Foreign EV makers tap Chinese JV partners to catch up with domestic rivals

Foreign EV makers tap Chinese JV partners to catch up with domestic rivals

The logo of an electric car is painted on the road during the opening ceremony of the first Latin American public charging station, at Santiago, April 20, 2011. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado/File photo

The increasing popularity of homegrown new energy vehicle (NEV) brands among Chinese consumers has foreign auto giants sweating. As they try to rev up stalling sales in China amid a broader economic decline, some are trying an unorthodox strategy: tapping their local joint venture (JV) partners for NEV research and development.