TransportBT: Beyond the Motorshow floor - The future of Chinese EVs in Singapore
In the latest episode of TransportBT, host Derryn Wong takes listeners to the Singapore Motorshow 2025 held at Suntec City. Wong shares his longstanding experience covering the event, noting the significant shift in the automotive landscape with the prominent presence of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brands.
The impact of Chinese EV brands on the Singapore car market
Wong informs us that nine Chinese EV brands are making their debut at the show, highlighting names like Deepal, Jaecoo, Neta, Yangwang, and IM among others. The focus is particularly on the premium tech EV segment, with multiple Chinese brands vying for a foothold. Premium Automobiles, featuring three Chinese brands—Deepal, Xpeng, and Zeekr—represents a noteworthy example. In an interview with Lee Hoe Lone, the managing director of Premium Automobiles, Wong explores the strategic merits of introducing multiple brands to cater to diverse market segments. Lee emphasises that the general market transition from Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) to EVs is unstoppable, much like the transition from feature phones to smartphones.
The strategic positioning of these Chinese EV brands
Lee explains that each brand under Premium Motors targets different customer needs—technology, luxury, and form factor versatility. There are competitive challenges in the market, especially in light of incentives and the potential for market cannibalisation. Lee underscores that despite competition, the diverse appeal of the brands mitigates direct overlap. The narrative continues to the broader competitive landscape, with a focus on BYD, the leading Chinese EV brand. Derryn and BYD’s James Ng discuss how the company’s strategic tiering—mainstream (BYD), premium (Denza), and luxury (Yangwang)—is designed to capture different segments of the market.
The future outlook for the Chinese EV market
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Wong also engages Victor Kwan, a senior lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, to analyse the broader implications. Kwan outlines the historical dominance of Japanese, Korean, and European brands and the disruptive entry of Chinese EVs. He emphasises the rapid technological advancement and competitive pricing of Chinese brands as key advantages. Nonetheless, Kwan points out the necessity for Chinese brands to invest in building brand equity and distinctive design languages to establish a lasting presence in the market.
Listen to the full episode to get a forward-looking discussion on the future of Chinese EV brands in the premium and luxury segments. Kwan predicts that while the mass-market penetration by Chinese brands has been swift, achieving similar success in the luxury segment will require more time and strategic marketing.
Stay tuned to TransportBT for more insightful discussions. Next week, BT Correspondents will delve into the property prospects in the Year of the Wood Snake. For thoughts or questions, contact us at btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.
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Written and hosted by: Derryn Wong (derrynwong@sph.com.sg)
With James Ng, managing director, BYD Singapore; Lee Hoe Lone, managing director, Premium Automobiles; and Victor Kwan, deputy director, Singapore University of Social Sciences Academy.
Edited by: Emily Liu & Claressa Monteiro
Produced by: Derryn Wong & Emily Liu
Engineered by: Chai Pei Chieh
A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media
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