Best Electric Car Manufacturers in China

Best Electric Car Manufacturers in China

China has had an exploding car market over the past decade, with millions of new drivers taking to the roads every year in search of their own vehicles. 

However, as more people are making the switch to electric vehicles, finding the best manufacturers in China is becoming easier and easier. 

Here are some details on what you need to know about these companies, as well as how to pick out the best electric cars from China for your needs.

SAIC Motor

Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) is a Chinese state-owned automotive design and manufacturing company headquartered in Shanghai, China. 

SAIC designs develop, manufactures, and sells passenger cars under its own brand name, as well as commercial vehicles under its Maxus brand. 

Its joint venture with Volkswagen produces Audi branded cars in addition to its own brands. Its main competitors are General Motors, Hyundai Motor Group, and Ford Motor Company. 

It was listed on both the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Shanghai Stock Exchange until 2007 when it was removed from all of them. 

In 2010 it had revenues of $67 billion and ranked third-largest globally by output. SAIC sold over 5 million vehicles that year. 

As at end of 2010, SAIC has 83 subsidiaries. The company’s majority shareholder is now Shanghai Municipal Government via Shanghai Guosheng Group Co., Ltd. 

The remainder is owned by a variety of other Chinese investors. The company’s products include automobiles, buses and trucks, motorcycles, marine engines, forklifts, and locomotives. 

It also makes Jiangnan Yueda Kia Motors (JYK), but mainly for export markets. In 2009, JYK started production in Changsha for domestic sales with two models: K3 sedan/saloon/sedan MPV and K5 SUV/crossover/pickup truck which were developed under a technology transfer agreement with PSA  Citroen.

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Changan Automobile

This automaker is headquartered in Changsha, Hunan, and has a total of 9 production bases. 

This automaker boasts an annual production capacity of 650,000 vehicles (including exports). 

Most popular brands include: Luxgen models, which are luxury sedans that are exported to Australia and Vietnam; Huansu models, which are family sedans with some of their best-selling models being exported to South Africa and Russia; Weiwang Baojun brand, a new luxury SUV brand created to compete against Japanese automakers; Nantong Xiali Automobile Co., Ltd., also known as Xiali or XIALI is another sub-brand from SAIC Motor’s Nantong factory. 

They sell many different kinds of commercial vehicles. These include large vans, medium-sized passenger vans, and small delivery trucks. 

Their most famous product is their Xiali N3 light truck series. It was first launched in 1998 and it was very successful in its home market; DFSK Auto Corporation Limited, one of China’s largest bus manufacturers, based in Zhuzhou City (Hunan Province) has been producing buses since 1992; Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd., better known as BBAC or Beijing Benz for short is a joint venture between Daimler AG (51%) and BAIC Group (49%). 

It produces Mercedes-Benz branded cars for both domestic sales and export markets. In 2012 they sold over 230,000 units worldwide making them China’s biggest car exporter by volume.

Geely

Chinese car manufacturer Geely is one of several Chinese automakers that have been aggressively moving into electric cars. 

The company bought Volvo Cars back in 2010 and has since produced a line of electric cars under that brand. 

Recently, Geely announced it would create its own battery for use by other manufacturers as well, including an electric car factory with Panasonic to produce EVs (it’s first) on European soil. 

Many of these plans are still rather vague, but some companies, including those wanting to expand into new markets, are opting to set up shop abroad instead of continuing to invest heavily in their home country’s infrastructure and regulations. 

When done strategically, however, establishing factories outside your home country can be a viable strategy to enter new markets or just increase business at home. 

Either way, it’s good news for consumers who want more choices when buying or leasing an EV. If you’re thinking about investing in a pure-electric vehicle, take note: There’s a huge difference between an electric vehicle from Tesla and one from Nissan. 

But there’s also quite a bit of overlap between brands like BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. 

For example, BMW makes some models available as both plug-in hybrids (which means they can go about 20 miles on electricity alone before switching over to gas) and all-electric vehicles; VW offers both gasoline engines as well as full-electric options; while Mercedes sells plug-in hybrid versions of many of its models.

But there’s also quite a bit of overlap between brands like BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche.

XPENG Motors

Best New EV Manufacturer The XPENG Motors company has produced a car that will compete with Tesla. 

The X-Motion, an electric sports car, is on sale and has a run time of 350 kilometers on one charge. The new brand has also introduced something called smart voice interaction, which allows you to use voice commands to perform certain tasks while driving. 

Not only can you speak out loud and give directions, but you can also control your music selections with simple vocal orders. 

This is a first for any Chinese manufacturer, so it’s worth keeping an eye on XPENG as they continue to innovate and develop their products. 

The next few years are sure to be exciting ones for electric cars, as more companies work to make them more affordable and reliable. 

For now, though, we have several great options available from reputable manufacturers like XPENG Motors. If you want to learn more about these vehicles, check out our list of best electric car manufacturers in China. 

We cover all of the major players, including BYD Auto, NIO, and Zotye. We’ll update our information regularly to keep you up-to-date on what’s happening in the world of electric vehicles. 

In addition to learning about top brands, you’ll also find helpful tips for buying an EV and other interesting tidbits about electric cars. 

Learn everything there is to know about EVs today! You can also see our full collection of articles on alternative energy sources here: Alternative Energy Sources & Conservation Tips – How To Save Money And Protect Our Environment.

Leapmotor

An important new addition to electric vehicle manufacturing is coming from a company called Leapmotor. 

These EV manufacturers are setting out to make mass-produced high-quality, affordable electric vehicles and they have grand designs. 

They’re going to start with micro cars, which they’ve designed themselves to be as affordable as possible (but still far beyond what most people think of when it comes to cheap cars). 

One of their designs, for example, looks like a cross between a Lamborghini and an electric toothbrush. And because it has been assembled from modular parts that can be altered or switched out easily depending on what customers want, it can be made into just about anything: pick-up trucks and SUVs are also on their list of possibilities! 

If you’re looking for more information on these innovative electric car manufacturers, keep your eye on them. They’ll be a big player in shaping our future transportation landscape. 

In particular, they plan to develop new battery technology that will allow them to create truly ultra-cheap vehicles one day. 

To date, lithium-ion batteries have mostly only been considered affordable if they cost less than $200 per kilowatt-hour of storage capacity. 

However, advances in science mean we could eventually reach 100 dollars per kilowatt-hour or even less! It might take some time before we get there though; right now Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are already getting us close at around half that price point. 

What does all this mean? Well, for one thing, it means cheaper batteries for us down the road!

BYD Auto

China is a major player in world car manufacturing, but with little name recognition outside of its borders. 

The top three Chinese auto companies to watch are First Auto Works (FAW), Changan Automobile, and Geely Automobile Holdings. 

FAW, one of China’s biggest automakers, has a footprint that spans many different segments of motor vehicles; it is headquartered in Changchun, Jilin Province, and also produces trucks, buses, and commercial vans under its own brand as well as for other manufacturers. 

Changan Automobile was founded on October 10, 1983, by Liu Zengxin; since then it has grown rapidly into one of China’s most recognizable car brands. 

Over 40 percent of its business comes from exports to more than 80 countries around the world. 

In 2011, Changan became an official partner of Ferrari. Geely Automobile Holdings Co., Ltd., commonly known as Geely or Greeley, is based in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. 

It began production in 1997 and currently sells over 1 million cars per year worldwide. In 2010, it acquired Volvo Cars from Ford Motor Company for $1.8 billion US dollars and owns 51 percent of Malaysia’s Proton Cars Sdn Bhd. It also owns 20 percent of Lotus Cars Ltd.

NIO

The NIO lineup consists of five fully electric models. Its new ES8, for example, is a full-size SUV that can go from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph). 

It also offers two different charging options: 22 kilowatts or 43 kilowatts, with an 80% charge taking 54 minutes or just 20 minutes, respectively. 

The NIO ES6 is another intriguing model. This compact crossover comes with three motor options that are either 150 kW, 204 kW, or 261 kW. 

With its lowest output, it will do 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds; at its highest level, it’ll do it in 3.7 seconds! 

To put those numbers into perspective, Tesla’s Model X P100D does it in 5.2 seconds using Ludicrous mode, but only when using all four wheels as opposed to its rear-wheel-drive setup. 

On top of that, NIO says its vehicles have better performance than any other EV on sale today and are some of the fastest accelerating EVs ever made! 

If you want something even more unique than an ES8 or ES6, though, you might want to check out their NIO EP9 concept car. 

At 1,360 horsepower and 1,479 pound-feet of torque, it set a world record for the fastest electric vehicle by going from 0 to 186.8 km/h (115 mph) in 7.1 seconds! 

It was faster than many supercars like Ferrari’s LaFerrari or Porsche’s 918 Spyder. Sadly, there aren’t any plans to bring these crazy cars to market anytime soon but we’re still excited about what NIO has planned next.

In June 2018 Nio announced that they plan on bringing their first product – The ES8 – to market sometime in 2019.

Aiways

The best thing about Chinese cars is that they are designed for driving on bad roads, which is not a small deal when it comes to purchasing an electric car. 

Aiways says that you can get from 0-62 miles per hour in 2.65 seconds, which is fast enough for any car. With a range of 104 miles and a top speed of 129 mph, you won’t be lacking anything if you get yourself one of these cars. 

It charges faster than any other electric car; it does so with only 5 hours to go from dead to fully charged, meaning there’s very little waiting involved here. 

If you want your new car right away, purchase one of these ones on Aliexpress instead! There are lots of sellers out there, all willing to sell you their own version of an electric car, just make sure you pick a reliable seller! 

Check reviews before buying to ensure that your money isn’t going down the drain. Some companies do great work but have horrible customer service or lack credibility, be sure to avoid those sellers at all costs. 

If something goes wrong with your product, then being able to reach someone who will help you fix it will mean everything in terms of customer satisfaction. 

As long as you take care when choosing where you buy from, then getting an electric car should be no problem at all! 

You might even find that you enjoy having an electric car more than a regular vehicle because it doesn’t pollute and doesn’t require much maintenance. 

If you live somewhere with bad weather, then having an electric car could be perfect for you since they don’t need snow tires! 

Plus, since most people charge their cars overnight (or during off-peak hours), using electricity rather than gas means that your electricity bill might actually go down. 

Even though these cars aren’t cheap, to begin with, there’s still good reason to consider them over traditional vehicles. 

They’re far more environmentally friendly and less expensive in general once you’ve purchased them, especially if gas prices keep rising over time!

Hozon Auto

A prominent player in China’s electric car market, Hozon Auto is based in Beijing and produces small, eco-friendly cars. 

The company has been involved with alternative energy since 2002 when it focused on wind power and uses lithium-ion batteries to power its cars. 

The current line of vehicles includes two models: a fully electric car that goes up to 100 kilometers per hour (kph) (62 miles per hour) and a hybrid model that runs on both gas and electricity. 

In addition to manufacturing its own vehicles, Hozon Auto also provides engineering support for foreign companies interested in entering into joint ventures with Chinese firms. 

It was one of only seven automakers selected by Beijing authorities to produce pure electric cars as part of an initiative aimed at reducing air pollution in urban areas. 

According to Reuters, Hozon sold more than 2,000 pure electric cars last year, an impressive feat given that EVs account for less than 1 percent of total vehicle sales in China. 

Currently, the company is focusing on expanding production capacity while preparing to launch new models in 2016. 

Last month, it announced plans to invest 500 million yuan ($81 million) over three years in research and development efforts related to electric cars. 

That same month, state media reported that Hozon will join forces with China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), a powerful economic planning agency headed by Premier Li Keqiang. 

Under terms of their partnership, Hozon will provide technical expertise while NDRC invests 3 billion yuan ($480 million) over five years in exchange for 10 percent equity stakes in each of three future EV projects launched by Hozon.

Skywell

Focusing on creating a powerful, safe, and premium electric car. Skywell’s vehicles are intelligent, technologically advanced, and loaded with information, offering a safer and more convenient experience for drivers. 

Skywell makes it possible to enjoy not only an extraordinary driving experience but also a comfortable life, which may exceed your expectations, says CEO Hou Xingsong. 

Leading-edge technology isn’t just about transporting people from A to B as quickly as possible; it’s about mobility that liberates you from day-to-day problems. 

By blending intelligent power systems with cutting-edge design, Skywell has created a new kind of premium electric vehicle aimed at transforming how we think about cars altogether. 

It is all about making smart transportation accessible to everyone, regardless of age or income level. The sky is no longer their limit. 

Skywell is dedicated to providing customers with innovative and quality products, said Mr. Hou Xingsong, CEO of Skywell Technology Co., Ltd. 

We believe our product will be popular among consumers because they will have a better understanding of their own needs after experiencing our product firsthand.

The company was founded by three entrepreneurs who have worked together since 2010: Mr. Hu Qinghua (founder), Mr. Zhao Zhiyuan (co-founder), and Mr. Hou Xingsong (co-founder). 

Skywell is a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer based in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, with offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. 

It manufactures two models of electric vehicles: a car called Skywell S1 which can reach speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour, and an SUV called Skywell S2 which can reach speeds of up to 140 kilometers per hour. 

Both models are equipped with a powerful motor that allows them to accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour within 4 seconds. 

The cars are also equipped with intelligent sensors that help drivers navigate safely through busy streets or tricky terrains such as snow or sand dunes.

ARCFOX

Just a couple of years ago, ARCFOX was well known as an up-and-coming electric car manufacturer. 

Their CEO Robin Zeng had previously held positions at Chinese automakers Chery and Great Wall Motors, so they had quite a lot of experience with cars before entering the EV industry.

Even though they debuted with their own first vehicle, which is called EC180, it isn’t exactly impressive (60-mile range, 130 HP motor). 

The best selling point is its price tag of just $11,500. Still, it’s important to note that you have to order it directly from its website if you want to get your hands on one. 

It still isn’t available on any other retail platform. While it might not be a bad option for those who are looking for an affordable city car, there are definitely better options out there. 

And while we’re talking about China, let’s also mention BYD, which has been around since 2003 and is considered to be one of the largest electric car manufacturers in Asia. 

They offer several models including e6, e5, and F3DM. With regards to performance, they aren’t particularly impressive but again – BYD’s main focus lies elsewhere: affordability and practicality. 

One more thing worth mentioning is that both companies are backed by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway investment company.

BAIC Motor Corporation

The Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., Ltd. (BAIC Motor) is a state-owned Chinese joint-stock corporation headquartered in Beijing, China, with multiple subsidiary companies engaged in automobile manufacturing and financial services operations. 

It is involved mainly in the research and development of motor vehicles, auto parts and components, engines, motorcycles, and electronic systems. 

BAIC Group has a total of 16 vehicle brands as well as two new energy vehicle brands producing cars under license from Western manufacturers such as Daimler AG and General Motors Company.

Among all its affiliate companies, BAIC Motor Corporation is primarily responsible for all activities related to automobiles produced by BAIC Group companies or imported from overseas through Baic Motor Corporation. 

In 2012, BAIC Motor sold 1.7 million passenger cars in China, making it one of the three largest automakers in terms of sales volume along with Chang’an Motors and SAIC Motor.

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