Chinese EV makers outpace Tesla in South-east Asia’s electric car race

WITH their sleek and distinctive minimalist design sans the traditional front grille – and strong brand recognition to boot – the eco-friendly Tesla sedans may be a striking sight on the road.

Looks aside, however, in South-east Asia – a key battleground for global electric vehicle (EV) brands – Tesla’s Chinese rivals are racing ahead, leaving the US giant in the dust in one of the world’s most promising EV markets.

This is even as the competitive landscape is shifting dynamically, with other big carmakers from Japan (Toyota and Nissan) and South Korea (Hyundai and Kia) also vying for a share of the region’s EV market, which experienced a dramatic surge in sales last year due to explosive demand.