China’s EV Price War: Stranded Drivers and ‘Zombie Cars’
The aggressive price war shaking up China’s electric vehicle (EV) market is leaving behind a trail of problems for consumers, turning some once-advanced vehicles into what can only be described as ‘zombie cars.’ When smaller automakers go bust, the high-tech features that attracted buyers in the first place can quickly become useless.
Take the case of Mr. Mu, a Shanghai resident who bought a WM Motor EX5 EV in 2022. Following the company’s collapse in 2023, he’s watched his car’s connectivity features gradually disappear. Things like Bluetooth keys, in-car entertainment, map updates, and video streaming have all become unreliable or stopped working entirely.
