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SEARCHThe electrification leader pulls back on the segment it leads in response to domestic saturation, other countries’ protectionist stances, and new, lucrative tech.
China has seen domestic electric-vehicle price wars and falling profits, including EVs being sold below cost.
Pexels/Andrew Seto
A new-year analysis of China’s electric-vehicle industry says the world’s EV manufacturing leader is actually contributing to a slowdown in consumer adoption.
The report by intelligence and productivity platform GlobalData says China’s EV market had reached saturation by the close of last year, signaling that early adoption had maxed out there. As in the U.S., it will be challenging to encourage adoption in smaller cities and rural areas due to limited charging infrastructure.
At the same time, China’s industrial plans for the remainder of the decade reprioritize segment consolidation, along with more lucrative technological sectors, including artificial intelligence, according to GlobalData.
“The intent is clear: reduce overcapacity, curb market fragmentation, and allow weaker players to exit while stronger domestic champions advance on technology rather than price,” said Senior Automotive Analyst Madhuchhanda Palit.
The change-up, according to the company, has cut worldwide battery-electric vehicle growth from an average of about 30% between August and October to about 17% in November. It expects the country’s EV growth rate to halve from 27% in 2025 to 13% this year.
Calling China the “anchor” of global electrification with over half of EV sales, GlobalData said the country has nevertheless seen domestic EV price wars and falling profits, including EVs being sold below cost.
Its slowdown coincides with protectionist tariffs and de-emphasis of alternative-fuel vehicle production by other countries, including the U.S.
“Smaller and lesser-known brands are likely to be squeezed out as consumers gravitate toward familiar, trusted names,” Palit said of China’s EV market.
“The challenge of making EVs viable for mass-market buyers—particularly in smaller cities—remains unresolved, constrained by infrastructure limitations and geopolitical tensions. China’s slowdown, therefore, is not an endpoint, but a reset—one that forces the global automotive industry to rethink pace, priorities, and pathways to electrification.”
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