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

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Suzuki Motor Corporation and its subsidiary, Suzuki R&D Centre India (SRDI), have inaugurated the Banas Suzuki Biogas Plant in Bhukhala, Gujarat. The facility, which opened on 18 January 2026, is the second such plant following the Agthala site that commenced operations in December 2025.

The plant is designed to process up to 100 tonnes of cow dung per day to produce approximately 1.5 tonnes of biogas. This output is equivalent to the daily fuel requirements of 850 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. In addition to fuel production, the facility will sell organic fertiliser generated as a byproduct of the process.

The project is part of an agreement signed in September 2023 between SRDI, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Banas Dairy. The partners have agreed to construct a total of five biogas plants in the region. The Bhukhala site covers an area of 27,000 square metres and forms a component of Suzuki’s strategy to support carbon neutrality in India.

The use of biogas serves as a carbon-neutral alternative for CNG vehicles, which currently represent 20 percent of the Indian passenger car market. Beyond emission reductions, the initiative is intended to improve energy self-sufficiency and increase rural income through the purchase of cattle waste from local farmers.

The opening ceremony was attended by Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat and Shankar Chaudhary, Chairman of Banas Dairy and Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Representing Suzuki was Kenichiro Toyofuku, Managing Officer and Executive General Manager of Biogas Operations.

The company stated that it will continue to develop its biogas business to contribute to national growth and environmental targets. The operation is expected to create jobs within the district while providing fuel for high-demand vehicle segments.

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Pune-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major Bajaj Auto has started sales of its recently introduced Chetak C25 e-scooter across its showrooms in India. Following the model's unveiling earlier this week, the company has positioned the vehicle to target urban commuters. The scooter is priced at INR 91,399 (ex-showroom Delhi), with an introductory benefit of INR 4,299 available for the first 10,000 customers, bringing the effective price to INR 87,100.

The Chetak C25 features a 2.5 kWh battery providing a certified claimed range of 113 km. It is constructed with a metal body and a mono-body design intended for durability in city environments. Technical specifications include a 25-litre storage compartment, disc brakes, hill hold assist, and guide-me-home lighting. The vehicle’s proportions are designed for agility in dense traffic.

The introduction of the C25 completes the Chetak portfolio, which now includes the 30 and 35 Series. Bajaj is marketing the model to first-time electric vehicle buyers and households requiring a secondary scooter for short trips. Deliveries have commenced alongside the showroom roll-out in major cities.

The C25 is supported by the existing Chetak service network. The company noted that the launch and early-bird offer are intended to address customer interest in accessible electric mobility solutions that focus on reliability and ease of use.

The e-scooter maintains the brand's focus on material quality through its use of metal surfaces rather than plastic panels. It is engineered to align with daily commute patterns and offers various colour options. The mechanical framework is built to provide stability and a refined presence on the road while maintaining a compact footprint.

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Bengaluru-based clean tech company Indofast Energy has partnered Nexus Select Malls to introduce battery swapping stations within shopping mall premises. The initiative has commenced with the inauguration of Quick Interchange Stations (QIS) at Nexus Shantiniketan and Nexus Whitefield in Bengaluru.

This marks the first time such infrastructure has been integrated into the portfolio of India’s first Retail REIT. The partnership is designed to provide energy solutions for commuters, delivery partners and fleet operators by utilising high-footfall retail destinations.

Following the Bengaluru launch, the companies plan to expand the network to other cities, including Delhi NCR, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Pune. The technology allows users of electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers to replace depleted batteries in minutes, addressing requirements for the last-mile delivery sector.

The swapping stations utilise an automated platform that supports multiple vehicle types. By placing these stations in malls, the companies intend to make electric vehicle (EV) charging as accessible as traditional retail services. The project aligns with broader efforts to embed sustainable mobility into urban infrastructure and reduce the time vehicles spend at stationary charging points.

Anant Badjatya, CEO, Indofast Energy, said, “Our collaboration with Nexus Select Malls represents a paradigm shift in how urban infrastructure can support the rapid adoption of electric vehicles. By integrating our state-of-the-art battery swapping technology directly into high-footfall retail destinations, we are not just providing convenience; we are creating an ecosystem where electric mobility becomes an effortless and integral part of daily life for millions of shoppers and commuters, and especially the thriving last-mile delivery ecosystem. We are incredibly proud to be Nexus Select Malls’ first battery swapping partner and look forward to a successful, rapid expansion across their extensive network. This partnership underscores our commitment to making battery swapping the default choice for urban transportation and accelerating India’s transition to sustainable mobility.”

Nilesh Singh, Senior V-P, ESG & Business Excellence, Nexus Select Malls, added, “As India’s first Retail REIT, Nexus Select Malls is committed to reimagining malls as future-ready urban ecosystems. Introducing battery swapping stations for the first time across our portfolio is a meaningful step in embedding sustainability into everyday consumer spaces. This initiative supports cleaner last-mile mobility while making greener choices visible, accessible and practical for millions of visitors who engage with our malls every day.”

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Kinetic Watts & Volts, the electric mobility division of the Kinetic Group, has formed a retail finance ecosystem through partnerships with Hero FinCorp, Bajaj Finserv and CleverPe.

The collaborations provide financing solutions for the Kinetic DX and DX+ electric scooter range, utilising traditional lending and digital payment technologies across the company’s dealership network in India.

The partnership combines the reach of established financial institutions with a fintech platform to offer EMI-based lending and digital credit options. This framework is designed to reduce upfront costs and simplify documentation for consumers. The move supports Kinetic’s strategy of market-by-market expansion as the company scales production and registration volumes.

The Kinetic DX range features the Range-X LFP battery architecture, which is engineered for safety and reliability. The scooters are designed to reference the brand's previous petrol models while functioning as modern electric vehicles. By integrating finance options directly at the point of sale, the company aims to address the requirements of urban consumers and first-time buyers.

Kinetic Watts & Volts is currently building its dealership footprint and after-sales infrastructure to support its long-term vision in the electric vehicle sector.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Kinetic Watts & Volts, said, “Access to convenient and trusted financing is fundamental to accelerating electric mobility adoption in India. By partnering with Hero FinCorp, Bajaj Finserv and CleverPe, we have built a comprehensive retail finance ecosystem that offers customers flexibility, choice and confidence. These collaborations support our strategy of opening markets one by one, while reinforcing the growing belief of leading financial institutions in Kinetic’s EV products and long-term vision.”

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