China has taken the global spotlight as the leading exporter of new energy vehicles, with the country exporting 248,000 such vehicles in the first quarter of 2023, marking a 1.1-fold increase. Xiamen, a city in China, has been instrumental in driving this growth and creating opportunities to position Thailand as a manufacturing hub for exporting spare parts and auto components to the global market.
The escalating issue of climate change has prompted many countries worldwide to prioritize environmental conservation and the adoption of renewable energy sources. The automotive industry, known for being a significant contributor to carbon dioxide emissions, has witnessed a shift toward the production of electric cars as a sustainable solution.
A recent report by Greenpeace, an environmental campaigning organization, highlights that leading automakers globally emit approximately 74 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The report specifically points out the failure to eliminate carbon emissions from the steelmaking process used in automobile manufacturing.
China, known for its prowess in the automotive manufacturing and export sectors, has responded to these environmental concerns by focusing on the production and export of new energy vehicles. Customs data from China reveals that in 2022, the country’s car exports reached a record high of 3.11 million units, surpassing prominent exporters like Germany. This accomplishment has propelled China to become the world’s second-largest car exporter after Japan. Notably, China exported 679,000 new energy vehicles in 2022, a 1.2-fold year-on-year increase, accounting for 63% of global new energy vehicle sales.
In 2023, China’s export of new energy vehicles continues to grow steadily. The China Automobile Industry Association reports that in the first quarter of the year, China exported 248,000 new energy vehicles, representing a 1.1-fold increase. Prominent Chinese brands like BYD, CHERY, and NETA have witnessed continuous growth in their exports.
Furthermore, the export of lithium battery products has also seen remarkable progress in the first quarter of 2023. With subsidy policies and rising demand for lithium batteries in American and European countries, these regions have emerged as potential markets for battery consumption. China’s export value of lithium batteries reached 109.79 billion yuan in the first quarter of 2023, a substantial increase of 94.3%, with an export volume of 25.8 GWh.
The Director of the International Trade Promotion Office in Xiamen emphasized that global attention is shifting toward environmentally conscious products and services, with the new energy automotive industry attracting significant interest worldwide. China has positioned itself as a leading player in the electric vehicle and battery markets globally, thereby positively impacting related industries such as rubber manufacturing for automotive components like wheels, tires, and plastic sheets, which are increasingly being exported to foreign markets.