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.

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Bengaluru-based electric motorcycle manufacturer Ultraviolette has announced that the prices for select variants of its flagship model, the F77 MACH 2, will be increased by up to five percent with effect from 1 January 2025. The starting price of the model will remain at INR 299,000.

Rising input costs and changing market conditions are the main reasons for this price change. Until 31 December 2024, Ultraviolette is offering a year-end discount of up to INR 14,000 on the F77 Mach 2 and Mach 2 Recon.

With a powertrain that produces 40.2 horsepower and 100 Nm of torque, the F77 Mach 2 redefines electric performance. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 kph in just 2.8 seconds. It has a 10.3 kWh battery and can go 323 kilometres in IDC on a single charge. The motorbike has several features, including a switchable traction control system, different ride modes, LED illumination and a TFT instrument cluster with Bluetooth connection.

In a revised statement, NueGo has announced that it has expanded its operations to over 100 cities in India with its electric bus fleet.

While the earlier statement mentioned an expansion to seven new routes, the revised statement puts the number at four. These include Indore-Ratlam, Gurugram-Chandigarh, Hyderabad-Kurnool and Bangalore-Mysore.
Speaking about the development, Devndra Chawla, CEO & MD, GreenCell Mobility, remarked, “We are proud to lead India’s journey toward sustainable mobility. With connectivity in more than 100 cities, NueGo is setting new standards in intercity travel by combining environmental responsibility with unmatched guest experiences. Our expanded network reinforces our vision of enabling connectivity while supporting a cleaner, greener future.”
 

Delta Electronics India, a leading power and energy management company, has entered into a partnership with ThunderPlus, a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions in India, to support the latter’s fast chargers for the low-voltage EV charging market, which are specifically designed for two- and three-wheeled EVs.

Leveraging Delta’s technological expertise in power solutions and ThunderPlus’ market leadership in EV charging systems, the collaboration aims to bring world-class technology to India’s low-voltage EV charging market. As per the agreement, ThunderPlus will use Delta’s advanced high-efficiency 4kW rectifier modules to develop customisable chargers that feature energy efficiency up to 93 percent. These are specifically designed to meet the diverse requirements of India’s EV market.

Niranjan Nayak, Managing Director, Delta Electronics India, said, "Delta’s corporate mission is ‘to provide innovative, clean and energy-efficient solutions for a better tomorrow’. Hence, our collaboration with Thunder Plus underscores Delta’s goal to contribute to India’s EV transition by delivering cutting-edge, locally manufactured solutions. Our fast-growing R&D capabilities in Bengaluru and manufacturing in Krishnagiri have been instrumental to this milestone."

Manjula Girish, Business Head – EV Charging Infrastructure, Delta Electronics India, said, "Our 4kW rectifiers are a testament to Delta's commitment to innovation and sustainability. Engineered with high energy efficiency of up to 93 percent and manufactured at our state-of-the-art Krishnagiri facility, these rectifiers exemplify the synergy between cutting-edge technology and localised manufacturing. ThunderPlus' decision to integrate our rectifiers into their EV chargers highlights the trust in Delta's capability to deliver superior performance and value. This partnership is a significant step toward enabling robust and energy-efficient charging solutions for India's growing EV ecosystem."

Rajeev YSR, CEO, ThunderPlus, said, "This collaboration with Delta Electronics brings world-class technology to India’s low-voltage EV charging market. Our customizable chargers cater to the unique requirements of OEMs and end-users, ensuring efficient and seamless integration with their operations. Together, we are building the foundation for a robust and sustainable EV charging infrastructure in India."

Lectrix EV has unveiled a new e-scooter NDuro at an attractive price point of INR 60,000 ex-showroom in India. The vehicle boasts of a sleek and sporty appearance and is aimed at urban users.

Laced with 42-litres of boot space – claimed to be the largest in is class – and flaunting a robust build quality, the e-scooter comes with ‘battery-as-as-service’.

The INR 60,000 price tag of the vehicle limited to the first 1000 customers only, as per the company statement, the NDuro has a top speed of 65 kmph and an ability accelerate from 0 to 40 kmph in 5.1 seconds.

With a tested gradeability of 16-degree (with single rider), the e-scooter could be had with a 2.3 kWh battery delivering an IDC range of 90 km or with a 3.0 kWh battery delivering a range of 117 km.

With smart ‘connectivity’ features such as an efficiency bar, hill hold, tracking, emergency SOS, detailed ride analytics and real-time theft alerts, the electric two-wheeler is supported by the presence of the company in over 120 cities through more than 200 dealer partners as well as over 200 service.

The company has already deployed 10,000 batteries as a service, mentioned Pritesh Talwar, President, Lectrix EV, He emphasised that the brand has 15,000 scooters and 30,000 three-wheelers on the road and is catering to more than a dozen B2B clients.

Regarding the new scooter, Rakesh Malhotra, Founder, SAR Group (of which Lectrix EV is a part), mentioned that the NDuro reflects our commitment to innovation and sustainability.

“It is a bold step toward the future of mobility. We wanted to launch an E2W that empowers consumers and redefines how we navigate our cities. NDuro does that. It surpasses expectations by offering a perfect balance of style, performance, and experience. As the urban landscapes evolve, NDuro will stand out as a statement of innovation. It is built for those who value both form and function,” he added.