China Shifts to PHEVs in its Push for Global Auto Dominance
China, the world’s largest electric vehicle producer, is making a surprising change in its global strategy. After years of pushing pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs), Chinese automakers are now flooding international markets with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). These cars run on both batteries and gasoline, giving them an edge in places where charging infrastructure is weak. Recent trade figures highlight this shift. In the first half of 2025, Chinese plug-in hybrid exports jumped by more than 200 percent compared to the previous year, while sales of pure battery vehicles rose only 40 percent. Europe has been the biggest target,…