In China's cut-throat domestic market, nearly every big carmaker is investing heavily in the software and computing power needed to make hands-free driving a reality as they compete to offer additional perks and find new ways to generate revenue.
After years of rapid growth, EV sales in China grew a modest 1% in January, mainly due to the expiration of subsidies in December and the introduction of a new purchase tax in the new year. BYD, the country's dominant automaker that spearheaded China's EV boom, was hit the hardest. Its sales dropped 30% year over year to just over 210,000 units due to changing EV policies and rising competition.