Latest news with #Poer
The Age
27-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Age
These affordable EVs are set to rule the roads – and they are all from the same place
The company, based in southern China's Shenzhen, recently announced an ultra-fast EV charging system it says can provide a full charge for its latest EVs within five to eight minutes, about as long as a fill-up. It plans to build more than 4000 of the new charging stations across China. Loading The Chinese company started out making batteries and has been refining its battery and energy storage technology while building an auto empire that is expanding outside China. While BYD's fanciest, latest premium models are expected to sell for up to about $US40,000 ($62,000), it also makes far less expensive EVs including the Seagull, which sells for about $US12,000 in China. BYD nudged ahead of Tesla in production of battery-powered EVs in 2024, making 1,777,965 compared with Tesla's 1,773,443. Great Wall Motors Great Wall Motors, with the Haval, Wey, Ora, Poer and Tank brands, is banking on overseas sales to keep growing after its sales inside China fell by nearly 15 per cent last year, even as the company's net profit jumped more than 80 per cent. The company has factories in Russia, Thailand and Brazil, where it is challenging Toyota's popular Hilux pick-up truck with its GWM Poer, a hybrid pick-up of its own. Another mainstay is the Haval H6, a hybrid sports SUV. In Australia, the Haval, Poer and Ora brands are available for sale, with Wey instead choosing to focus on the European market. GWM is the seventh best-selling car manufacturer in Australia so far in 2025 – with more than 4300 vehicles sold in March, according to VFACTS data. Its electric Haval H6 model has done particularly well, comprising 6.4 per cent of the overall medium SUV share. Great Wall has smoothed its transition to overseas production by buying factories of other automakers. In Thailand, it took over a factory formerly operated by General Motors. In Brazil, it purchased a former Mercedes-Benz plant. 'It is essential for volume to be big, otherwise the cost of production is too high,' Great Wall's chairman, Wei Jianjun, said in a media huddle at the show. Wei, who also goes by the name Jack Wey, was born in Beijing but moved to nearby Hebei, home of the Great Wall. He led the company's transition from vehicle modification to automaking, becoming China's biggest maker of pick-up trucks and a leading SUV maker. The company has a joint venture for EVs with BMW. Chery State-owned Chery Automobile says it was the first Chinese automaker to export overseas. It has sold more than 15 million of its Exeed, Omoda and Jetour models overseas, mostly in the developing world and emerging markets, including Turkey and Ukraine. Chery reported selling 2.6 million vehicles overseas last year and is aiming for three million in 2025. It's quickly expanding overseas production, setting up factories in Russia and Spain. It is expanding rapidly in Latin America. The manufacturer launched in Australia in March 2023, and made its 20,000th overall sale earlier this year. The Omoda E5, its electric vehicle offering, was given a price cut in January due to poor sales in the Australian market. Only 1300 have been sold so far in 2025. Chery's tie-up with EV-maker Visionary Vehicles aimed to sell in North America but has not yet achieved that goal. The company has a 50-50 joint venture with Jaguar Land Rover, which is a subsidiary of Tata Motors of India that makes Jaguars and Land Rovers in China. It also collaborates with Huawei Technologies and e-commerce giant Alibaba. Chery still sells far more fuel-engine cars than EVs. Its battery electric vehicle company, Chery New Energy, makes mini-vehicles such as the eQ1, or Small Ant, and the QQ Ice Cream. Its mainstays are the Tiggo lineup of SUVs and its Arrizo sedans. Geely Geely Auto is perhaps the most famous Chinese automaker that many people have never heard of. The privately held company was founded as a refrigerator-maker by businessman Li Shufu in 1997 in eastern China's Taizhou, which early on became a hub of private industry. Li began making strategic overseas acquisitions early on, buying Sweden's Volvo from Ford Motor in 2010. Geely's purchase of a 49.9 per cent stake in Malaysia's Proton gave it a 51 per cent stake in luxury sports car brand Lotus. It formed a 50-50 joint venture to make Smart city cars with Germany's Daimler AG. It also works with Renault of France on powertrains and owns a stake in Aston Martin Lagonda. In March, it launched sales of its Geely EX5 SUVs in Australia and New Zealand, adding to its global reach. Geely and Volvo own Swedish automaker Polestar, which has struggled in the US market. As of March, only 389 Polestar vehicles had been sold in Australia during 2025, according to the Electric Vehicle Council. Wuling China's second-best selling EV brand in China is Wuling, a joint venture of Shanghai's SAIC Motor, General Motors and Guangxi Auto. It sold more than 673,000 EVs in China and has a market share of only 6 per cent compared with BYD's nearly one-third share. Tesla came in third at 659,000 cars sold. Apart from its Baojun sedans and vans, Wuling mainly makes engines, commercial vehicles and special-purpose vehicles like mini-EVs and golf carts. The brand is not available for purchase in Australia. Dongfeng, Changan and Nio Other major Chinese brands of EVs include Nio, Xpeng, Li Auto and Leap Motor. State-run giants such as Dongfeng Motor Group, which has an alliance with Nissan, and Changan Automobile, a partner with Japan's Mazda and with Ford, are also quickly expanding EV sales. While none of these brands are being sold in Australia, all three have previously indicated interest in expanding their market.
Sydney Morning Herald
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
These affordable EVs are set to rule the roads – and they are all from the same place
The company, based in southern China's Shenzhen, recently announced an ultra-fast EV charging system it says can provide a full charge for its latest EVs within five to eight minutes, about as long as a fill-up. It plans to build more than 4000 of the new charging stations across China. Loading The Chinese company started out making batteries and has been refining its battery and energy storage technology while building an auto empire that is expanding outside China. While BYD's fanciest, latest premium models are expected to sell for up to about $US40,000 ($62,000), it also makes far less expensive EVs including the Seagull, which sells for about $US12,000 in China. BYD nudged ahead of Tesla in production of battery-powered EVs in 2024, making 1,777,965 compared with Tesla's 1,773,443. Great Wall Motors Great Wall Motors, with the Haval, Wey, Ora, Poer and Tank brands, is banking on overseas sales to keep growing after its sales inside China fell by nearly 15 per cent last year, even as the company's net profit jumped more than 80 per cent. The company has factories in Russia, Thailand and Brazil, where it is challenging Toyota's popular Hilux pick-up truck with its GWM Poer, a hybrid pick-up of its own. Another mainstay is the Haval H6, a hybrid sports SUV. In Australia, the Haval, Poer and Ora brands are available for sale, with Wey instead choosing to focus on the European market. GWM is the seventh best-selling car manufacturer in Australia so far in 2025 – with more than 4300 vehicles sold in March, according to VFACTS data. Its electric Haval H6 model has done particularly well, comprising 6.4 per cent of the overall medium SUV share. Great Wall has smoothed its transition to overseas production by buying factories of other automakers. In Thailand, it took over a factory formerly operated by General Motors. In Brazil, it purchased a former Mercedes-Benz plant. 'It is essential for volume to be big, otherwise the cost of production is too high,' Great Wall's chairman, Wei Jianjun, said in a media huddle at the show. Wei, who also goes by the name Jack Wey, was born in Beijing but moved to nearby Hebei, home of the Great Wall. He led the company's transition from vehicle modification to automaking, becoming China's biggest maker of pick-up trucks and a leading SUV maker. The company has a joint venture for EVs with BMW. Chery State-owned Chery Automobile says it was the first Chinese automaker to export overseas. It has sold more than 15 million of its Exeed, Omoda and Jetour models overseas, mostly in the developing world and emerging markets, including Turkey and Ukraine. Chery reported selling 2.6 million vehicles overseas last year and is aiming for three million in 2025. It's quickly expanding overseas production, setting up factories in Russia and Spain. It is expanding rapidly in Latin America. The manufacturer launched in Australia in March 2023, and made its 20,000th overall sale earlier this year. The Omoda E5, its electric vehicle offering, was given a price cut in January due to poor sales in the Australian market. Only 1300 have been sold so far in 2025. Chery's tie-up with EV-maker Visionary Vehicles aimed to sell in North America but has not yet achieved that goal. The company has a 50-50 joint venture with Jaguar Land Rover, which is a subsidiary of Tata Motors of India that makes Jaguars and Land Rovers in China. It also collaborates with Huawei Technologies and e-commerce giant Alibaba. Chery still sells far more fuel-engine cars than EVs. Its battery electric vehicle company, Chery New Energy, makes mini-vehicles such as the eQ1, or Small Ant, and the QQ Ice Cream. Its mainstays are the Tiggo lineup of SUVs and its Arrizo sedans. Geely Geely Auto is perhaps the most famous Chinese automaker that many people have never heard of. The privately held company was founded as a refrigerator-maker by businessman Li Shufu in 1997 in eastern China's Taizhou, which early on became a hub of private industry. Li began making strategic overseas acquisitions early on, buying Sweden's Volvo from Ford Motor in 2010. Geely's purchase of a 49.9 per cent stake in Malaysia's Proton gave it a 51 per cent stake in luxury sports car brand Lotus. It formed a 50-50 joint venture to make Smart city cars with Germany's Daimler AG. It also works with Renault of France on powertrains and owns a stake in Aston Martin Lagonda. In March, it launched sales of its Geely EX5 SUVs in Australia and New Zealand, adding to its global reach. Geely and Volvo own Swedish automaker Polestar, which has struggled in the US market. As of March, only 389 Polestar vehicles had been sold in Australia during 2025, according to the Electric Vehicle Council. Wuling China's second-best selling EV brand in China is Wuling, a joint venture of Shanghai's SAIC Motor, General Motors and Guangxi Auto. It sold more than 673,000 EVs in China and has a market share of only 6 per cent compared with BYD's nearly one-third share. Tesla came in third at 659,000 cars sold. Apart from its Baojun sedans and vans, Wuling mainly makes engines, commercial vehicles and special-purpose vehicles like mini-EVs and golf carts. The brand is not available for purchase in Australia. Dongfeng, Changan and Nio Other major Chinese brands of EVs include Nio, Xpeng, Li Auto and Leap Motor. State-run giants such as Dongfeng Motor Group, which has an alliance with Nissan, and Changan Automobile, a partner with Japan's Mazda and with Ford, are also quickly expanding EV sales. While none of these brands are being sold in Australia, all three have previously indicated interest in expanding their market.
Euronews
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Euronews
How China's EV makers are navigating new paths to global expansion
ADVERTISEMENT The world's auto industry is getting a shake-up from Chinese automakers as they expand across global markets, offering relatively affordable electric vehicles designed to wow car buyers with sleek designs and the latest high-tech interiors. Companies like BYD, Great Wall, Geely and Chery Automobile are reaching further afield as they build the scale they need, in order to survive cut-throat competition in their home market. These generally are not state-run giants like SAIC, BAIC and Guangzhou Automotive. The founder of Geely started out making refrigerators. BYD first built up its expertise in battery technology, now its biggest advantage as the EV maker with the highest sales globally. Some others are technology companies allied with automakers to offer autonomous driving. Here are some of the key players and where they are making waves: Great Wall Motors Great Wall Motors, with the Haval, Wey, Ora, Poer and Tank brands, is banking on overseas sales to keep growing after seeing its domestic Chinese sales fall by nearly 15% last year, even as the company's net profit jumped more than 80%. The company has factories in Russia, Thailand and Brazil, where it is challenging Toyota's popular Hilux pickup truck with its GWM Poer, a hybrid pickup of its own. Another mainstay is the Haval H6, a hybrid sports SUV. Great Wall has smoothed its transition to overseas production by buying other automakers' factories. In Thailand, it took over a factory formerly operated by General Motors Corp. In Brazil, it purchased a former Mercedes-Benz plant. 'It is essential for volume to be big, otherwise the cost of production is too high,' Great Wall's chairman, Wei Jianjun, said in a media huddle at the show. Wei, who also goes by the name Jack Wey, was born in Beijing but moved to nearby Hebei, home of the Great Wall. He led the company's transition from vehicle modification to auto making, becoming China's biggest maker of pickup trucks and a leading SUV maker. The company has a joint venture for EVs with BMW. Chery State-owned Chery Automobile says it was the first Chinese automaker to export overseas. It has sold more than 15 million of its Chery, Exeed, Omoda and Jetour models overseas, mostly in the developing world and emerging markets, including Turkey and Ukraine. Chery reported selling 2.6 million vehicles overseas last year and is aiming for 3 million in 2025. It's quickly expanding overseas production, setting up factories in Russia and Spain. It is also expanding rapidly in Latin America. Chery's tie-up with EV-maker Visionary Vehicles aimed to sell in North America but has not yet achieved that goal. The company has a 50-50 joint venture with Jaguar Land Rover, which is a subsidiary of Tata Motors of India that makes Jaguars and Land Rovers in China. It also collaborates with Huawei Technologies and e-commerce giant Alibaba. Chery still sells far more fuel-engine cars than EVs. Its battery electric vehicle company, Chery New Energy, makes minivehicles like the eQ1, or Small Ant, and the QQ Ice Cream. Its mainstays are the Tiggo lineup of SUVs and its Arrizo sedans. BYD BYD made more electric vehicles last year than Tesla, selling 3.52 million EVs in China, up 28% from a year earlier. Its strength in plug-in hybrids has helped as Chinese consumers increasingly opt for the fall back of a fuel engine. ADVERTISEMENT The company, based in southern China's Shenzhen, recently announced an ultra-fast EV charging system. According to BYD, this can provide a full charge for its latest EVs within five to eight minutes. It plans to build more than 4,000 of these new charging stations across China. The Chinese company started out making batteries and has been refining its battery and energy storage technology while building an auto empire that is expanding outside China. While BYD's fanciest, latest premium models are expected to sell for up to about $40,000 (€35,148.9), it also makes much less expensive EVs including the Seagull, which sells for around $12,000 (€10,542.8) in China. BYD barely nudged ahead of Tesla in production of battery-powered EVs in 2024, making 1,777,965 compared with Tesla's 1,773,443. ADVERTISEMENT Geely Geely Auto is perhaps the most famous Chinese automaker that many people have never heard of. The privately held company was founded as a refrigerator-maker by businessman Li Shufu in 1997 in eastern China's Taizhou, which early on became a hub of private industry. Li began making strategic overseas acquisitions early on, buying Sweden's Volvo Car Co. from Ford Motor in 2010. Geely's purchase of a 49.9% stake in Malaysia's Proton gave it a 51% stake in luxury sports car brand Lotus. It formed a 50-50 joint venture to make Smart city cars with Germany's Daimler AG. It also works with Renault SA of France on powertrains and owns a stake in Aston Martin Lagonda. In March, it launched sales of its Geely EX5 SUVs in Australia and New Zealand, adding to its global reach. Geely also owns New York Stock Exchange-listed Zeekr Intelligent Technology Holding, which makes a premium EV brand. Geely and Volvo own Swedish automaker Polestar, which has struggled in the US market. ADVERTISEMENT Wuling China's second-best selling EV brand is Wuling, a joint venture of Shanghai's SAIC Motor, General Motors and Guangxi Auto. It sold more than 673,000 EVs in China and has a market share of only 6% compared with BYD's nearly one-third share. Tesla came in third at 659,000 cars sold. Apart from its Baojun sedans and vans, Wuling mainly makes engines, commercial vehicles and special purpose vehicles like mini-EVs and golf carts. Others Other major Chinese brands of EVs include Nio, Xpeng, Li Auto and Leap Motor. State-run giants like Dongfeng Motor Group, which has an alliance with Nissan Motor Corp., and Changan Automobile, a partner with Japan's Mazda Motor Corp. and with Ford Motor Co., are also quickly expanding EV sales. But the industry is fast-changing and competition in the home market is tough. That's a key reason why the biggest automakers are now focusing on expanding into global markets. ADVERTISEMENT
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
China's fast-growing EV makers pursuing varied routes to global expansion
The world's auto industry is getting a shake-up from Chinese automakers that are quickly expanding across the globe, offering relatively affordable electric vehicles designed to wow car buyers with sleek designs and the latest high-tech interiors. Companies like BYD , Great Wall, Geely and Chery Automobile are reaching outward as they build the scale they need to survive cut-throat competition in their home market. These generally are not state-run giants like SAIC, BAIC and Guangzhou Automotive. The founder of Geely started out making refrigerators. BYD first built up its expertise in battery technology, now its biggest advantage as the world's largest-selling EV maker. Some others are technology companies allied with automakers to offer autonomous driving. Here are some of the key players: Great Wall Motors Great Wall Motors, with the Haval, Wey, Ora, Poer and Tank brands, is banking on overseas sales to keep growing after seeing its sales inside China fall by nearly 15% last year, even as the company's net profit jumped more than 80%. The company has factories in Russia, Thailand and Brazil, where it is challenging Toyota's popular Hilux pickup truck with its GWM Poer, a hybrid pickup of its own. Another mainstay is the Haval H6, a hybrid sports SUV. Great Wall has smoothed its transition to overseas production by buying factories of other automakers. In Thailand, it took over a factory formerly operated by General Motors Corp. In Brazil, it purchased a former Mercedes-Benz plant. "It is essential for volume to be big, otherwise the cost of production is too high," Great Wall's chairman, Wei Jianjun , said in a media huddle at the show. Wei , who also goes by the name Jack Wey, was born in Beijing but moved to nearby Hebei, home of the Great Wall. He led the company's transition from vehicle modification to automaking, becoming China's biggest maker of pickup trucks and a leading SUV maker. The company has a joint venture for EVs with BMW. Chery State-owned Chery Automobile says it was the first Chinese automaker to export overseas. It has sold more than 15 million of its Chery, Exeed, Omoda and Jetour models overseas, mostly in the developing world and emerging markets, including Turkey and Ukraine. Chery reported selling 2.6 million vehicles overseas last year and is aiming for 3 million in 2025. It's quickly expanding overseas production, setting up factories in Russia and Spain. It is expanding rapidly in Latin America. Chery's tie-up with EV-maker Visionary Vehicles aimed to sell in North America but has not yet achieved that goal. The company has a 50-50 joint venture with Jaguar Land Rover, which is a subsidiary of Tata Motors of India that makes Jaguars and Land Rovers in China. It also collaborates with Huawei Technologies and e-commerce giant Alibaba. Chery still sells far more fuel-engine cars than EVs. Its battery electric vehicle company, Chery New Energy, makes minivehicles like the eQ1, or Small Ant , and the QQ Ice Cream. Its mainstays are the Tiggo lineup of SUVs and its Arrizo sedans. BYD BYD made more electric vehicles last year than Tesla, selling 3.52 million EVs in China, up 28% from a year earlier. Its strength in plug-in hybrids has helped as Chinese increasingly opt for the fallback of a fuel engine. The company, based in southern China's Shenzhen, recently announced an ultra-fast EV charging system it says can provide a full charge for its latest EVs within five to eight minutes, about as long as a fill-up. It plans to build more than 4,000 of the new charging stations across China. The Chinese company started out making batteries and has been refining its battery and energy storage technology while building an auto empire that is expanding outside China. While BYD's fanciest, latest premium models are expected to sell for up to about $40,000, it also makes much less expensive EVs including the Seagull, which sells for around $12,000 in China. BYD barely nudged ahead of Tesla in production of battery-powered EVs in 2024, making 1,777,965 compared with Tesla's 1,773,443. Geely Geely Auto is perhaps the most famous Chinese automaker that many people have never heard of. The privately held company was founded as a refrigerator-maker by businessman Li Shufu in 1997 in eastern China's Taizhou, which early on became a hub of private industry. Li began making strategic overseas acquisitions early on, buying Sweden's Volvo Car Co. from Ford Motor in 2010. Geely's purchase of a 49.9% stake in Malaysia's Proton gave it a 51% stake in luxury sports car brand Lotus. It formed a 50-50 joint venture to make Smart city cars with Germany's Daimler AG. It also works with Renault SA of France on powertrains and owns a stake in Aston Martin Lagonda . In March, it launched sales of its Geely EX5 SUVs in Australia and New Zealand, adding to its global reach. Geely also owns New York Stock Exchange-listed Zeekr Intelligent Technology Holding, which makes a premium EV brand. Geely and Volvo own Swedish automaker Polestar, which has struggled in the U.S. market. Wuling China's second-best selling EV brand is Wuling, a joint venture of Shanghai's SAIC Motor, General Motors and Guangxi Auto. It sold more than 673,000 EVs in China and has a market share of only 6% compared with BYD's nearly one-third share. Tesla came in third at 659,000 cars sold. Apart from its Baojun sedans and vans, Wuling mainly makes engines, commercial vehicles and special purpose vehicles like mini-EVs and golf carts. Others Other major Chinese brands of EVs include Nio, Xpeng, Li Auto and Leap Motor. State-run giants like Dongfeng Motor Group, which has an alliance with Nissan Motor Corp., and Changan Automobile, a partner with Japan's Mazda Motor Corp. and with Ford Motor Co., are also quickly expanding EV sales. But the industry is fast-changing and competition in the home market is tough. That's a key reason why the biggest automakers have focused attention on expanding into global markets.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
China's fast-growing EV makers pursuing varied routes to global expansion
SHANGHAI (AP) — The world's auto industry is getting a shake-up from Chinese automakers that are quickly expanding across the globe, offering relatively affordable electric vehicles designed to wow car buyers with sleek designs and the latest high-tech interiors. Companies like BYD, Great Wall, Geely and Chery Automobile are reaching outward as they build the scale they need to survive cut-throat competition in their home market. These generally are not state-run giants like SAIC, BAIC and Guangzhou Automotive. The founder of Geely started out making refrigerators. BYD first built up its expertise in battery technology, now its biggest advantage as the world's largest-selling EV maker. Some others are technology companies allied with automakers to offer autonomous driving. Here are some of the key players: Great Wall Motors Great Wall Motors, with the Haval, Wey, Ora, Poer and Tank brands, is banking on overseas sales to keep growing after seeing its sales inside China fall by nearly 15% last year, even as the company's net profit jumped more than 80%. The company has factories in Russia, Thailand and Brazil, where it is challenging Toyota's popular Hilux pickup truck with its GWM Poer, a hybrid pickup of its own. Another mainstay is the Haval H6, a hybrid sports SUV. Great Wall has smoothed its transition to overseas production by buying factories of other automakers. In Thailand, it took over a factory formerly operated by General Motors Corp. In Brazil, it purchased a former Mercedes-Benz plant. 'It is essential for volume to be big, otherwise the cost of production is too high,' Great Wall's chairman, Wei Jianjun, said in a media huddle at the show. Wei, who also goes by the name Jack Wey, was born in Beijing but moved to nearby Hebei, home of the Great Wall. He led the company's transition from vehicle modification to automaking, becoming China's biggest maker of pickup trucks and a leading SUV maker. The company has a joint venture for EVs with BMW. Chery State-owned Chery Automobile says it was the first Chinese automaker to export overseas. It has sold more than 15 million of its Chery, Exeed, Omoda and Jetour models overseas, mostly in the developing world and emerging markets, including Turkey and Ukraine. Chery reported selling 2.6 million vehicles overseas last year and is aiming for 3 million in 2025. It's quickly expanding overseas production, setting up factories in Russia and Spain. It is expanding rapidly in Latin America. Chery's tie-up with EV-maker Visionary Vehicles aimed to sell in North America but has not yet achieved that goal. The company has a 50-50 joint venture with Jaguar Land Rover, which is a subsidiary of Tata Motors of India that makes Jaguars and Land Rovers in China. It also collaborates with Huawei Technologies and e-commerce giant Alibaba. Chery still sells far more fuel-engine cars than EVs. Its battery electric vehicle company, Chery New Energy, makes minivehicles like the eQ1, or Small Ant, and the QQ Ice Cream. Its mainstays are the Tiggo lineup of SUVs and its Arrizo sedans. BYD BYD made more electric vehicles last year than Tesla, selling 3.52 million EVs in China, up 28% from a year earlier. Its strength in plug-in hybrids has helped as Chinese increasingly opt for the fallback of a fuel engine. The company, based in southern China's Shenzhen, recently announced an ultra-fast EV charging system it says can provide a full charge for its latest EVs within five to eight minutes, about as long as a fill-up. It plans to build more than 4,000 of the new charging stations across China. The Chinese company started out making batteries and has been refining its battery and energy storage technology while building an auto empire that is expanding outside China. While BYD's fanciest, latest premium models are expected to sell for up to about $40,000, it also makes much less expensive EVs including the Seagull, which sells for around $12,000 in China. BYD barely nudged ahead of Tesla in production of battery-powered EVs in 2024, making 1,777,965 compared with Tesla's 1,773,443. Geely Geely Auto is perhaps the most famous Chinese automaker that many people have never heard of. The privately held company was founded as a refrigerator-maker by businessman Li Shufu in 1997 in eastern China's Taizhou, which early on became a hub of private industry. Li began making strategic overseas acquisitions early on, buying Sweden's Volvo Car Co. from Ford Motor in 2010. Geely's purchase of a 49.9% stake in Malaysia's Proton gave it a 51% stake in luxury sports car brand Lotus. It formed a 50-50 joint venture to make Smart city cars with Germany's Daimler AG. It also works with Renault SA of France on powertrains and owns a stake in Aston Martin Lagonda. In March, it launched sales of its Geely EX5 SUVs in Australia and New Zealand, adding to its global reach. Geely also owns New York Stock Exchange-listed Zeekr Intelligent Technology Holding, which makes a premium EV brand. Geely and Volvo own Swedish automaker Polestar, which has struggled in the U.S. market. Wuling China's second-best selling EV brand is Wuling, a joint venture of Shanghai's SAIC Motor, General Motors and Guangxi Auto. It sold more than 673,000 EVs in China and has a market share of only 6% compared with BYD's nearly one-third share. Tesla came in third at 659,000 cars sold. Apart from its Baojun sedans and vans, Wuling mainly makes engines, commercial vehicles and special purpose vehicles like mini-EVs and golf carts. Others Other major Chinese brands of EVs include Nio, Xpeng, Li Auto and Leap Motor. State-run giants like Dongfeng Motor Group, which has an alliance with Nissan Motor Corp., and Changan Automobile, a partner with Japan's Mazda Motor Corp. and with Ford Motor Co., are also quickly expanding EV sales. But the industry is fast-changing and competition in the home market is tough. That's a key reason why the biggest automakers have focused attention on expanding into global markets. Elaine Kurtenbach, The Associated Press
