(Yicai) Jan. 6 -- The landscape of China’s automotive industry shifted last year, with Chongqing emerging as the country’s top city for vehicle production and Hefei taking the lead in new energy vehicle output, highlighting the growing divergence between overall scale and technological specialization among the nation’s major auto hubs.

From January through November, Chongqing produced nearly 2.5 million vehicles, making it the highest-output city nationwide. The tally surged 12 percent year on year, supported by a mix of established state-owned manufacturers and fast-rising NEV players. 

The southwest megacity is home to Changan Automobile, one of China’s leading legacy carmakers, as well as Seres, which has gained prominence in the NEV segment. In 2025, Changan Auto produced its 30 millionth vehicle, while China’s first dedicated license plate for Level 3 autonomous driving was also issued in Chongqing.

While Chongqing led in total output, Anhui province’s capital city, Hefei, stood out as the country’s most productive for NEVs. In the first 11 months, Anhui made 3.3 million cars, a 4 percent increase, with NEV production up 11 percent at 1.6 million. Hefei alone accounted for 1.2 million NEVs, ranking first among Chinese cities and underscoring its growing role in the sector.

Hefei’s rise has been driven by a forward-looking industrial layout that has attracted a cluster of major automakers. The city has brought together production bases for five brands -- JAC Motors, Nio, Volkswagen Anhui, BYD, and Changan Auto -- forming one of China’s most concentrated NEV manufacturing ecosystems.

Other cities also play distinctive roles in China’s evolving auto map. Liuzhou in Guangxi, also in southwest China, has become a “hidden champion” in the micro electric vehicle segment.

The city hosts five complete vehicle manufacturers, with major firms such as SAIC Motor, FAW Group, Dongfeng Motor, and China National Heavy Duty Truck Group, also known as Sinotruk Group, all operating production facilities there. According to the latest available data, Liuzhou’s total vehicle output reached 1.3 million units in the first nine months of 2025, a 38 percent rise.

Traditional automotive centers have maintained scale but face pressure to accelerate their shift to new energy. Changchun in northeast China produced 1.5 million vehicles in 2024, including 146,000 NEVs. In the first nine months of last year, its NEV output reached 127,000, reflecting steady but comparatively slower growth in the segment.

Editor: Emmi Laine