The sales of electric vehicles have shown steady growth in 2023. The global sales of pure electric vehicles are expected to exceed 10 million units, with China contributing about two-thirds of that number. In China, the sales of new energy vehicles reached 9.495 million units, with a significant proportion being pure electric vehicles. In the United States, the number of registered electric vehicles has surpassed 1.1 million for the first time, a 52% year-on-year increase, accounting for 7.7% of the entire automotive market. China's new energy vehicle development is entering a period of rapid growth.

He Peng, Assistant Secretary-General of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, stated that China has become the world's largest market for new energy vehicles. In 2023, China achieved several world-leading positions in terms of new energy vehicle resource supply capacity, annual production and sales volume, vehicle inventory, public charging station construction, and operational quantity. A recent report by Roland Berger, titled "2017 Q2 Global Electric Vehicle Development Index," also revealed this trend: China ranks first in the global electric vehicle development index.

"The simultaneous prosperity in the production and sales of electric vehicles in China is thanks to the rapid development of relevant technologies," said He Peng. "Take the battery, a key component of electric vehicles, for example. Five years ago, the range of Chinese electric vehicles was only 200 kilometers. Now, the cost of batteries has decreased by nearly half, performance has improved by 30%, and the range has increased to over 700 kilometers."

The reduction in battery costs and performance improvements have led to more attempts at electrifying large commercial vehicles.

"The ecosystem of the global automotive industry is being reshaped, and new energy vehicles and intelligent connected vehicles have become important opportunities for China's transition from an automotive power to an automotive powerhouse," said Ding Hongxiang, Deputy General Manager of China Machinery Industry Group.

In this context, various "new forces in car manufacturing" are entering China's new energy and intelligent vehicle industry. According to data from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, there are already over 200 Chinese new energy vehicle companies, including traditional automakers such as BAIC, SAIC, and Changan, as well as internet and communication companies.

"There are many cross-industry collaborations and attempts in the field of new energy vehicles both domestically and internationally," said Zhan Wenzhang, Director of the New Energy Vehicle Management Department at Beijing Automotive Group. "The influence of these 'new forces in car manufacturing' should not be underestimated. The participation of internet-based companies brings fresh blood and promotes continuous innovation and upgrading in the automotive industry."

While enjoying the prosperity in production and sales and witnessing the emergence of new business models and formats, it is also important to recognize the technological gap between new energy vehicles and advanced levels. Yan Maosheng said that the market prospects for China's new energy vehicles are very broad, but ultimately, the future of the automotive industry depends on the vehicles themselves. The future of China's new energy vehicles still needs to be achieved through technological breakthroughs and improvements in overall vehicle performance.