Shandong province is expanding its presence in the global new energy vehicle (NEV) industry, supported by growing exports, overseas assembly operations, and a well-developed battery supply chain.

More than 1,000 Chinese-made NEVs were recently loaded onto a roll-on/roll-loff vessel at Yantai Port for shipment to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Such vessels allow vehicles to be driven on board and off again at their destination. From January to August, Yantai Port handled 576,000 vehicles, including 92,000 NEVs, up 81.1 percent year-on-year.

Sinotruk, a leading commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Jinan, exports vehicles to more than 150 countries and regions. In the first nine months this year, 161,000 of the company's heavy-duty trucks were exported, accounting for nearly half of the nation's total export in the sector. Sinotruk's overseas network includes 37 knock-down assembly plants, where vehicles are assembled from separately shipped components, as well as sales outlets and service centers.

Smaller manufacturers in Linyi and Liaocheng are also supplying overseas markets with electric mini trucks, light duty trucks, and electric three wheelers. Their products serve applications such as urban deliveries, short-distance transport, and personal mobility.

Shandong's lithium battery industry provides an important foundation for its NEV sector. In 2025, the province's lithium battery production capacity reached 225 gigawatt hours, accounting for 15.2 percent of the national total. Shandong is the only province in northern China with a complete supply chain for the four key battery materials: cathodes, anodes, electrolytes, and separators. Electrolyte solvents produced in Dongying account for more than 40 percent of the global market. Zaozhuang has also developed a lithium battery industry cluster, while Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL), a major battery manufacturer, has established a northern production base in Jining.

New energy vehicles are prepared for export at Yantai Port in Shandong province. [Photo/Dazhong News]