Asia Pacific Electric Vehicle Market Outlook, 2027

The growth of the Asia-Pacific electric vehicle market is attributed to supportive government policies and regulations, increasing investments by leading automotive OEMs, and decreasing prices of batteries. Increasing adoption of electric mobility in emerging economies and increasing EV and battery manufacturing capabilities in Southeast Asia provide lucrative growth opportunities for the growth of this market. Government initiatives across Asia-Pacific to phase out fossil fuel-powered vehicles, increasing concerns raised over the environmental impacts of conventional vehicles, improvements in battery capacity, and supporting government policies and regulations to set up battery manufacturing capabilities are promoting the growth of this market.

Boosted by the presence of countries like China and India, the Asia-Pacific electric vehicle market is likely to grow at a value CAGR of 23% and cross USD 480 Billion by the end of the forecasted period. According to the report titled, Asia Pacific Electric Vehicle Market Outlook, 2027 the region grew as the highest contributor, with more than 50% of the global market since 2021, and is expected to remain the same through the forecast period. The governments in the region are providing incentives with the aim of promoting the utility of electric vehicles in passenger as well as commercial segments. China is considered the largest market for electric vehicles in Asia. The region has a high dominance of normal or slow charging stations, with an estimated 40% share in 2021.While China and Japan have 200,000 and 40,000 charging stations, respectively, other countries in the region are far behind as far as charging stations are concerned.

The higher adoption rates of smart mobility services, government regulations, increasing fuel prices, and a growing trend toward adopting non-fossil fuel-based vehicles are supporting the growth of electric vehicles. The market is expected to shift toward commercial vehicles, with a volume share of nearly 10% by the end of the forecasted period and a value of less than USD 25 Billion. Further, integrated mobility and ride-sharing services are improving the acceptance of electric vehicles in this region. In the forecast period, China is to witness growth in the adoption of electric buses as more than 30 Chinese cities like Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Foshan, and Zhongshan, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Shaanxi, and Shandong have made plans to achieve 100% electrified public transport by 2020.

The manufacturers, such as Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, BMW, Volkswagen, Ford, Mitsubishi, etc., have already launched the plug-in-hybrid versions of their existing conventional vehicle models, which registered a considerable portion of the overall plug-in vehicle sales. China is the largest manufacturer of plug-in hybrid vehicles in the region. The country is also the largest market for these vehicles, with manufacturers such as BYD, SAIC, and BAIC leading the market. In 2020, the government of India announced its plans to invest $4.6 Billion in incentives for setting up advanced battery manufacturing facilities and promoting the use of EVs. Also, the government of India announced it will retain an import tax rate of 5% for EV batteries until 2022 to support local manufacturing. Therefore, such initiatives are expected to reduce the total manufacturing cost of batteries, thus promoting the adoption of electric vehicles in the coming years.

Several players in the market are incorporating advanced technologies and focusing on ways to reduce the vehicle’s battery size effectively, reduce its cost, and improve its performance and power to weight ratio. In 2020, Samsung SDI (South Korea) commercialized a li-ion battery product that would replace liquid electrolytes in a battery cell with a solid electrolyte to improve battery performance. Such developments by major players in reducing the vehicle’s battery size and improving its performance for EVs also contribute to the overall market growth.

Throughout recent years, the electric vehicle industry across the Asia-Pacific region has experienced huge development. This is highlighted by the region's accounting for the largest share of battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales worldwide. Additionally, APAC has been showing higher growth than its western competitors with its electric vehicle sales. Sales of BEVs in the region have increased significantly in the past decade. Furthermore, it was estimated that China had the highest number of electric vehicles in use and was forecasted to continue to produce the biggest volume of electric vehicles in the Asia-Pacific region in 2023. Alongside Japan and South Korea, the three East Asian countries are industry leaders in the field of electro-mobility worldwide.

Consumers have reacted enthusiastically to the progression of the electric vehicle market. The main motivating factor for purchasing an electric vehicle appears to be increased sustainability concerns. However, the lack of charging stations seems to be a leading concern for many Southeast Asian countries that do not have well-developed and publicly accessible EV charging infrastructures like South Korea and China. South Korea has increased charging locations exponentially and has become the country with the highest number of charging locations per roadway.

China's electric vehicle industry started with two-wheeled electric vehicles before witnessing strong growth throughout the past decade. However, in the past few years, the production volume of electric bikes and scooters has started to stagnate, coinciding with the development and subsequent rise of electric cars. The volume of electric vehicles in China and other Asia-Pacific countries has increased rapidly in recent years. However, the market share of electric cars in APAC countries remains small. Battery electric vehicles take up the largest share of electric vehicles in the Asia-Pacific region, followed by plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). In comparison, the number of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) in use is quite small. FCEVs tend to be more popular for commercial purposes due to their greater payload, while passengers are still opting for BEVs and PHEVs.

Environmentally friendly technologies such as electric vehicles can reduce air pollution, which is especially crucial in the megacities of India and China. Asian countries have the highest mortality excess caused by air pollution in the world. If the Asia-Pacific region continues its development of electric vehicles while phasing out conventional cars as some countries are pursuing, then vehicle emissions could decrease dramatically. Thus, the air pollution and quality of life for many citizens across the region would improve. The major players covered in the report are: AUDI AG, Kia Motors Corporation, SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, JAC, Hyundai Motor Company, BYD Company Ltd., TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and Honda Motor Co., Ltd., among other players in Asia-Pacific. DBMR analysts understand competitive strengths and provide competitive analysis for each competitor separately.

For instance,

• In November 2019, Volkswagen announced an investment of USD 66300 Million for the digitization and production of electric and hybrid vehicles. The capital will be invested to increase the production capacity at three plants in Germany as well as China, and the U.S. plant will also be converted. With this investment, the company is strengthening their product offering capabilities in the global market.
• In March 2019, Daimler AG and Geely formed 50:50-based joint ventures to produce zero-emissions models. The company is investing huge money in the China factory to develop new zero-emissions models in its electric vehicle product portfolio. Through this, the company is strengthening their offering as well as enhancing the product portfolio for the electric vehicle market.

Rising income levels and increasing urbanization in the emerging economies of Asia-Pacific are strong growth drivers for the electric car market. In emerging economies such as India and China, car penetration is still lower compared to developed countries. Rising income levels and aspirations to own a car would create opportunities for electric car companies in these countries. The electric car market growth in Asia-Pacific would be faster than in North America and Europe, as companies would not have to wait for conventional cars to be replaced by electric ones. Due to the current low penetration of cars in Asia-Pacific, many first-time owners of a car would opt for an electric car. The adoption of electric vehicles is on the rise due to growing concerns regarding the negative environmental effects of vehicular emissions; supportive government initiatives to decarbonizes transportation; and increasing efforts by major automotive OEMs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transform their product line-ups into green and clean environment-friendly vehicles.

The Asia Pacific electric vehicle market growth analysis involves the market evaluation of Vietnam, Japan, India, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and the rest of Asia Pacific. The increasing presence of multinational automobile organizations is the main factor propelling the growth of the market in Japan. These companies are focusing on the manufacturing and adoption of electric vehicles. The enhancement of electric vehicle charging stations is another major factor impacting the growth of electric vehicles in the country. According to government data, the number of electric charging stations overtook the number of petrol stations in 2016. In South Korea, the market for micro electric vehicles is flourishing. The Twizy, by Renault, holds a global reputation with regard to mini EVs. The country also has an excellent delivery service, and the new option of EVs will be considered in terms of the delivery method. The companies in the country are keen to invest considerably in car technologies. The government is also set to support the private sector.

COVID-19 Impacts:

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted several sectors, including the automotive sector, with major manufacturers shutting down their operations completely or operating at reduced capacities following the directives issued by their respective governments. The automotive industry was also severely affected by the nationwide lockdowns and quarantines. Uncertainty regarding the duration of the lockdown and supply-chain disruptions made it more difficult for industry players to anticipate the recovery of the industry. This crisis caused structural shifts that had significant implications for the market. The EV battery market is also projected to grow at a significant CAGR during the same period. Hence, the abundance of renewable energy resources and the availability of skilled manpower in the technology and manufacturing sectors are expected to fuel the growth of the EV market in the coming years.

Companies Mentioned:

Aiways Automobile Europe GmbH, Ashok Leyland, Beijing Automobiles Industry Holding Corporative limited, Bentley Motors Limited, BMW Group, BYD Company Motors, Changsha Sunda New Energy Technology Limited, Citroen, Daimler AG, Ford Motors, General Motors, Hyundai, Irizar, Micro Mobility, Nio, Nissan Motor, PoleStar, SAIC, Tata Motors, Tesla, Toyota Motor Corporation, Volkswagen, Yutong, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group

Considered In the Report

• Geography: Asia-Pacific
• Base year: 2021
• Historical year: 2016
• Estimated Year: 2022
• Forecasted year: 2025

Countries covered:

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• Korea

Aspects Covered In the Report

• Market Size By Value for the time period (2016-2027F)
• Market Size By Volume for the time period (2016-2027F)
• Market Share by Vehicle Type (Passenger & Light Commercial)
• Market Share by Propulsion Type (BEV & PHEV)
• Market Share by Sales Channel (2016, 2021 & 2027F)
• Market Share by Charging Type (Normal & Fast)
• Market Share by Country

Key Points Covered in this report:

• Market Evolution through value and volume CAGRs at different verticals
• Detailed discussion on the market dynamics that influence the market and the possible opportunities
• In sights on the market leader's performance including market shares, strategies, products, financial positions, etc

Intended Audience

This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to the electric vehicle industry, government bodies, and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.