Tesla revives China discounts; Iran war drives shift to electric cars: 7 EV reads

We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. Market squeeze: Tesla revives China price cuts to stem slumping deliveriesTesla China has launched discounts on its Shanghai-made cars for the first time since the end of 2024, responding to falling deliveries in the world’s largest market for Electric Vehicles (EVs).2. ‘Key pillar’: the 5-year powerhouse plan for China’s car industryChina is set to secure its place among the global automotive powerhouses by 2030 through further efforts to boost domestic sales and foster technological innovation, while a capacity alert mechanism will be introduced to guard against disorderly competition.3. Over 65% of cars sold in China are now EVs as Iran-war" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="38748" data-entity-type="event">Iran war drives electric shiftTraffic is gridlocked during the morning rush hour on a sunny day in Beijing. Photo: ReutersChina’s EV adoption rate has hit an all-time high, as the Iran-war" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="38748" data-entity-type="event">Iran war drives motorists to shift away from petrol cars despite a sluggish automotive market.4. Will Tesla’s rare-earth-free motor put China’s trade trump card at risk?Tesla’s Cybercab, also known as the Robotaxi, is a two-passenger self-driving car which is fully autonomous with no steering wheel or pedals. Photo: TNSAs Tesla CEO Elon Musk touted the motor of his company’s Cybercab – which, he claims, contains no rare earth elements – debate has emerged over whether the technology could mark a meaningful shift in EV supply chains, or undercut one of China’s trump cards in its protracted trade conflict with the US.5. BYD, Leapmotor buck EV market slowdown as pressure piles up on small rivalsTop performers BYD and Leapmotor clawed their way up higher in terms of sales last month, even as China’s EV market was shrinking amid weaker consumer demand. However, smaller players were expected to face falling sales and mounting losses for the rest of the year as competition got fiercer, according to analysts.6. China’s EV makers see synergy in their race to beat Tesla in humanoid roboticsIllustration: Dennis YipWhen Nio CEO William Li outlined earnings prospects for the Shanghai-based carmaker in March, he could not help but liken the automotive business to the development of robots.7. Tesla to exhibit Cybercab robotaxi in China: can it spark buzz amid slow sales?Tesla is facing weaker sales in China this year, but the American EV manufacturer is looking to generate a buzz in its second-largest market by exhibiting its new self-driving vehicle, the Cybercab.Further Reading