President Trump's order to revoke what he calls the "EV mandate" gives automakers a welcome reprieve from regulatory hurdles — but could make it harder for them to compete on a global scale with Chinese rivals.

Electrive reports that some 31.4 million new vehicles were sold in China last year, with new energy offerings accounting for nearly 41 percent of that total, an absolutely whopping figure. In the month of December, for instance, pure EVs accounted for the majority of NEV sales, around 973,000 units.