automotive

Following a deadly crash, China’s autonomous driving crackdown, characterised by strict new rules, signals a shift in the world’s largest automotive market On 1 April 2025, a tragic accident involving Xiaomi’s SU7 sedan, operating in semi-autonomous mode, claimed three lives in Tongling, Anhui province, when the vehicle crashed into a concrete barrier and caught fire. The incident, which occurred seconds after the driver took manual control from the advanced driver …

BYD and Tesla are battling it out to be the world’s biggest electric vehicle company. But what are the implications for the rest of the industry and global markets as a whole? 2024 started with a surprise for the automotive industry as Chinese manufacturer BYD announced that it sold more battery electric vehicles (BEVs) (526,409) than Elon Musk’s Tesla (484, 507) in Q4 of 2023. This is the first time …

Kassia St Clair’s The Race to the Future (John Murray, 2023) might just be the perfect read for the China history buff and/or “Petrol Head” in your life, telling the incredible story of the 1907 Peking to Paris car race In 1907, some very, very optimistic Europeans — including an Italian Prince, a French racing driver, and a conman or two – gathered in the French Embassy in Beijing to …

In recent years, China has made remarkable strides in the adoption of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in the commercial transportation sector, encompassing vehicles like lorries, buses and other public service vehicles, writes Tom Pattinson With an increasing focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating air pollution, China’s aggressive push towards NEV use is not only environmentally conscious but also a strategic move to establish itself as a global leader …

The convergence of technology, changing consumer behaviours and a commitment to environmental consciousness is redefining the way vehicles are bought, sold and serviced in the world’s largest automotive market, writes Tom Pattinson Over the last few decades, China has become a global automotive giant. This remarkable growth has been paralleled by the development of a solid car dealership model, initially centred around the ‘4S system’ – an acronym for ‘sales, …

China’s swift progress in the field of autonomous driving technology has propelled it to the forefront of the industry, writes Tom Pattinson The growth of autonomous vehicles, both in China and around the world, is underpinned by a symphony of cutting-edge technologies. By bringing together artificial intelligence (AI), sensor systems, cameras, lidar (light detection and ranging), radar modules, and intricate algorithms, vehicles have the potential to perceive their surroundings, make …

There are promising prospects for UK businesses in China’s car service sector, including in the growing spare parts market, writes Tom Pattinson Over the last few decades, the rise of the middle class, rapid urbanisation, and robust economic growth have all contributed to a surge in car ownership in China. As the world’s largest automotive market, China currently represents nearly one-third of all global car sales. Moreover, the country’s domestic …

Online platforms and an increasing preference for electric vehicles among younger buyers are transforming China’s second-hand car market, writes Tom Pattinson The global automotive landscape has witnessed dramatic changes over the past few decades, and nowhere is this more evident than in China. The country’s unprecedented economic growth has not only transformed its urban landscape but also revolutionised how its citizens engage with mobility. This transformation has set the stage …

Despite a dip in sales in 2019 and the impact of the pandemic in early 2020, China’s electric vehicle (EV) market is recovering at full throttle, writes Juliette Pitt. But with previously generous subsidies on the decline, how big can China’s electric vehicle market really get? Sales of China’s so-called new energy vehicles (NEVs) more than doubled between November and December of 2021. According to the China Passenger Car Association …

A newly-published report by Santander and CBBC details the landscape of China’s automotive industry, as well as key opportunities for British brands such as the already successful Jaguar Land Rover and others looking to enter the market China is the world’s top automotive market, with 25.8 million new vehicles sold in 2019 versus 17 million in the United States. Private car ownership in China stood at 207 million in 2019 …