Canton Fair: Integration Across Photovoltaic Cells, Motor Energy Storage, And Automotive Sectors Within New Energy Once Again Propels Global Ecological Advancement

On 16 October, the 138th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) entered its second day of exhibition, with crowds thronging the venue in a bustling atmosphere and enthusiasm running high across all sectors.At this global trade extravaganza, ‘Made in China’ showcased its cutting-edge prowess. Reporters observed that the new energy vehicles and smart mobility exhibition area drew particular attention, with foreign buyers flocking to the venue. Most booths operated at near-capacity, requiring purchasers to queue for test drives and price enquiries.

Through the Canton Fair, it is evident that China’s new energy sector—from large-scale vehicles to compact batteries—is not only enriching overseas markets with premium products but also fostering local economic and social development by sharing technology and collaborating on clean energy infrastructure.

‘Solar photovoltaic power generation offers an excellent solution to electricity shortages and excessive energy consumption,’ stated Cao Shiyi, overseas market manager at Dongguan Lithium Smart Energy Co., Ltd. ‘Our residential energy storage products, centred on high energy density and extended cycle life, store electricity generated by solar panels. Paired with a smart application, they enable integrated photovoltaic storage and charging management, supporting household energy self-sufficiency. This has attracted buyers to purchase our products and discuss production capacity cooperation.’

Italian buyer Morosini expressed optimism about Dongguan Lithium Smart Energy’s comprehensive energy storage solutions, noting: ‘Europe’s volatile energy prices have spurred surging demand for household storage. This product not only meets performance standards but also demonstrates thoughtful user-centric design in its details, revealing significant collaborative potential.’

Chinese new energy enterprises are also contributing to job creation and welfare income growth for citizens in other nations and regions.

At Shandong Lanjing Yitan New Energy Co., Ltd.’s booth, three foreign employees were observed. Nawaz, a Bangladeshi staff member, was actively promoting new energy products including high-voltage cabinets and energy storage units. Having joined nearly two years ago, Nawaz has participated in two Canton Fairs and now serves as sales team leader, with wages five times higher than his initial salary.

Vice President Jiang Lijuan stated: ‘We are also deploying production capacity overseas, not only resolving localisation service challenges through mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, but also helping to create employment for many local people.’ At this grand gathering for high-tech production capacity transformation, various industries have achieved breakthroughs in connectivity across dimensions such as productivity technology, digital interaction, and market tracks. This has fostered the development of more long-term ecological construction, advancing the values of building a community with a shared future for mankind, pursuing win-win cooperation, and jointly creating a beautiful green ecosystem.

 

Innovation with a Twist

‘The atmosphere here is fantastic, like a festive carnival,’ remarked two Russian buyers at the GAC Group stand, experiencing the exhibition for the first time. After test-driving the vehicles, they told reporters via AI translation software that the immersive experience felt ‘brilliant,’ with the pricing proving a pleasant surprise.

As the sole Chinese automotive manufacturer exhibiting at this Canton Fair, GAC Group created an immersive smart mobility experience zone for global buyers. This featured dedicated areas showcasing vehicle models, VR-based technological experiences, and overseas energy storage deployment plans.Reporters learned that GAC displayed three models equipped with its latest technological achievements, highlighting strengths in engineering, innovation, and ecosystem integration across family, business, and urban commuting scenarios. Among them, the globally launched compact pure-electric hatchback AION UT precisely aligns with Southeast Asian and Australia-New Zealand market demands, having secured over 2,000 pre-orders within seven days in Thailand.

Concurrently, GAC’s integrated photovoltaic-storage-charging-swapping technology showcased at the booth emerged as a focal point. This innovation reduces energy replenishment time to five minutes, while its battery repurposing technology transforms end-of-life batteries into energy storage equipment. This innovative energy ecosystem not only alleviates users’ range anxiety but significantly enhances the competitiveness of GAC’s products in overseas markets.

‘The Canton Fair has consistently provided GAC with an excellent opportunity to engage with the global market,’ remarked Wei Haigang, General Manager of GAC International. During the exhibition, buyers from key markets including Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America demonstrated strong interest in GAC models and expressed a willingness to collaborate. Several potential partnerships reached preliminary agreements on-site.

Breaking Through with Technology

Wang Zhihua, Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce, recently stated that China’s foreign trade has accelerated its digital and green transformation. New energy vehicles, wind power equipment, and energy storage products have become shining examples of China sharing the fruits of its green transition with the world.

This edition of the Canton Fair further emphasised green development principles, highlighting new hydrogen energy themes within the new energy exhibition area while continuously refining the dedicated energy storage products section. It attracted 305 new energy exhibitors, representing a 3% increase from the previous session. Among these enterprises, 38.4% employ green production technologies in their manufacturing processes. The total number of green and low-carbon products showcased by all participating companies reached 1.083 million items.

At the Zhejiang Runma Solar Energy Group Co., Ltd. booth, its upgraded TOPCon 5.0 technology drew considerable attention. By adjusting open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, and fill factor while reducing parasitic absorption, Runma’s double-glass monocrystalline modules employing this technology achieved a significant leap in photovoltaic conversion efficiency.

‘Runma’s double-glass monocrystalline modules boast an 82% PR conversion rate and exceed 23% photovoltaic conversion efficiency per unit area. For PV enterprises, every percentage point improvement in conversion efficiency represents significant technological breakthroughs and substantial R&D investment. China’s photovoltaic technology is becoming an indispensable “key piece of the puzzle” for global energy equity,’ Mu Kengan, Sales Manager at Runma Solar Energy, told Shanghai Securities News.

‘Amidst new foreign trade dynamics, we’re leveraging technological innovation to maintain product leadership,’ remarked Mi Maolin, Overseas Sales Manager at Guangdong HuiliPu Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., to the Shanghai Securities News. The company’s claw-pole servo motors achieve precise step control through technological advancements, ensuring equipment operation during power outages with noise levels below 20 decibels and accuracy reaching 0.1 degrees. ‘A single new energy vehicle requires at least 20 such motors, reducing the system’s total cost by over 30%. Currently, overseas sales account for more than 40% of our business. We actively utilise the Canton Fair platform to cultivate potential clients. After gaining a thorough understanding of our company, customers typically proceed to place substantial orders,’ Mi Maolin added.

Charting New Paths

New energy vehicles have become a powerful engine driving growth in China’s automotive industry. Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reveals that from January to September this year, exports of new energy vehicles performed exceptionally well, reaching 1.758 million units – an 89.4% increase year-on-year.

‘The Group’s overseas operations experienced rapid growth in the first three quarters of 2025, with particularly strong expansion in core markets across Europe, Central Asia and Southeast Asia,’ stated Zhang Fei, Deputy General Manager of Kaiwo New Energy Vehicle Group.At the Skyworth Auto exhibition stand under Kaiwo’s umbrella, both the showcased Level 4 autonomous micro-circulation vehicle and the large van model – newly unveiled at the Belgium Motor Show this October and launched as a new product at the Canton Fair – attracted widespread attention.

‘We hold great confidence in these new products. Foreign buyers have provided highly positive feedback over the past two days, consistently enquiring about the vehicles’ market launch timeline,’ Zhang informed reporters. The large van, launched at this exhibition, commenced development in March 2023 as a flagship model ‘built from scratch’ primarily targeting Europe’s new energy vehicle market. It features both freight and passenger variants and is now entering the market launch phase. The cargo variant is projected to secure relevant EU certifications by late 2025, thereby meeting the requirements for European market sales.

In Zhang Fei’s view, while numerous domestic new energy passenger vehicle manufacturers exist, the Group’s meticulous research has led it to focus on niche segments. The innovative launch of the large van model holds promise for further expanding into the European market and carving out new ‘blue ocean’ opportunities.

Brand Expansion Fuels Economic Momentum

At the New Energy Vehicle exhibition zone of the Canton Fair, one of the largest booths belonged to REHIGH, a new energy vehicle brand specialising in mid-to-high-end models. The company showcased three vehicles across different price brackets: entry-level models priced between US$11,000 and US$22,000, primarily exported to Southeast Asia, the Middle East and South America; while its premium SUV model commands a price tag of US$45,000 to US$50,000.

Yuan Wenbo noted that since 2024, leading automakers have intensified their ‘brand elevation’ efforts in premium markets like Europe, extending their competitive edge from the back-end of the ‘smile curve’ (manufacturing) to the front-end brand premiumisation, thereby forging genuine ‘global brands’. “With advancements in intelligent technology and new energy vehicle quality, Chinese electric brands have gained significant favour among overseas consumers. Their image as technology leaders and their mid-to-high-end product positioning are increasingly recognised. New energy products are continuously enhancing the profitability of Chinese brands overseas, thereby reinvesting in the global expansion journey of Chinese automakers,” Yuan Wenbo observed.

Enhancing Transnational Cooperation

Data indicates that China’s new energy vehicle industry is demonstrating increasingly robust overseas investment momentum. According to a research report released by Rhodium Group in August this year, overseas investment by Chinese electric vehicle supply chain enterprises reached approximately US$16 billion in 2024, slightly exceeding domestic investment during the same period.

Yang Xianglu, Senior Director of Industrial Operations Research at the China Automotive Strategy and Policy Research Centre, told Yicai: ‘Leveraging the advantages of new energy vehicle development, numerous key automotive manufacturers and suppliers have significantly enhanced their international competitiveness and expanded their global footprint.’

At the Hesu Industrial Co., Ltd. booth in Zhengzhou, a hybrid pickup truck from Zhengzhou Nissan captured the attention of overseas buyers. Unlike the usual brief stops for inquiries, numerous overseas buyers sat down for in-depth discussions with sales staff – a gesture typically signalling stronger purchasing intent.

Kiki, Sales Manager at Hesu, informed Yicai that this top-of-the-range model, priced at US$28,000 (approximately RMB 200,000), has already been successfully exported to multiple global regions. ‘We have a subsidiary in Ghana, where this model enjoys the strongest sales in the African market. Our Dubai branch also sells this vehicle, though brands like Geely, Jetour, and Fangchengbao are more popular there. Each region has distinct automotive demands, presenting opportunities for all manufacturers and brands,’ she explained. ‘We handle vehicles across various brands and powertrain types—electric, petrol, and hybrid—covering both new and used cars.’

Kiki noted that as an integrated marketing enterprise, the company is actively building a global sales network. Beyond Ghana and the UAE (Dubai), it has established a subsidiary in Belarus that handles after-sales service while also serving as a showroom and warehouse facility. ‘We lease warehouses near local ports and pre-ship batches of vehicles to the region, enabling immediate collection upon purchase. This stock-based sales model resonates strongly with local consumers and generates higher profit margins for us,’ she stated.

Leveraging this overseas footprint, Kiki explained that the company sources or customises suitable models based on client requirements. ‘For bulk orders, we offer bespoke services including right-hand drive conversions and special colour options,’ she said. ‘Smaller orders—say one or two vehicles, or three to five—are sold with existing configurations, where the selection range is relatively fixed.’

Cross-Boundary Exploration

As dusk fell and the exhibition halls gradually emptied, buyers embarked upon a different kind of exploration.

At the 138th Canton Fair Music and Food Festival, GAC—official partner of both the 15th National Games and the National Paralympic Games—created an immersive lifestyle space at the festival’s core. This integrated smart mobility, Cantonese cuisine, and interactive experiences, Innovatively bridging the three major IPs of the Canton Fair, Food Festival, and National Games, it vividly demonstrated new scenarios of human-vehicle coexistence to global merchants through an immersive experience blending ‘smart mobility + Cantonese cuisine + sporting contexts’.

‘Everything here is entirely new to me, previously unencountered,’ remarked Osama, a buyer from Pakistan attending the Canton Fair for the first time, primarily to recommend new energy vehicles and other products to clients in the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.

‘This is an excellent opportunity and window,’ remarked Wei Haigang. Beyond showcasing technological and ecological exports, the Canton Fair also invites global visitors to savour Guangdong cuisine, explore local culture, and learn about the upcoming 15th National Games in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

‘The Canton Fair is utterly captivating—I’ve barely scratched the surface,’ remarked Usama. He vowed to return for future editions, even expressing hopes to bring his family during the third phase. Beyond business engagements, he plans to immerse them in the unique allure of the Greater Bay Area.

The lights at the Canton Fair gradually softened, yet the narrative of China’s new energy vehicles to the world grew ever more fervent. The warmth of test drives lingers on the exhibition stands, yet vehicles equipped with cutting-edge photovoltaic storage, charging and swapping technologies; modules pushing photovoltaic limits with TOPCon 5.0 breakthroughs; and large van models tailored for niche markets have already planted seeds of trust in overseas buyers through their formidable quality. This is no fleeting spectacle, but the confidence of Chinese manufacturing, with innovation ingrained in its DNA.

 

From GAC’s integrated photovoltaic storage, charging and swapping system eliminating range anxiety in five minutes, to Runma’s double-glass modules setting a new industry benchmark with over 23% conversion efficiency; from Skyworth Automotive’s ‘ground-up development’ of large vans opening up Europe’s blue ocean market, to Faraday Future redefining brand premium through mid-to-high-end positioning—China’s new energy vehicle manufacturers are replacing price wars with technological breakthroughs, carving out incremental markets through scenario-based specialisation. These ‘innovation codes’ hidden within exhibition booth details have long transformed into expectations within orders and consensus in collaborations, paving a high-quality path for global expansion.

What stirs the soul even more is that the story has only just turned to a new chapter. As HESO Group weaves a global service network across Ghana, Dubai, and Belarus; as GAC integrates smart mobility with the 15th National Games IP to showcase new lifestyles; and as an increasing number of domestic brands redefine global perceptions with a 59.5% export share—China’s new energy vehicle exports have long transcended the rudimentary stage of ‘selling products,’ accelerating towards ‘building brands, establishing ecosystems, and expanding ecosystems.’

Overseas demand surges like the tides, while technological innovation relentlessly evolves. From Southeast Asia to Europe, from Africa to Latin America, these lands that once witnessed the sharp edge of ‘Chinese smart manufacturing’ will continue to bear witness as China’s new energy vehicles, with ever greater vigour, write their own growth legend in the global marketplace. This Canton Fair marks not only a destination but a new beginning.

At the next exhibition, we anticipate witnessing more Chinese new energy brands transition from ‘going global’ to ‘establishing a firm foothold,’ and from ‘gaining visibility’ to ‘earning affection’—for this expedition of innovation and quality is forever on the move.