BUSINESS

EV Suppliers Must Innovate and Find a Niche to Survive, Insiders Say

Published: Sep. 15, 2025 7:19 p.m. GMT+8

00:00

00:00/00:00

Listen to this article 1x

On Sept. 12, experts discussed EV technologies on a panel at the Asia Vision Forum 2025. Photo: Caixin

As competition in China’s electric vehicle (EV) industry intensifies, companies along the supply chain must innovate and find their niche if they’re going to survive, according to speakers at the Asia New Vision Forum 2025.

The EV price war means it is more important than ever to develop technologies that can cut costs and improve efficiency, said Luke Hu, a co-founder of Electroder Ltd., a Jiangsu province firm which provides software and engineering services for battery design.

You've accessed an article available only to subscribers

Subscribe today for just $.99.

VIEW OPTIONS

Unlock exclusive discounts with a Caixin group subscription — ideal for teams and organizations.

Subscribe to both Caixin Global and The Wall Street Journal — for the price of one.

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

DIGEST HUB

Digest Hub

Back

Explore the story in 30 seconds

China's EV industry faces intense competition, driving companies to innovate and find specialized market niches.
Firms are investing in new battery technologies, like sodium-ion batteries, to address lithium price volatility and efficiency demands; CATL launched the world's first mass-produced sodium-ion batteries.
Sunwoda became China’s largest HEV-battery maker by diversifying early into the hybrid market, supplying major automakers like Nissan and Renault.

AI generated, for reference only

Who’s Who

Electroder Ltd.: Electroder Ltd. (江苏吉电科技有限公司) is a Jiangsu province-based company specializing in software and engineering services for battery design. Co-founder Luke Hu highlighted that the competitive EV market demands cost-cutting and efficiency-improving technologies, noting that larger Chinese carmakers are increasing software spending for battery development, mirroring European trends.

HiNa Battery Technology Co. Ltd.: HiNa Battery Technology Co. Ltd. (known in Chinese as 中科海钠科技有限责任公司) is focused on improving the performance of sodium-ion batteries. Co-founder Tang Kun stated their batteries' energy density rivals mainstream lithium-ion counterparts. These batteries are particularly suited for short-to-mid-range electric vehicles and energy storage, offering a solution to fluctuating lithium prices in the EV industry.

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd.: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) is a major player in the battery industry. They've focused on sodium-ion batteries, introducing their Naxtra line in April. CATL claims these will be the world's first mass-produced sodium-ion batteries, indicating their commitment to innovation and market leadership in alternative battery technologies.

Sunwoda Electronic Co. Ltd.: Sunwoda Electronic Co. Ltd. (欣旺达电子股份有限公司) found success by initially producing batteries for consumer electronics before expanding into the automotive sector. They strategically entered the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) market to differentiate themselves from larger competitors, supplying brands like Nissan and Renault. This established them as China's top HEV-battery maker by installed capacity in 2024.

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.: Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. is a well-known automobile manufacturer. They have partnered with Sunwoda Electronic Co. Ltd., a battery maker that initially focused on hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) to carve out a niche in the competitive EV battery market. This collaboration allowed Sunwoda to supply prestigious brands like Nissan, laying the groundwork for their expansion into batteries for pure EVs and extended-range hybrids.

Renault SA: According to Chen Xi, CFO of Sunwoda Electronic Co. Ltd., Sunwoda supplies batteries to Renault SA. This partnership was part of Sunwoda's strategy to enter the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) market and laid the foundation for their expansion into batteries for pure EVs and extended-range hybrids.

AI generated, for reference only