Beijing Is Cleaning Up Its Petrol Car Market at the Expense of Other Countries

China’s rapid switching to electric vehicles has created a surplus of petrol and diesel cars that are no longer in demand on the domestic market. Instead of curtailing production, Beijing has chosen a different path – aggressive exports. As a result, global markets, particularly in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America, are rapidly filling up with Chinese cars with internal combustion engines.

Although China is first of all  associated with electric vehicles on a global level, petrol models account for about 76 % of its car exports. In just a few years, its exports have grown exponentially, and it is thanks to these cars that China has become the world’s largest car exporter, having surpassed  traditional leaders.

This is a calculated strategy. China is purposefully entering markets where buyers are focused on affordability rather than ecology or innovation. This is how a loyal audience is formed, which will eventually become consumers of Chinese electric cars.

In fact, Beijing is playing the long game: it is decarbonizing within the country, while continuing to sell petrol-powered cars abroad for years to come, taking advantage of regulatory “blind spots” in the West. This clever maneuver allows China to simultaneously clean up its own market and strengthen its influence on the global auto industry.