China, Africa and the Global Race to Source EV Battery Metals

A mine worker at a Chinese-owned cobalt processing facility in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. SAMIR TOUNSI / AFP

Chinese automakers smashed another monthly record for production and sales of electric vehicles in October. Car companies produced just under 400,000 vehicles last month, up 133% from the same time last year and almost 10% from September, according to new data from the Chinese Automotive Manufacturers Association.

Even amid the ongoing economic turbulence in China brought on in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, EV sales have surged this year by a stunning 177%. 2.5 million units rolled off the lot in the January to October period, accounting for 12% of all cars sold in the country.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
China, U.S. Ink Rare Earth Deal; More Trade Pacts Coming
4
Indonesia Begins $5.9 Billion Chinese EV Battery Project Despite Environment Fears
5
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
6
Six Million Donkeys Slaughtered for Chinese Medicine: Charity

You Might Like

Conservation Needs to Get Back on the China-Africa Agenda

China appears to be launching a significant expansion of its distant water fishing fleet around the world and most notably in Africa. Six supertrawlers are already docked in Liberia and three new vessels ...

Tshisekedi Keeps Promise to Re-Negotiate Foreign Mining Contracts, Launches Investigation Into China Moly

DR Congo President Félix Tshisekedi is following through with his promise to review all foreign mining contracts, mostly with Chinese companies, to evaluate whether the deals ...

Why the U.S. Shouldn’t Be Surprised About China’s Close Ties With DRC Mining Companies

U.S. officials in Washington and Kinshasa are apparently disappointed, according to a new investigation by the Paris-based Africa Intelligence, that they’ve failed to dislodge China from its dominance of the Congolese mining ...

Massive Supply Chain Disruptions Expected on Key China-Africa Trade Route Due to South African Labor Unrest

Key strategic resources exported via South African ports to China are expected to face severe disruptions in the coming days and weeks in response to the declaration of force majeure ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP