Defying Tariffs, China Extends Lead Over Japan In Vehicle Exports

Defying Tariffs, China Extends Lead Over Japan In Vehicle Exports

The automotive export figures released at the close of October 2024 indicate that China has increased its lead over Japan, defying tariffs. After achieving a lead in 2023, China expanded its export gap throughout 2024 by meeting international standards and by addressing key market opportunities.

Capturing much attention, China’s automotive exports have given the Asian country a significant lead over Japan, which held the title of the world's largest vehicle exporter for nearly five decades until last year.

China exported 5.22 million vehicles in 2023, out numbering Japan’s vehicle exports at 4.42 million units. Between January 2024 and September 2024, China exported 4.7 million units. Japan, on the other hand, shipped 3.06 million units.

While Japan’s vehicle exports declined by four percent in the period between January 2024 and September 2024, China’s vehicle exports grew by a good 26.7 percent year-on-year.

The factors that are said to have contributed to a rise in vehicle exports by China are an outlook for new opportunities the world over against a saturating domestic market. The other reason is the significant uptick in electric vehicle adoption at 38.6 percent.

Chinese companies like BYD have found a strong hold in export markets of Europe despite tariffs. This Chinese electric vehicle company has smartly moved up in valuation as compared to Tesla of USA.

Increasingly aligning with international demand, Chinese vehicular exports have come to include competitively priced SUVs and technologically advanced EVs that rival European and US counterparts in quality and appeal.

What is perhaps very interesting is how China's export reach has shifted in the last few years. From focusing on Africa and less-developed regions, Chinese automakers have come to target higher-income, densely populated countries in other continents to ensure a significant export growth.

EVs clearly remain a stronghold, accounting for a substantial chunk of the export volume. The Asian country exported 1.77 million EVs in 2023. This accounted for over 30 percent of its total vehicle exports.

The first nine months of 2024 saw EV exports from China accounting for 1.524 million units, representing 32.4 percent of all auto exports – a 22 percent increase from the same period last year.

Among the export markets that Chinese vehicle manufacturers have targeted are in Europe, Asia, Central and South America and the Middle East.

To counter tariffs, Chinese vehicle manufacturers are luring buyers in the overseas markets by providing cost-effective, feature-rich vehicles interestingly.

Image for representative purpose only

PeakAmp, Pacto Power Join Forces For Battery Waste Management

PeakAmp - Pactor Power

PeakAmp, a battery circularity and resource recovery firm, has entered into a partnership with Pacto Power to manage battery waste across its operations. The agreement focuses on the collection, logistics and recycling of units, alongside ensuring Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance.

Under the terms of the partnership, PeakAmp serves as the exclusive partner for end-to-end battery waste movement. The collaboration aims to transition battery waste through authorised channels to improve material recovery and reduce leakage into informal networks.

The key areas of collaboration include establishing systems for the documented movement and disposal of battery waste for traceability. Second-life applications by developing uses for batteries beyond their initial vehicular or industrial lifespan. Research into new lithium-ion battery production.

The partnership reflects a shift in the sector towards integrating traceability into waste management systems as battery volumes increase.

Aditya Sudhanshu, Co-Founder & COO, PeakAmp, said, “As battery usage continues to grow, it becomes important to manage battery waste in a responsible and compliant way. Our partnership with Pacto Power helps us ensure smooth collection, recycling, and compliance management across the entire battery lifecycle. We look forward to building a more transparent and efficient battery waste ecosystem together.”

Manoj Kushwaha, Director, Pacto Power, added, “Partnering with PeakAmp marks an important step in strengthening our commitment to responsible and compliant battery lifecycle management. As we continue to scale our operations, ensuring proper handling of battery waste and meeting EPR obligations becomes critical. PeakAmp’s structured approach to collection, recycling, and compliance will help us build a more transparent, efficient, and sustainable system. We also see strong potential in collaborating on second-life applications and advancing lithium-ion battery innovation together.”

Ultraviolette Partners Elektrorider For Hungary And Danube Region

Ultraviolette Automotive

Ultraviolette, the Bengaluru-based electric vehicle manufacturer, has announced a strategic alliance with Elektrorider, appointing the firm as its official importer and distributor for Hungary and the Danube region. The agreement covers six markets – Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Romania, Slovenia and the Czech Republic, expanding Ultraviolette’s European footprint to 19 countries.

Under the partnership, Ultraviolette will introduce its performance electric motorcycles, the F77 MACH 2 and F77 SuperStreet, to Central Europe. The expansion utilises Elektrorider’s existing retail infrastructure in electric motorcycles, scooters and e-bikes.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, “We are excited to partner with Elektrorider to introduce the Ultraviolette brand in Hungary and Central Europe. This alliance marks a pivotal milestone in our global expansion as Ultraviolette moves beyond India into some of the world’s most discerning motorcycling markets. With a strong foothold already established across 12 European countries, Ultraviolette is poised to accelerate worldwide growth following successful launches in these demanding countries. To riders across Hungary and Central Europe, we seek to bring Aviation based design, unmatched capability and performance, along with future-forward technology that redefine the motorcycling experience with every Ultraviolette ride. Guided by this vision, we are confident that this partnership will establish a world-class Ultraviolette ecosystem, right from product experience to aftersales support. This is only the beginning, and we are excited and confident of the journey ahead.”

Attila Pavuk, COO, Elektrorider, added, “We are equally excited and proud to introduce Ultraviolette to Hungary and the Central European market and go ballistic with the brand’s both visually striking and technologically cutting-edge performance motorcycles. At Elektrorider we represent a lifestyle built around performance, freedom, adventure, and reliability. With deep roots in the CEE market, we combine data-driven insight with real riding experience; we don’t guess but listen and analyse. We understand this region because we live here, ride here, and build meaningful partnerships with brands that share the same high standards, such as Ultraviolette. To motorcycle enthusiasts throughout Hungary and Central Europe, this alliance merges India’s high-tech offer, bold design, exceptional capability, and forward-looking technology with European riding expectations that elevate the electric experience to the next level. With this vision at the core of our partnership, this marks the start of an exciting journey, and we couldn’t be more enthusiastic about what lies ahead.”

Mitsubishi Motors To Produce Hybrid Vehicles In The Philippines Under EVIS Programme

Mitsubishi Motors

Japanese automotive company Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has announced its intention to participate in the Philippine government’s Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (EVIS). The plan was discussed during a meeting between President Marcos and Takao Kato, Chief Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Motors.

Subject to application approval, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) intends to commence production of a new hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) model at its facility in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, with production scheduled to begin in mid-2028.

To facilitate this transition, MMPC will undertake additional investments to upgrade its manufacturing facilities for electrification. The company expects these initiatives to expand the local supply chain and create employment opportunities within the Laguna region.

Takao Kato, CEO, Mitsubishi Motors, said, “The Philippines has long been one of our most important markets, where we have engaged in production and sales for many years. In cooperation with the Philippine government, we are honoured to contribute to the advancement of vehicle electrification and industrial development through the EVIS program, as well as to support the further growth of the Philippine economy.”

Tesla Adds Its First Charging Station In Navi Mumbai

Tesla

Tesla has announced the commissioning of its first in-mall charging location at Nexus Seawoods in Navi Mumbai. This site provides eight chargers, expanding the company’s charging infrastructure to locations where customers spend time, such as retail destinations and highway rest stops.

The new station, located in the B1 parking area of the mall, features a combination of direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) charging options:

V4 Superchargers: Four units providing peak charging speeds of 250 kW. A Model Y can add up to 275 km of range in 15 minutes using this technology.

Destination Chargers: Four units providing 11 kW for standard AC charging.

The charging process is integrated with the Tesla app, which allows owners to navigate to stations, precondition vehicle batteries, monitor stall availability, and complete payments. The company reports a claimed global charging uptime of 99.95 percent.

With the addition of the Navi Mumbai site, Tesla now operates five charging locations across India, totalling 20 Superchargers and 14 Destination Chargers.