Chinese electric cars are starting to "lose steam", exports are falling sharply?

Video : See China's electric car graveyard.

Figures from China Customs after the end of February 2025 show that the number of exported electric vehicles has dropped sharply by 18% compared to the same period last year, to only 92,625 vehicles. This development shows that the storm of electric cars made in China is gradually losing momentum.

This decline is believed to be the result of a combination of factors. First, major markets, especially Europe, are increasingly tightening tariff barriers to protect domestic industries. This causes Chinese electric vehicle prices to rise , thereby losing the competitive advantage that was considered its strongest point.

After years of strong growth and dominating the global electric car market, Chinese electric vehicles are facing a new turning point.

At the same time, many countries are also cutting or ending preferential policies for electric vehicles, causing purchasing power to slow down significantly. Instead of spending money on pure EVs, consumers are tending to choose hybrid or PHEV vehicles - vehicles that are considered more flexible thanks to their long operating range and less dependence on charging infrastructure.

While the average decline of 18% is notable, many markets have seen much steeper declines. Electric vehicle exports to South Korea fell by 51% to 3,151 units; Spain saw a similar drop of 49% to 2,664 units. Belgium, while not down by much in percentage terms, saw an alarming decline in absolute numbers, down to 10,105 units.

In the Middle East, the UAE was not immune to the decline as imports from China fell 20% to 3,231 units. Meanwhile, the UK and Philippines markets recorded smaller declines of 2.9% and 0.9% respectively, indicating that consumption remained more stable than in other regions.

It is not enough to confirm that Chinese electric cars are in crisis right now.

In contrast, some emerging markets showed surprising growth. Indonesia increased its electric vehicle imports from China by 79%, Turkey by 131%, while Mexico showed a huge increase of 623%, although the total number of vehicles was only 7,847, much lower than traditional markets such as Belgium or the UK.

By region, Asia remained the main export market, accounting for about half of China’s EV exports, and saw a modest decline of 2.7%. Europe, which once accounted for nearly a third of EV exports, saw a sharp decline of 30%, double the January figure. Meanwhile, Africa was the only region to see an increase, albeit a very small one.

While the current decline is not enough to confirm that Chinese electric vehicles are in crisis, it is clear that the global market is no longer as “breathable” as before. Amid increasing protectionist measures, changing consumer behavior and increasing competitive pressure, Chinese manufacturers are forced to restructure their strategies if they do not want to be left behind in the global electric vehicle race.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/oto-dien-trung-quoc-bat-dau-hut-hoi-xuat-khau-sut-giam-manh-post267694.html