SHENZHEN, China — On the long list of disputes between the United States and China, electric vehicles enjoy an increasingly prominent role. Growing stars of the auto world, EVs are also now the subject of intense commercial competition and national security concerns for the world’s two largest economies. And this metropolis known as China’s Silicon Valley is at the heart of the country’s bid for dominance in the lucrative global market.
, by contrast, EV makers have emphasized larger, more luxurious models targeted at wealthier buyers, though Musk said in April that the company would begin production of new affordable EV models by early next year. With sales slowing down at home, Fields said, Chinese automakers are looking for new markets for their lower-priced inventory, including eventually the U.S.