China's green automakers — champions of smart mobility

I witnessed a collision at the 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition — that of innovation and progress. Throngs of energetic visitors appeared to feed off the powerful, colorful, shapely beasts on display, whose engines' horsepower specs and other tech details showcased the rapid strides made by the auto industry, especially its electric vehicle sector. The expo was a testimony that the world's largest auto market is fully embracing a high-tech and green future.

Even until a decade back, car expos were known to attract visitors, especially males, as much for their latest vehicle models as for the female models that heightened the event's glamor and oomph. Not anymore. The focus has shifted to the titans of industry. Media cameras now chase visionary entrepreneurs such as Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi; Li Xiang, CEO of Chinese NEV startup Li Auto; and Li Bin, CEO of Nio. Their endeavors have been driving China's new energy vehicle sector, which is known for its innovations.

At the sprawling exhibition halls, I sensed a pattern emerge, reflecting the accelerating pace of China's automotive prowess. Between 2020, when the exhibition was last held, and this year, a remarkable transformation has taken place, with Chinese carmakers ramping up efforts to catch up with their foreign counterparts. Homegrown brands like BYD, Great Wall Motor and Xpeng hire vast exhibition spaces to showcase a diverse array of their latest NEVs.