The new energy industry is expanding quickly in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Here, exports of three key technology-intensive green products — electric passenger vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and solar cells, collectively known as the “new trio” — have been steadily increasing, becoming a new highlight of the region’s foreign trade.
Data showed that in 2023, Guangxi’s total exports of these products reached 15.57 billion yuan ($2.16 billion), a 1.9-fold increase, contributing 2.8 percentage points to the region’s overall export growth during the same period. Notably, the region’s exports of electric passenger vehicles soared 8.8 times, reaching 6.18 billion yuan.
Guangxi’s top three export destinations for the “new trio” are the European Union, ASEAN, and India.
The shift in foreign trade from traditional items such as clothing, household appliances, and furniture to these new technology-intensive products signifies further optimization of Guangxi’s export product mix and an enhancement in foreign trade performance, according to a Nanning Customs official.
Liuzhou city in Guangxi is making significant efforts to become an internationally recognized hub for the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry. It is the home of renowned automotive companies such as SAIC-GM Wuling, Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor Co., Ltd., and Guangxi Automobile Group Co., Ltd.
Since 2023, SAIC-GM-Wuling has been expanding its presence in new overseas markets. By offering tailored solutions to meet customer needs in various countries, the company’s NEVs have become popular abroad.