Volkswagen China announced on Monday forging a partnership with Xpeng, a major Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, to jointly build a fast charging network for running EVs in China, the company told the Global Times.
The cooperation indicates an ever-closer partnership between Chinese and international automakers in 2025, the company said. The project will feature more than 20,000 self-operated charging piles, covering 420 cities and regions across China, both companies will be enhancing the charging experience of the EV drivers by expanding charging locations, according to Volkswagen.
The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for strategic collaboration on charging networks in China. The charging network will integrate seamlessly with major automakers via mobile apps, according to the company.
China's automobile market has matured rapidly in the past several years, remaining highly attractive for foreign automakers.
Major Japanese and European automakers unveiled new partnerships with Chinese car companies in November during the 22nd Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, held in South China's Guangdong Province, according to Nikkei Asia.
And, On November 12, Dongfeng Nissan Passenger Vehicle Co announced a partnership with Huawei. The two companies are expected to collaborate on developing the smart cockpit based on Huawei's HarmonyOS system,Nikki Asia reported.
China has continued to be the global front-runner in new energy vehicle production and sales for nine consecutive years, from 2015 to 2023, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Also, China holds immense potential in automotive consumption. The latest forecast from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) projects that China's total vehicle sales are expected to reach 31.5 million units in 2024, including 13 million NEVs, China Securities Journal reported.
China's NEV sales accounted for 70 per cent of the world's total between January and November, said Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the China Passenger Car Association.
The share stood at 52 percent in 2021, rising to 63 percent in 2022, 64 percent in 2023, and reaching 69.6 percent in the first 11 months of 2024, reflecting a clear trend of rapid expansion, Cui said. He noted that China's NEV growth has outpaced the global average.
（Picture: Veer）
