systems

KFC now operates over 7,000 drive-through restaurants nationwide, including kerbside pickups, according to Yum China.

China trade

China defies Strait of Hormuz crisis with record monthly export value in April

Export value rose 14.1 per cent year on year, well above market forecasts.

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A worker loads sulphur at a storage yard on a wharf in China’s Jiangsu province in April. Photo: AFP
Automotive industry

Chinese EV maker Leapmotor taps Stellantis’ Spanish plant for EU production

Hangzhou carmaker’s overseas strategy highlights how Chinese brands are leveraging idle plants to scale globally while easing trade barriers.

A Leapmotor Lafa5 Ultra is on display at the Beijing Auto Show on April 24. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Malaysia’s EV import curbs to protect local sector criticised for inconsistency

The move contradicts the country’s aim to grow the EV sector and use more renewable energy sources, analysts say.

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Tesla

Tesla China posts 36% sales rise, as local rivals nip at heels

April sales rose on a year-on-year basis but dropped from the previous month, indicating fiercer competition from domestic brands.

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China-Latin America relations

Lula won’t sideline China on rare earths, tells Trump refining stays in Brazil

In a three-hour White House meeting on Thursday, Brazil’s president pitched his country’s minerals to all comers.

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Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures to reporters following his White House meeting with US President Donald Trump, at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
Automotive industry

China’s move to cut EV payment cycles may push weaker carmakers out: S&P

China’s weaker EV makers may soon be running on fumes as tighter payment cycles squeeze cash flow and curb price wars.

China-Latin America relations

China pours US$6.1b into Brazil, making it Beijing’s top global investment

Chinese miners, carmakers and tech firms are fanned out across 20 states, putting a dent in Washington’s own push throughout the region.

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Automotive industry

China’s EV battery giants thrive while carmakers’ profits shrink amid price wars

Carmakers’ profit margin stood at 3.2 per cent in the first quarter, versus 6 per cent for downstream industrial firms, according to CPCA.

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CATL’s advanced battery module technology is displayed at the Auto China show in Beijing that ended on May 3. Photo: China News Service/VCG via Getty Images
Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong to ban new EVs with only electronic door handles

Move aligns with mainland China’s decision following concerns that concealed door handles, which are usually electronic, pose safety risks.

A Zeekr X7 electric vehicle with a flush door handle is on display at a showroom in Beijing. Photo: AFP
Middle East

From Beijing to Berlin: Chinese EVs turn heads as brands eye European markets

BYD, Geely and Xpeng showcase eye-catching EVs at Beijing auto show as they build momentum in Europe and target more discerning buyers.

Hong Kong economy

Letters | Support for Hong Kong business should not stop at fuel subsidies

Readers call for more relief measures to help SMEs cushion the energy price shock, dismiss talk of a fur comeback, and highlight the income inequalities in climate adaptation.

Diplomacy

Opinion | How China-Gulf ties can turn energy vulnerability into sustainability

Hormuz tensions are a reminder to start building a better, more sustainable energy order before the next crisis hits; Hong Kong can help.

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A man walks beneath solar panels at the Al Dhafra solar power project south of Abu Dhabi in 2023. Photo: AFP
Autonomous vehicles

Chinese start-up ZYT eyes semi-autonomous truck production this year

DJI spin-off is providing autopilot systems to six manufacturers, as fuel-saving abilities gain importance amid oil supply shock.

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Vehicles are displayed in ZYT’s booth at the Beijing Auto Show. Photo: Weibo
US-China relations

Exiting China market a ‘self-inflicted wound’ for US tech, think tank warns

ITIF argues that regional sales help finance domestic R&D and block local rivals, while warning that a full exit would be a self-inflicted wound to innovation leadership.

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China-EU relations

Opinion | ‘Made in Europe’ law sets stage for an economic showdown with China

The proposed legislation is seen as discriminatory to China and could also hurt Chinese interests in non-EU European states.

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