China issues first license plate for electric vehicle made by a tech company

Chinese electric car startup Xiaopeng Motors, also known as XPENG, is expected to receive a specialized license plate today for its electric models from the traffic regulator of Guangzhou, local media is reporting. This is the first time for a Chinese municipality to issue an official plate to electric cars made by a tech firm.

Chinese internet firms are racing to the automobile industry that’s been dominated by traditional car makers like GM and VW. But while some of the pioneers in this trend plan to move into mass production, a regulatory gap has put them at an inferior position when competing with traditional competitors because there’s no precedent in the country to issue plates for electric cars made by tech firms. This leads to very practical problems that might hinder these electric cars from hitting the road.

Read More: China to see electric vehicle boom before the rest of the world: Tom Tan, President of BorgWarner China

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