Defying Tariffs, China Extends Lead Over Japan In Vehicle Exports
- By MT Bureau
- November 06, 2024
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
Keeway Hypevolt-R E-Scooter With 180km Range Launched At INR 199,000
- By MT Bureau
- July 03, 2026
Keeway India has launched the Hypevolt-R, an electric scooter priced at INR 199,000 (ex-showroom) with bookings starting at INR 5,000.
The Hypevolt-R features a 5 kWh dual-battery architecture with a claimed range of 180 km and an in-vehicle charging system that reaches 80 percent charge in approximately 3 hours. It utilises a mid-mounted motor producing 12 kW of power, enabling acceleration from zero to 40 kmph in 2.3 seconds and a top speed of 115 kmph.
Vikas Jhabakh, Managing Director, Keeway India, said, “The Hypevolt-R represents a significant milestone in Keeway's journey in India. Today's electric mobility customer is no longer looking only for efficiency; they seek performance, technology, design and everyday practicality in one complete package. With the Hypevolt-R, we have created a premium electric scooter that delivers thrilling acceleration, intelligent rider technologies and exceptional usability without compromise. We believe it will redefine expectations from performance electric scooters in India.”
The Hypevolt-R comes with Traction Control, Dual-Channel ABS, Blind Spot Detection, a Rear Reverse Camera and Hill Hold and Hill Descent Control. It features 14-inch alloy wheels, 130 mm of ground clearance, a 770 mm seat height and 27 litres of under-seat storage.
The e-scooter is equipped with a 5-inch TFT display, Bluetooth connectivity and USB charging ports. The Hypevolt-R can be had in Crystal White and Platinum Grey colour options.
The company says the e-scooter is designed for urban commuting and weekend use, offering three riding modes: Eco, Normal and Sport.
Hyundai Motor India Introduces BaaS Model For Creta Electric At INR 1.09 Million
- By MT Bureau
- July 02, 2026
Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has launched a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) ownership model for the Creta Electric. Under the BaaS model, the Creta Electric is available at a starting price of INR 1.09 million (ex-showroom), with battery repayments starting from INR 3.9 per kilometre.
Alongside the BaaS model, the company has updated the Creta Electric with an integrated side foot step. Additionally, Home Charger (HC) variants now include a 7.4 kW wall box charger to assist with home charging requirements.
The Creta Electric SUV is available with two battery options: 51.4 kWh and 42 kWh. It offers a range of up to 510 km (ARAI certified) and supports DC fast charging, allowing a 10–80 percent charge in 39 minutes. Other features include Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, SmartSense Level 2 ADAS, i-Pedal for single-pedal driving, a digital key, and active air flaps. The battery is covered by a warranty of 8 years or 160,000 km.
Tarun Garg, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India, said, “At HMIL, we believe the future of mobility must be accessible, intelligent and customer centric. The introduction of Battery-as-a-Service for the Hyundai Creta Electric is a transformational step towards democratising electric mobility in India. By significantly reducing the initial acquisition cost and offering flexible battery rental plans, we are enabling more customers to confidently transition to EVs while enjoying Hyundai’s trusted technology, safety and innovation.”
Ather Energy Launches 450X Overtones Series And Upgrades
- By MT Bureau
- July 01, 2026
Bengaluru-headquartered electric vehicle company Ather Energy has introduced the 450X Overtones Series, featuring a tone-on-tone treatment across three colourways: Still White, Space Grey and Lunar Grey.
Over the years, the company’s e-scooter lineup has received multiple hardware and software updates, including features such as AutoHold, Magic Twist and Multi Mode Traction Control. Ather has also implemented Infinite Cruise, which facilitates speed management across varied terrains.
Ather Energy’s recent rollout of Atherstack 7 includes new safety features such as CrashAlert that detects accidents and notifies emergency contacts. ParkSafe for providing warnings regarding parking zones and LockSafe, which enables motor immobilisation via the app.
Additionally, the company is introducing a 900W charger, which decreases 450 charging times by 30 percent.
Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ola Electric has announced that it registered 16,144 electric two-wheelers in June 2026, as compared to 20,697 units for the same period last year.
For Q1 FY2027, the retail sales came to 43,719 units, as compared to 22,252 units sold in Q4 FY2026.
“Q1 FY27 marks a significant milestone in our growth journey, with registrations doubling sequentially and June registering 16,144 vehicles - our strongest monthly performance in recent quarters. The sustained momentum reflects the success of our operational improvements, strong product portfolio and continued customer preference for Ola Electric. We remain focused on accelerating EV adoption through technology leadership, manufacturing scale and delivering a differentiated ownership experience," the company said in a statement.
Ola Electric attributes its performance to improvements in retail execution and product availability.
Comments (0)
ADD COMMENT