The imbalance is especially stark in Southeast Asia, one of the world’s fastest-growing energy markets .

Worse off in Southeast Asia

Although the subregion accounts for roughly half of global energy consumption growth, it attracted just 2% of global clean energy investment in 2023, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said at the Energy Asia 2025 conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Over the past decade, Southeast Asia’s overall energy demand has increased by more than 35%, while electricity demand has risen by over 60%. Electricity access rates improved by 12%, reflecting rapid urbanisation, industrial expansion and rising incomes.

Investment trends, however, show continued reliance on fossil fuels. They accounted for 60% of total energy investment in the past decade. Coal alone attracted $110 billion since 2015, expanding its share of the regional energy mix from 20% to 30%.

The International Renewable Energy Agency estimates Southeast Asia needs average annual investment of $210 billion to meet its net-zero targets. Achieving the 1.5°C climate goal would require an additional $2 trillion in annual public and private investment by 2030 across emerging and developing economies.

Not a lost cause

Still, there are remaining bright spots for Southeast Asia’s prospects of clean energy. 

Clean energy investment in Southeast Asia rose to $47 billion in 2025 from $30 billion in 2015. Yet financing constraints remain. More than 75% of clean energy projects rely on commercial finance, rising above 85% in clean power, fuels and battery storage.

By contrast, grid infrastructure, storage and transmission depend heavily on public funding, which accounts for around 40% of capital.

“Despite wide disparities in economic development, resource endowments and market maturity, energy security is a common priority for the region,” the Paris-based International Energy Agency said in a report. 

At the conference, Tengku Muhammad Taufik, president and group chief executive of Petronas, called for “region-specific strategies” and stronger cross-border cooperation to build resilient energy systems.

Southeast Asia is also strengthening its position in clean energy supply chains. In 2023, Viet Nam, Thailand and Malaysia ranked among the world’s largest solar photovoltaic manufacturers after China, reinforcing the region’s growing role in global panel production.

With its scale and growth trajectory, Asia “stands at the forefront of a transformative shift in energy landscapes,” the Global Energy Alliance said. Whether that momentum translates into concrete commitments at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference in November remains uncertain.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the initiative seeks to accelerate capacity building and national independence in strategic technologies, with the government allocating an initial $150 million to the partnership. 

It will develop six national chip designs covering automotive technology, the Internet of Things, data centers, home appliances, and futuristic areas such as autonomous vehicles and quantum computing. Indonesia will retain intellectual property rights for these designs.

The focus on chip design reflects a strategic choice , as Indonesia’s semiconductor ambitions have long been constrained by a shortage of skilled engineers. 

The country produced 30 to 60 million mobile phones annually and is projected to import 1.57 million laptops in 2026. Imports of semiconductors surged to $4.87 billion in 2021, nearly doubling from 2020. 

In the automotive sector, which assembled over 800,000 vehicles last year, electric and hybrid models consume roughly three times more chips per unit than conventional vehicles.

This also forms part of the global response to broader chip demand, with the market growing 23% from $407.9 billion in 2017 to $501.3 billion in 2021, driven by electrification, digitalization, and AI expansion. 

For Indonesia, building domestic design capacity is seen as the most feasible entry point before moving to capital-intensive fabrication.

Universities including ITB, UGM, and the University of Indonesia will help develop the talent pipeline. Engineers will receive training directly from Arm’s ecosystem. 

“The collaboration will continue to develop the next generation of semiconductors or chips, so that Indonesia has capabilities in the semiconductor and design fields,” said Airlangga Hartarto, Malaysia’s coordinating minister for economic affairs.

A report based on data from CleanTechnica shows that plug-in registrations exceeded 17 million units worldwide, marking a 26% year-over-year increase and pushing EVs to a 22% share of global auto sales.

A closer look at sales figures reveals two important trends. First, plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) grew at a much faster pace than fully battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). PHEV sales soared by 53% compared to 2023, while BEV growth slowed to 14%. As a result, PHEVs accounted for 37% of all plug-in sales, up from 31% the previous year. This shift underscores consumer demand for flexibility in regions where charging infrastructure remains inconsistent.

Second, Chinese automakers continued to expand their dominance. BYD emerged as the global leader in plug-in sales, delivering a record 4.27 million vehicles in 2024—a 41% increase from the year before.

Tesla, focusing exclusively on BEVs, maintained its position as the top seller in the fully electric segment, but only narrowly. Tesla delivered around 1.789 million BEVs, compared with BYD’s 1.765 million, a difference of just 24,000 units.

The broader market landscape was shared among a handful of major automakers. Tesla and BYD led the BEV segment, while Geely-Volvo, SAIC, and Volkswagen Group secured single-digit shares. Combined, these companies are reshaping the industry, while smaller players fall into the “Other” category that still accounts for over 40% of global EV sales.

The resurgence of plug-in hybrids and BYD’s rise signal a shift in global EV dynamics. For consumers, PHEVs provide reassurance in markets where charging networks are limited. For automakers and policymakers, the Tesla–BYD competition highlights the strategic importance of supply chains, incentives, and product diversity.

The year closed with a clear message: the EV transition is accelerating, but it is no longer defined solely by Tesla’s pioneering role. With BYD’s rapid growth and PHEVs proving resilient, the next phase of the EV revolution will be more competitive, more diversified, and more global than ever before.

“My husband now looks up to me to take care of a large chunk of expenses, including buying furniture and other assets,” Bhobho said at a market where she delivers crops for farmers in her community.

The tricycles, called Hamba—meaning "go" in Ndebele—are powered by solar-charged lithium-ion batteries. Mobility for Africa, a local start-up, piloted the project in 2019 by leasing the vehicles to groups of women for $15 a month. Today, women like Bhobho can own them through a lease-to-purchase program.

“I used to depend on my husband for everything, even money for bread,” she said.

Bhobho now owns land, has opened a small grocery store, is paying off a car, and has moved her children from an underfunded rural public school to a better-equipped private institution. She earns up to $300 a month, a salary comparable to that of government workers such as schoolteachers.

Beyond financial gains, she has gained self-esteem. “Even my husband and in-laws have more respect for me now. No one used to listen to me, but now I have a seat when important decisions are being made,” the mother of three said.

According to Carlin Thandi Ngandu, the community engagement coordinator for Mobility for Africa, the program aims to ensure that 70% of its beneficiaries are women in Zimbabwe. 

The program involves 300 women across Zimbabwe, with only women owning and operating tricycles. 

The tricycles are particularly beneficial in rural areas, as they can navigate narrow paths inaccessible to cars and reach remote homesteads and vegetable gardens. The affordability of the tricycles makes them accessible to locals, allowing them to contribute to their families and communities. 

However, women face challenges such as rough terrain and resistance from men who struggle with seeing women lead in traditionally male-dominated spaces. 

“Some men don’t like seeing women in charge, but we are proving that we can contribute just as much, if not more, to our families and communities,” says Bhobho.

Beyond business, the tricycles are revolutionising healthcare access, particularly for women and children. Josephine Nyevhe, a volunteer community health worker, uses her tricycle to bring medical services closer to rural families and serves as a village ambulance.

“I am on 24-hour standby. I get calls during odd hours and have to rush people to the hospital. Sometimes it’s a pregnant woman who would have otherwise given birth at home in unsafe conditions,” she said.

The country is experiencing a rise in hydropower output which is reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuel imports.

According to government estimates, more than 40,000 electric vehicles are now on the roads, with demand growing fast.

EV imports nearly tripled last year, accounting for a quarter of all new vehicle purchases. China, a major global player in electric vehicles, supplies about 70% of the Nepalese market.

While EVs are seen as a green solution, there are concerns about the disposal of lithium-ion batteries, which are hazardous if not properly managed.

Nabin Bikash Maharjan, CEO of Blue Waste to Value, warned, "Ion batteries need proper management. It needs to be recycled, and the residue should be managed properly so that leakages won't mix in the ground, water, or air."

As President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s term draws to a close, he is pushing for substantial reforms in Mexico's judiciary, framing this as a necessary measure to combat corruption. Detractors argue that this initiative represents a significant power grab, risking judicial independence and the integrity of democracy. Transitioning from an appointment-based to a voter-elected system for judges that requires minimal qualifications, could potentially displace over 5,000 judges nationwide. This proposal has incited widespread strikes among judiciary personnel and elicited stern criticism from the U.S. ambassador, The NY Times report.

Judicial reform

The Constitutional Points Committee of Mexico's Chamber of Deputies has advocated for a judicial reform proposal that allows citizens to directly elect judges and Supreme Court justices. This reform has raised critical concerns regarding the independence of the judiciary, directly impacting diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Mexico. According to Mexico News Daily , as the ruling Morena party holds a two-thirds majority, the proposal is anticipated to pass when Congress reconvenes on September 1.

Electric vehicles export

Mexico is on track to become the largest exporter of electric vehicles (EVs) to the U.S. by 2024, following a staggering 172% increase in export revenue to $3.127 billion during the first half of the year. This growth positions Mexico as the second-largest exporter to the U.S., trailing only Germany. The overall U.S. import of EVs surged by 36.1%, totalling $11.95 billion. According to Mexico News Daily , the country's EV exports have experienced exponential growth, achieving an 18,047% increase since 2019. If the current trajectory persists, total export revenue may hit $6.254 billion by the end of 2024, indicating a nearly 30,000% rise from 2019.

Haitian Mexico Open Day

Haitian Mexico hosted an Open Day event in Guadalajara to showcase its latest injection moulding technologies, underscoring its commitment to the regional market. The event emphasised solutions centred on energy efficiency, intelligence, and sustainability, alongside products from different divisions, including CNC and die-casting machines, PR Newswire explained. As a regional management and manufacturing centre since 2022, Haitian Mexico seeks to enhance its delivery capabilities and response times for local clients in the Americas. The organisation is committed to tailoring its strategies to meet clients' unique needs and foster cooperative relationships, contributing to the industry’s growth in Mexico and its neighbouring regions.

Relationship with U.S and Canada on pause

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has placed the relationship between the Mexican government and U.S. and Canadian embassies “on pause” in response to U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar's public criticism of the judicial reform. Obrador denounced this opposition as a foreign intrusion into Mexico's sovereignty and expressed a desire for respectful diplomatic relations, Mexico News Daily reported. Nevertheless, critics warn that the proposed reforms could threaten judicial independence by introducing political motivations into the election of judges.

The development is the result of a collaboration between the American-Irish power management company Eaton and eco-friendly car rental company Green Motion.

The station is equipped with a T2S socket and is adjustable in power from 3.7 kilowatts to 22 kilowatts to fit the available power on-site and facilitate easy installation.

Manufactured and assembled at the Eaton factory in Casablanca, "the station offers convenient charging suitable for all types of electric vehicles, as well as secure charging based on proven charging technology, allowing individuals to monitor their charging remotely and securely," said the General Manager of Eaton North and West Africa, Kassem Benhaddou.

According to Morocco World News , the station is designed to seamlessly integrate into small spaces, and installation is fast and easy.