05 November 2025
For years, the global auto industry talked about China as a future disruptor. From where I sit today, that conversation is already outdated. China is not on the way in. It is already shaping how cars are built, priced, and sold.
This matters in the UAE, because we are one of the few markets that can absorb change quickly.
What I see from Chinese manufacturers is not incremental improvement. They did not tweak legacy systems. They rebuild the car around electrification, software, and speed. While many traditional automakers still take three to five years to launch a new model, Chinese brands are doing it in nearly half that time. That speed shows in the product. Technology feels current. Digital systems feel intuitive. Pricing reflects today’s reality, not old cost structures.
The scale behind this shift is impossible to ignore. China is now the world’s largest car exporter. Electric vehicles already make up more than a third of new car sales in its domestic market. Just as important, Chinese manufacturers control much of the EV supply chain, especially batteries. That gives them an advantage others are still trying to build.
In the UAE, this change is already visible. Over the past year, interest in Chinese brands has grown sharply. What stands out is that customers are not chasing the cheapest option. They are asking the right questions. Range. Technology. Warranty. Usability. Cars that make sense for daily life here.
One reason adoption accelerates is practicality. Technologies like Extended-Range Electric Vehicles solve real problems. EREVs drive electrically but carry a small engine that generates power when the battery runs low. You still get electric driving for everyday use, without being tied completely to charging availability. For many drivers in the UAE, that removes the final hesitation.
Policy is moving in the same direction. Net Zero 2050 is already influencing infrastructure, fleet planning, and investment decisions. Dubai’s push to expand charging stations is important, but in my experience, what really drives change is usable products. Fleet operators understand this well. Taxis, ride-hailing services, and delivery companies are switching because the economics work, not because it sounds good in a presentation.
There is also a demographic reality we should not ignore. Chinese vehicles are designed for younger buyers. Software-led. Connected. Digital first. That fits the UAE naturally. Our customers expect technology to work properly, not feel like an afterthought.
I do not see this as a temporary surge. It is a structural shift. Chinese manufacturers are no longer following global trends. They are setting them.
If current patterns continue, Chinese electric vehicles will make up a meaningful share of cars on UAE roads before the end of this decade. That will change expectations around ownership, technology, and what a modern car should deliver.
From my perspective, China is not knocking on the door. It is already inside.
Mohamed Elzawawy
General Manager, Performance Plus Motors
