Xiaolu Chu Introduction The sales year started off with a whimper. First, the covid stimulus package for the auto industry – a cut from June 1-Dec 31 of the car sales tax from 10{515baef3fee8ea94d67a98a2b336e0215adf67d225b0e21a4f5c9b13e8fbd502} to 5{515baef3fee8ea94d67a98a2b336e0215adf67d225b0e21a4f5c9b13e8fbd502} – expired. Those planning to buy cars in early 2023 instead made their purchases last year. In addition, the Chinese central government has been winding down its incentives for New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) for several years. They, too, expired at the end of 2022. That pulled planned NEV sales from 2023 into 2022, over and above the impact of the covid tax cut. In other words, electric vehicle (“EV”) sales in late 2022 were…