The latest Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition clearly showed the worldwide shift towards new-energy drivetrains like battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs).
It also shows the shift towards Chinese vehicles, especially as the Chinese are known to be early adopters of the electric vehicle technology for mobility.
According to AutoVista24, part of JD Power, China’s EV market grew by 38.2% in 2024, helped by a resurgence in PHEV sales. In total, 11.2 million BEVs and PHEVs were registered, compared to 8.11 million units in 2023.
In Europe, around three million EVs and PHEVs were sold (including the UK) looking at the Europe EV Sales Report’s figures.
In comparison, some data suggest that approximately 1.3 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and an additional 203 800 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) were sold in the United States during the same period.
China, Europe and the USA account for roughly 95% of all EV and PHEV sales, and looking at the world-wide vehicle sales figures, one out of every five vehicles sold, is either an EV or PHEV.
Locally, South Africans are getting into the rhythm of new energy vehicles with both EVs and PHEVS that show a strong increase in sales during 2024 compared to 2023, although it is still a low base from which the growth took place.
The sales success of Chinese vehicles (ICE, EVS and PHEV) in South Africa, is reflected in the monthly naamsa sales figures report. It is no secret that Chinese manufacturers are doing well, and established brands, premium and non-premium, alike are experiencing serious pressure from the Chinese onslaught.
While Volvo and some German luxury brands are the top sellers of electric vehicles locally, and also to a large extent PHEVs, the price point to enter the ownership of a fully electric vehicle is still high in South Africa.
The success of Chinese vehicles in the country is large owing to their bang-for-your-buck offerings. With cheaper EVs coming to market, their adoption will certainly grow even quicker here.
The Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition is years ahead of the traditional European auto shows in terms of its sharp focus on EVs and PHEVs and technologies like batteries, chargers, platforms, autonomous-technology and a string of smart features making driving a new experience for many.
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The Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition currently underway in China is pretty much an electric affair with numerous new electric and hybrid vehicles with improved technology on show.
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