According to Chinese media Global Times, Australian media ABC recently published an article stating that China's electric vehicle (EV) industry, once 'a source of shame,' now leads the world.

The article reported, 'Some Chinese-made EVs can have their depleted batteries swapped for new ones within five minutes. While this may sound unbelievable, the process is extremely simple: drive the car into a dedicated swap station, release the steering wheel, and a robot will remove the old battery and install a new one.'

It then introduced, 'This technology is just one example of how Chinese EV manufacturers are pushing the boundaries of automotive technology. Securing charging locations, which tends to be a challenge in other parts of the world, is hardly an issue in China. China has built the world's largest EV charging network, with public chargers installed at a ratio of one per 10 EVs.'

Furthermore, it stated, 'With remarkable advancements in infrastructure and technology, China has largely overcome range anxiety, standing at the forefront of the global EV revolution. China produces approximately 75% of the world's EVs, making it the overwhelming global leader in the industry. China's dominance is not limited to production. It is widely recognized that China surpasses other countries in every stage of the EV business, from conception and development to manufacturing and export to countries worldwide.'

The article pointed out that 'it is no accident that China has built such a formidable presence in the EV sector.' It touched upon the Chinese government's decision in 2001 to prioritize EV promotion and its formulation of a long-term plan to push the country to the forefront of the future automotive industry.

It then cited 'the manufacturing of low-priced cars equipped with luxurious features usually found in high-end brand vehicles' as one of the factors contributing to the success of China's EV promotion plan, and reported, citing China-based automotive critic Ethan Robertson, that 'some Chinese EVs are even equipped with televisions, refrigerators, massage seats that recline almost flat to mimic a zero-gravity state, surround sound audio, and digital connectivity features. Last year, nearly 55% of new cars sold in China were EVs.'

According to Robertson, China leads in 'a combination of technology, features, and price.' This combination makes it difficult for many global competitors to keep up. China can produce high-quality yet inexpensive automobiles because it controls the entire supply chain from the conceptual stage to the finished vehicle. As long as manufacturers in other countries continue to struggle with producing EVs that possess the technology, features, and price points demanded by consumers worldwide, they are likely to continue falling behind China.

He stated, 'Chinese automotive brands continue to push their boundaries year after year.' He added, 'Frankly speaking, Chinese brands were once a source of embarrassment for Chinese consumers. However, they have now transformed into a source of pride. If you want to know the pulse of the global automotive industry, you should be in Beijing.' (Translation and editing/Yanagawa)