Everyone thought there was a Chinese EV graveyard full of thousands of new cars until man discovered truth
Published on Oct 30, 2025 at 5:46 PM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Oct 31, 2025 at 11:44 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Footage of what appears to be a Chinese EV graveyard went viral, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.
When the clip went viral, a lot of people assumed it was because no one was buying these cars.
But that’s not the case.
EVs are obviously quite popular in China, and these cars are there for an entirely different reason.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Debunking the truth about the Chinese EV graveyard
YouTube account Inside China Auto went to a place called Banshen to find out more about this massive graveyard full of abandoned Chinese EVs, most of which looked new.
The first thing we learned from the video is that many of the vehicles are actually not electric.
The second thing the narrator in the video pointed out is that some of these cars are not as new as they look.
Third, and more to the point, these cars aren’t abandoned because people don’t want them.
They’re here because the companies that had bought them went bust.
Many of these EVs were previously owned by ride-hailing companies that looked to copy the likes of Uber, but unfortunately went bust, and their vehicles fell into disuse.
China is leading the EV transition
China’s trajectory has been impressive.
In 1977, there were one million cars in China.
In 2008, there were 51 million vehicles, and now, in 2025, there are over 350 million.
At some point in the last 10-15 years, China realized it didn’t make sense to play catch-up with European, American, and Japanese automakers when it came to gas cars.
Instead, they decided to ignore internal combustion altogether and just focus on EVs.
This strategy paid off because Chinese automakers are now ahead in the EV game.
Chinese brands dominate the EV market in several countries, and surveys show that even Americans are now open to buying Chinese cars.
Americans, like everyone else, are now watching videos of Chinese EVs with five-minute EV chargers and super smart Chinese sedans online, and wondering if they’re missing out on something big.
Clearly, some of them are beginning to think that the answer to the question is ‘yes’.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
