In Depth: Zero-Carbon Fuels, Hybrids Offer Lifeline for Conventional Carmakers

It sounds somewhat unbelievable — the internal combustion engine (ICE) is boosting sales of new-energy vehicles (NEVs) in China, which may be a hard pill to swallow for the upstart carmakers who initially championed the displacement of fossil fuel vehicles.

In fact, in December 2024, the top three NEV-makers by sales were primarily focusing on hybrid vehicles, which incorporate a battery-powered motor and an ICE.