BYD, Xiaopeng, MG, GAC EAN …… More and more new energy brands from the mainland are flooding into Hong Kong.BYD, Xiaopeng, MG, GAC EAN …… More and more new energy brands from the mainland are flooding into Hong Kong.
The data shows that the total number of pure electric private car registrations in Hong Kong in 2022 will be 19,795, accounting for 52.82% of the private car (new car) market, climbing further from 24.2% in 2021, with electric cars selling more than gasoline cars for the first time in history.And in 2024, Hong Kong’s new energy vehicle penetration rate exceeds 70%.
With the intensification of competition in the domestic market and the need for globalization, more and more new energy brands from the mainland are setting their sights on overseas markets, and Hong Kong, with its unique advantages, is becoming an important starting point and testing ground for Chinese car companies to go overseas.
On May 26, 2025, the press conference of “2025 International Automotive and Supply Chain Expo (Hong Kong)” was successfully held.Co-organized by China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association (HKCEA), Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong (CMA), China Federation for the Peaceful Development of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Overseas Chinese (CFPDH), and Phoenix Satellite Television (PSV), the event is themed “New Automobile, New Journey”, focusing on the cutting-edge technology and development trend of the global automotive industry, and providing an important platform for the industry’s exchange and cooperation.The theme of the event is “New Auto New Journey”.At the same time, Automotive House will be the chief strategic cooperation media and will provide in-depth coverage of the Auto Expo.
Hong Kong: The “Super Contact” for the Globalization of Mainland Automobile Enterprises
In terms of new energy vehicle penetration, Hong Kong is one of the fastest and best markets in the world for EV penetration.
This is not possible without the HKSAR Government’s introduction of a series of policies to support the consumption of new energy vehicles, such as the “One-for-One Scheme” for the replacement of old fuel vehicles with new electric vehicles, the reduction or waiver of vehicle license fees, and the provision of charging infrastructure to assist in the construction of the new energy vehicles, which has strongly contributed to the popularization of new energy vehicles.
Although the annual sales volume of new cars in Hong Kong in the past five years was only about 40,000 units, the overall demand for automobile consumption is not considered to be strong, and the contribution of independent new energy vehicle brands to the total sales volume after entering Hong Kong is limited, a strong demonstration effect has been formed at the market level.
Lu Jinrong, Chief Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Hong Kong International Automobile and Supply Chain Expo and President of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong (CMAHK), pointed out that Hong Kong, as an internationally renowned financial, logistic and trade center, possesses a unique advantage that is highly compatible with the development of the automobile industry.
Hong Kong’s vigorous development in green finance complements the concept of “low-carbon transformation” of new energy vehicles, and its internationalized location makes it a “super-contact person” connecting the Mainland and the global market, which can provide strong support for the globalization of the automotive industry.Supporting the globalization of the automobile industry.
Middle: Lu Jinrong, Chief Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Hong Kong International Automobile and Supply Chain Expo (HKIA&SCE); Right: Fu Bingfeng, Executive Vice President and Secretary General of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM)
In Lu Jinrong’s view, Hong Kong is the first stop for Chinese automobile enterprises to go overseas: through Hong Kong’s internationalized brand promotion resources, they can quickly enhance global awareness and accurately reach the emerging market demand.
For international enterprises, Hong Kong is the “window to China”: with platforms such as Auto China, overseas brands can connect to the Mainland’s well-established supply chain system and share the dividends of a consumer market of 1.4 billion people.This “two-way empowerment” is the core value of Hong Kong’s contribution to the globalization of the automotive industry.
In addition, Hong Kong brings together global talent, capital and business resources, providing mainland automobile enterprises with broad opportunities for international cooperation.For example, enterprises such as Ningde Times and BYD have set up R&D centers or sales outlets in Hong Kong; Wuling Motors has set up an innovation center in Hong Kong, China, and signed memorandums of understanding with several universities to promote the transformation of scientific research results in the automotive industry; and recently, Baidu’s self-driving cab company, Turnip Express, has further expanded its testing scope in Hong Kong.Recently, Baidu’s self-driving taxi company “Turnip Express” further expanded its test range in Hong Kong.
These companies focus on the core innovative technologies of intelligent electric vehicles, covering a wide range of areas such as intelligent assisted driving and AI interaction for the global market, laying a solid foundation for mainland automakers to enter the international market.
Mainland automobile enterprises “riding the wave” in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has always been an important market for the world’s major automobile brands to compete.Here, Tesla, with its first-mover advantage, has been deeply cultivating the market for more than ten years, taking the lead in establishing a comprehensive charging network and occupying a leading position in the market for a long time.
According to data from the Hong Kong Electric Vehicle Database, the number of first-registered electric private cars in Hong Kong reached 62,458 from 2017 to 2023, with Tesla leading the pack with 33,909 units, taking up 54.3% of the market share.Meanwhile, internationally recognized brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz have also achieved impressive sales in Hong Kong’s electric vehicle market.
It is worth noting that with the active participation of independent brands in international competition in the past two years, they have also brought richer and more diversified choices to Hong Kong consumers.
For example, at the end of January 2024, GACEA opened its first showroom in Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong, China, officially landing in the Hong Kong market and launching the HT and SSR models of Plus and the premium brand Hao Platinum;
In April 2024, Xiaopeng Auto partnered with Sime Darby Automotive Group, authorizing it to act as a distributor for the Hong Kong, China market, launching two new models in May and starting deliveries in the third quarter;
BYD, on the other hand, has set up a research and development center in the Hong Kong Science Park as early as 2011 to collaborate on the development of electric vehicle technology.In January this year, BYD’s sales in Hong Kong surpassed Tesla’s for the first time.
According to the Hong Kong Transport Department, Tesla registered only 202 private cars in Hong Kong in January, shrinking its market share to 8.42%.BYD, on the other hand, topped the Hong Kong private car market with 847 registrations, climbing to a market share of 35.31 percent.
Mainland automobile enterprises face many challenges in Hong Kong, but with the improvement of product power, brand building and service network, mainland automobile enterprises are expected to make greater breakthroughs in the Hong Kong market, and use it as a springboard to move to a broader international market.
Chinese-funded enterprises in Hong Kong have also provided strong support to Chinese automobile enterprises going overseas, playing the dual key roles of “infrastructure builder” and “ecological synergist”.
For example, in the field of logistics, enterprises represented by COSCO Shipping Special Transportation have cracked the efficiency bottleneck of traditional automobile shipping through the construction of global logistics network and innovative transportation mode.
Qian Weizhong, vice president of Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association and chairman of COSCO Shipping (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. told AutoHome that the company has built the “Digital Platform for China’s Automobile Overseas Logistics”, which integrates the global route resources, realizes the functions of intelligent matching of transportation solutions, cabin booking and cost comparison, etc., and lays out the overseas intelligent warehousing centers and develops the green logistics routes, which will greatly reduce the transportation costs and improve risk control through the whole visualization management.Logistics routes, will greatly reduce transportation costs, and at the same time through the whole visualization management to enhance the risk controllability.This “smart + green + globalization” supply chain solution provides support for the whole chain from the production end to the consumption end for automobile enterprises.
Mr. Qian Weizhong, Vice Chairman of Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association and Chairman of COSCO Shipping (H.K.) Co.
It can be said that through the combination of “hard facilities” (logistics network, financial services) and “soft services” (policy synergy, ecological integration), Chinese-funded enterprises have not only built a “highway” for Chinese automobile enterprises to go overseas, but also promoted China’s automobile industry from “single-point breakthrough” to “ecological win-win” through the international hub of Hong Kong.Through the combination of “hard facilities” (logistic network, financial services) and “soft services” (policy synergy, ecological integration), the Chinese-funded enterprises have not only built a “highway” for Chinese automobile enterprises to go overseas, but also promoted China’s automobile industry to move from a “single-point breakthrough” to an “ecological win-win situation” by means of Hong Kong’s international hub, which has helped China’s automobile brands to realize sustainable development in global markets.
Auto Expo 2025: A Core Platform for Automotive Enterprises to Go Global
The 2025 International Automotive & Supply Chain Expo (Hong Kong) will be held from June 12 to 15 at the AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong.This exhibition not only provides a high-quality stage for automotive brands to showcase their latest products and technologies, but also builds an important platform for industry players, consumers and media to discuss the future direction of automotive development.
At the conference, Fu Bingfeng, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Hong Kong International Automobile and Supply Chain Expo (HKIAASCE) and Executive Vice President and Secretary General of China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), made a comprehensive introduction of the preparations for this year’s Auto Expo, the organization of the fair, the arrangements for the exhibition activities, and the highlights of the fair.
As many as 11 mainland automobile exhibitors, including SAIC, FAW, Dongfeng, Chang’an, BAIC, GAC, Geely, BYD, Chery, Xiaopeng, Zero Run and other mainstream automobile brands will make a high-profile appearance.Among them, China FAW will bring its entire Red Flag brand to the exhibition, and Sunflower’s high-end brand right-hand drive car will also be available for tasting at the scene; Dongfeng Motor will make a heavy appearance with its entire range of products, highlighting the brand’s commitment to innovation and technology; SAIC Group will display its own brand’s full matrix of new energy products; Chery Automobile will for the first time historically bring its entire brand of new energy vehicle matrix to the exhibition, and display the “air, land, sea” black science and technology; Geely Automobile will exhibit for the first time with its entire brand of new energy vehicles.Chery Automobile will exhibit its entire new energy vehicle matrix for the first time in history, and display the “sea, land and air” black technology; Geely Holding Group will present its “heaven and earth integration” technological achievements, and its long-range new energy commercial vehicles will deliver the first batch of 1,000 long-range super VAN vehicles, which will be put into the operation of Hong Kong’s new energy cabs.
In terms of scientific and technological innovations in intelligent networked new energy vehicles, there are nearly 40 automotive supply chain and technology enterprises from the Mainland participating in this exhibition. Leading technology enterprises such as Ningde Times, Horizon, Momenta, etc. will focus on displaying their latest products and technological achievements in the fields of intelligent cockpit, combined assisted driving, automotive chips, and so on.Meanwhile, many well-known Chinese-funded organizations and technology enterprises in Hong Kong, such as the Hong Kong Taxi Association and China-Hong Kong Vehicle Body Builders, are also enthusiastically participating in the exhibition.
A number of high-end forums, special lectures, business negotiations and investment and financing docking activities will be held during the Auto Expo.For example, the 2025 International Automotive and Supply Chain (Hong Kong) Summit will focus on the development strategy of OEMs, the advantages of supply chain innovation and technology, and supply chain financial services, so as to enhance the ability of China’s automotive and supply chain to develop internationally; and the Low Altitude Economy Summit will build a platform for the synergy of the low altitude economy in the Greater Bay Area, and promote the formation of a synergistic ecology of innovation.These activities provide a high-quality platform for automobile enterprises to communicate and cooperate with global industry elites, and help promote the international cooperation of automobile supply chain.
At the opening ceremony, the Mainland and Hong Kong will jointly launch the “China Automotive and Supply Chain Enterprises Going Overseas Alliance”, which aims to support the globalization of China’s automotive enterprises by relying on Hong Kong’s mature capital ecosystem, professional service resources and international network.This will further strengthen the cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong in the automotive industry and help automotive enterprises to expand in overseas markets.
IV. Conclusion
As an important starting point and testing ground for Chinese automobile enterprises to go overseas, Hong Kong provides a broad development platform for mainland new energy vehicle brands by virtue of its multiple advantages such as international vision, policy support, and resource concentration.
The International Automotive and Supply Chain Expo 2025 will further strengthen Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector and super-value-added person to drive China’s automotive industry to achieve global leapfrog development.
As Fu Bingfeng said, Auto Hong Kong will take technology empowerment, innovation synergy, brand promotion and trade facilitation as its mission, continue to lead the industry trend, serve the industry, empower Hong Kong, and walk with the pace of globalization of China’s automotive industry.
Article source: motor home
