The Political Economics of China’s Electric Vehicle Industry: A Note
Abstract
The rapid rise of China’s electric vehicle industry—especially its booming exports—has drawn global attention. This study provides a distinctive analysis of the industry’s political economy from a domestic Chinese perspective. Although the electric vehicle sector contributes only modestly to China’s overall economy, it remains one of the few dynamic areas in an otherwise sluggish post-COVID landscape. Drawing on Baidu Index data as of 30 June 2025, the study shows how the Chinese government showcases the electric vehicle industry as a flagship of industrial upgrading and new quality productive forces, using it to boost national confidence. However, its confidence-enhancing effects appear uneven and concentrated among a relatively narrow consumer-oriented subgroup. These findings have broad political and economic implications.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Asian Industrial and Economic Development
Global trade and economics
Publication details
- Journal / source
- China Report
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 592-607
- Publication date
- 6 July 2026
- Language
- EN