Chinese EV manufacturers unveiled cutting-edge models at last week’s expo, capturing 65% of Southeast Asia’s market as global brands scramble to compete.
At the May 2025 Automotive Expo in Shanghai, BYD and NIO revealed new solid-state battery systems, with Momentum Works confirming Chinese brands now hold 65% of Southeast Asia’s EV market as of May 1.
Recent Developments
Last week’s expo (May 1-7, 2025) saw BYD unveil a 12-minute ultra-fast charging system, backed by live demonstrations at their Shanghai booth. NIO concurrently announced a partnership with Indonesia’s GoTo Group to deploy 500 battery-swap stations by Q3 2025, as reported in AFP’s May 1 coverage.
Momentum Works’ May 1 market analysis shows Chinese brands now control 65% of Southeast Asia’s EV sales, up from 58% in January 2025. Tesla’s regional VP acknowledged the trend yesterday, stating they’ll open three new showrooms in Thailand by August.
Historical Context
[Historical Context: In Q4 2024, BYD surpassed Tesla in global EV sales for the first time, according to Bloomberg’s December 2024 report. This shift accelerated Western automakers’ investments in affordable compact EVs.]
