Chinese automakers have already been launching vehicles with built-in V2X, which will invariably help them excel in future EuroNCAP tests.

Until last year, foreign automakers commanded more combined market share than their domestic rivals in China. But that has changed this year. And noticeably.

With a large number of domestic cities complying with the central government’s zero-COVID policy to combat a new wave of virus outbreaks, China’s car market tanked in November after rebounding for five straight months. Unless the government abandons its draconian pandemic response, which is known for snap lockdowns, mass testing as well as strict quarantine and travel rules, the market prospect will be grim. 

Toyota Motor Corp. and Hyundai Motor Group, while lagging far behind domestic automakers in capturing a share of China’s booming electric-vehicle sales, are on track to penetrate the local market for fuel cell vehicles.