Chinese carmakers challenge international hybrid vehicle dominance

Chinese carmakers, already at the vanguard of electric vehicle (EV) technology and production, are looking to make a dent in international marques’ full-hybrid vehicle stronghold as they continue to disrupt the global car industry’s pecking order.

Major car builders including Geely Auto and Changan Automobile have reported impressive sales of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), luring domestic consumers away from the likes of Toyota’s Prius.

“Chinese-developed HEVs, banking on the carmakers’ strength in developing intelligent features and computing power, have an edge over their international rivals in smart driving and in-car entertainment,” said Chen Jinzhu, CEO of the Shanghai Mingliang Auto Service consultancy.

“Now they are developing new models that may prove to be superior in terms of pricing and fuel efficiency,” he added.

An HEV is equipped with an internal combustion engine to drive an electrical generator, which either charges batteries or directly powers electric motors.