The World Ahead Globe Icon
The World Ahead | Business in 2025

To see the cars of the future, look at China’s electric vehicles

With their surprising and innovative features, they are streets ahead

TWBusiness
He’s done things you never expectedPhotograph: Courtesy of BYD

By Simon Wright, Industry editor, The Economist

The main appeal of a Chinese electric vehicle (ev) to foreign buyers is obvious: high quality at prices Western carmakers cannot match (even allowing for import tariffs on Chinese vehicles). But Chinese EVs do not just offer lower prices. They also have more impressive features. The styling and technology in their 2025 models show where cars, as a whole, may be heading.

Explore more

This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition of The World Ahead 2025 under the headline “Xi’s electric”

More from The World Ahead

Illustration for the world ahead 2025 cover, a circle made up of squares featuring all the themes of the issue

The World Ahead The World Ahead

The World Ahead 2025

Future-gazing analysis, predictions and speculation

Illustration for the world ahead 2025 cover, a circle made up of squares featuring all the themes of the issue

The World Ahead The World Ahead

The World Ahead 2025

Future-gazing analysis, predictions and speculation


Illustration for the world ahead 2025 cover, a circle made up of squares featuring all the themes of the issue

The World Ahead The World Ahead

The World Ahead 2025

Future-gazing analysis, predictions and speculation


The World Ahead The World Ahead

The World Ahead 2025

Future-gazing analysis, predictions and speculation

The World Ahead The World Ahead 2025

Ten business trends for 2025, and forecasts for 15 industries

A global round-up from The Economist Intelligence Unit

The World Ahead The year ahead

Calendar 2025

Our selection of events taking place around the world