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Nov 13, 11:55
Inside China's EV 'involution': fierce competition, falling prices, and global ripples

China's electric vehicle (EV) sector, once a symbol of the nation's manufacturing ascendancy, is now showing signs of strain. As production far outpaces demand, the industry has entered a phase of what analysts describe as "bleeding competition", a prolonged period of margin erosion and consolidation that could reverberate across the global auto market.

Electronic components and semiconductor lead frame manufacturer Excel Cell Electronic (ECE) saw strong demand for automotive lead frames early in 2025, but momentum in the third quarter of 2025 dampened due to tariffs and market uncertainties. However, recent signs of recovery in customer orders have led the company to expect stable automotive-related demand for 2025.
Plastic injection molding giant Fu Chun Shin (FCS) reported positive year-on-year revenue growth for October 2025, driven by demand from automotive components, ICT, semiconductor, and sports industry customers. New technology deployments in the premium sports sector are beginning to reap benefits, with supercritical fluid physical foaming equipment seeing increased shipments.
Pegatron Corp. is accelerating its shift away from China, increasing the share of manufacturing capacity located outside the country to 30-40% in 2025 from 20-30% in 2024, the company's management revealed during its earnings call on November 12. This move reflects Pegatron's broader strategy to diversify its manufacturing footprint and reduce reliance on its core contract with Apple Inc., which still accounts for approximately 60% of its revenue.
Infineon Technologies struck a cautious tone on its automotive outlook during its 2025 earnings call, with CEO Jochen Hanebeck highlighting ongoing challenges in China's electric vehicle (EV) market and competitive pressures on power modules, even as demand for microcontrollers and Ethernet solutions continues to strengthen.
Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.) posted robust performance in the third quarter of 2025, driven by new smartphone launches, smart consumer electronics, AI servers, and cloud network devices. The company anticipates substantial sequential and year-over-year growth in the fourth quarter, maintaining expectations for solid full-year expansion and expressing optimism about 2026 results for the first time, according to chairman Young Liu.
Gogoro's operational fundamentals have improved significantly, and its success was reflected in its financial results for the third quarter of 2025. By prioritizing its focus strategy, Gogoro has laid a strong foundation to achieve profitability in its energy business by 2026, generate free cash flow by 2027, and reach profitability in its vehicle business by 2028.

Facing the European Union's looming anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese-made battery electric vehicles (BEVs), BYD is executing a three-pronged strategy—combining geopolitical positioning, product diversification, and global production realignment—to blunt the impact and maintain its rapid global expansion. The approach is already beginning to yield results, narrowing the gap with industry leader Volkswagen and signaling a new phase of competitive pressure for Europe's homegrown automakers.

As the global automotive industry accelerates its shift toward electrification, the reliance on rare earth elements for electric vehicle (EV) permanent magnet motors has become a critical challenge. China currently controls about 70% of global rare earth mining and 85% of refining capacity. With Beijing imposing stricter export controls and enacting two rounds of export restrictions in 2025, automakers worldwide are urgently seeking alternative materials and new supply sources.
Facing intense competition in China's new energy vehicle market, electric vehicle leader BYD has clearly shifted its operational focus toward overseas markets to sustain high growth momentum. However, with global capacity expansion largely in place, the company's future growth rate is unlikely to replicate past rapid gains.

Flexible copper-clad laminate (FCCL) manufacturer Asia Electronic Materials (AEM) said at an investor conference on November 10 that strong seasonal orders from the traditional electronics sector, coupled with a higher proportion of high-value products, helped the company swing back to profit in the third quarter of 2025.

Taiwanese media have recently reported that Foxconn's electric vehicle subsidiary, Foxtron, may acquire Luxgen, the homegrown automotive brand under Yulon Motor, in what would mark a significant step for the tech giant's push into full-vehicle brand operations. According to circulating reports, the two companies reached a preliminary understanding in early November 2025 and are negotiating details, with a potential official announcement expected during Foxconn Technology Day (HHTD25) on November 21.