China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) market is a global leader in innovation and scale, offering immense opportunities for international technology suppliers. However, navigating this competitive landscape requires more than just cutting-edge technology—it demands strategic collaboration with Chinese media to shape narratives, highlight trends, and connect with target audiences.
At Influence Matters, a leading B2B tech communication agency, we specialize in helping automotive companies establish their presence in China. Our recently published eBook, Guide to Targeting NEV OEMs in China, provides a roadmap for success in this dynamic market.
In this blog, we’ll share how international suppliers can effectively engage with Chinese media using our proven Golden Circle approach—a method we’ve developed to help clients prioritize media and editors, understand their interests and needs, craft compelling narratives, and align with key industry trends. We’ll also highlight insights from our work with leading Chinese media platforms, demonstrating how we help supplierss build credibility and visibility towards key OEMs in China.
Chinese media platforms like Gasgoo, AutoReview, and Dianchentong are not just reporting on the NEV industry—they’re working closely with the industry to understand, exchange and shape trends.. Our team at Influence Matters has worked closely with leading Chinese media to identify the trends that will shape the NEV market in the coming years. Here are the top three trends we’ve uncovered:
1. Breakthroughs in Solid-State Battery Technology
Solid-state batteries are revolutionizing the NEV market with their potential for higher energy density, faster charging, and enhanced safety. According to Dianchentong, mass production could begin as early as 2026, though challenges in conductivity and manufacturing remain. We help OEMs showcase how they’re overcoming these hurdles to position themselves as leaders in battery innovation.
2. Accelerated Adoption of Intelligent Driving Technology
Autonomous driving is advancing rapidly, with “end-to-end” solutions gaining traction among domestic and international OEMs. AutoReview predicts major breakthroughs by 2025, while automotive blogger Yu Zongshen notes: “Although lidar has a higher safety ceiling, as long as the safety floor of pure vision exceeds that of humans, the marginal benefits of adding lidar are quite low.”
We guide OEMs in highlighting their developments in AI chips, pure vision systems, and affordability strategies to align with this trend.
3. Innovation in Intelligent Chassis Technology
Chassis-by-wire technology is transforming the NEV market, with Gasgoo highlighting its role as a core innovation for autonomous vehicles. By 2027, the intelligent chassis market is expected to exceed $1 trillion. We help OEMs demonstrate how their chassis innovations improve safety, customization, and smart interaction in NEVs.
At Influence Matters, we’ve developed the Golden Circle approach to help suppliers collaborate effectively with the Chinese media that reach decision makes within the OEM circles as well as industry experts, key influencers and selecting technologies and suppliers. This method focuses on three core elements: understanding what the media seeks, crafting the right narrative, and articulating why your story matters.
Here’s how we apply it:
1. Understanding Media Needs
Chinese media is deeply interested in stories that align with the country’s focus on innovation, sustainability, and NEV leadership. Through our work, we help OEMs identify and highlight tangible innovations—such as breakthroughs in solid-state batteries, intelligent driving, and chassis systems—while demonstrating how these advancements support China’s dual carbon goals. This alignment not only captures media attention but also strengthens the suppliers’ position in the market.
2. Crafting the Right Narrative
A compelling narrative is key to capturing media interest. We help supplierss link their innovations to current industry trends, ensuring their stories are both relevant and impactful. For instance, when discussing solid-state batteries, we emphasize improvements in energy density, cost reduction, and mass production timelines. For autonomous driving, we focus on safety enhancements and system integration. By referencing insights from leading media—like AutoReview’s predictions on “end-to-end” technology—we add credibility and depth to the narrative.
3. Establishing Purpose and Trust
The “why” behind your story is crucial for building trust with media and audiences. We help international technology suppliers emphasize their commitment to local collaboration, such as partnerships with Chinese automakers and suppliers. By showcasing global leadership in the NEV sector, we position our clients as key contributors to China’s automotive ecosystem, fostering mutual growth and trust.
China’s NEV market represents a transformative opportunity for international technology suppliers, but success requires more than innovative products—it demands strategic and targeted stakeholder engagement, including the press. At Influence Matters, we bring deep expertise in the Chinese media landscape, a proven methodology (the Golden Circle approach), and strong relationships with leading media platforms to help suppliers build credibility, visibility, and trust with Chinese OEMs.
Through purposeful collaboration and storytelling, we help our clients not only enhance their presence in China but also contribute meaningfully to the growth of one of the world’s most influential NEV markets. If you’re ready to unlock the potential of China’s NEV market, let’s work together to craft a strategy that drives success.
