China is now considered one of the main markets for electric mobility, both in terms of production and sales. However, beneath this galloping growth lie very questionable practices. Explanations.
For several years now, China has invested heavily to become one of the main markets for electric mobility. In October 2022, a study carried out by the analysis firm Jato highlighted the importance of the Middle Kingdom in this buoyant market. For good reason, one in five electric cars sold in Europe is made in China.
Nevertheless, this meteoric rise hides some rather terrifying practices. Serpentza, a Chinese automotive YouTuber with 1.29 million subscribers, has just released an uplifting video. We see there endless lines of new electric cars left abandoned in the district of Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province.
Thousands of new electric cars left abandoned…
According to images captured by drones, these huge cemeteries are home to several very popular models in China such as Geely Kandi K10 EV, Neta V or BYD e3. The scene is circumspect: the white paint is yellowed by dust and the grass almost covers the tires of the vehicles, a sign that these cars have been left to their fate for several months, even years.
However, just look inside the cabin to see that all these electric cars are new. The seats are still in their plastic cover, and the infotainment screens are protected by a protective film. Cherry on the cake, almost all of the vehicles are registered.
Also read: Sales of electric cars are expected to increase by 35% in 2023
To inflate sales and obtain subsidies
A question then arises in front of these images: why leave these electric cars in perfect working order abandoned? According to the videographer, we are in front the result of Chinese government policies.
“China is the land of shortcuts and facades. All his cars that you see in these fields, they are counted in the sales and production figures of the country”, explains the Youtuber.
According to him, these electric vehicles were manufactured by manufacturers to inflate sales figures and obtain subsidies from Beijing. To do this, the brands have registered these electric cars, before unofficially putting them on the market and declaring them as sold.
But while these cars should end up on the roads, they rot on these wastelands. In 2017, the South Morning Post and The Atlantic reported similar practices in Shanghai, linked in particular to the explosion of the market for shared and self-service bicycles. Manufacturers mass-produced bikes, so much so that supply quickly outstripped demand. The result was mountains of abandoned bikes in the open.