Affordable mini-EVs sparkle in China's smaller cities

Tiny electric cars weave through traffic in southern China with their affordable and cheerful designs, bringing a touch of colour to the EV revolution in the country's overlooked cities.

In a growing number of less-developed areas, the face of greener transport is the Wuling Hongguang Mini, a dinky two-door runaround that sells for a fraction of the price. It has sold more than 1.2 million units, often to consumers with lower incomes in provincial cities and smaller towns.

Locally made mini-EVs are proving a breakout success, and authorities have responded by providing charging stations, discounted parking spots and preferential policies for buyers.