Earlier this month, BYD Shenzhen, the world’s second-largest car carrier, set sail from China to Europe with 6,817 new energy vehicles (NEVs), symbolizing a major shift in an automotive market long dominated by European brands. Just two weeks later, Chinese automaker BYD reached another milestone by producing its 13 millionth NEV. In 2024 alone, China produced and sold over 12 million NEVs. China’s journey from an automotive apprentice to a global leader in electric vehicles (EVs) has been the result of decades of transformation.
This transformation is also reshaping automotive cooperation between China and Europe. German auto supplier ZF Group unveiled a steering system developed in partnership with Chinese EV maker NIO at an event in Germany. The company describes the Chinese market as “a training ground where innovation accelerates.” Meanwhile, Chinese battery manufacturer Sunwoda is working to align with the European Union’s new battery regulations. According to experts, the traditional technology-manufacturing division between China and Germany is changing; China’s rapid progress in science and technology is prompting a need for a new balance in bilateral cooperation.