The car refrigerator, once a niche accessory for premium vehicles, is rapidly gaining traction in China, driven by changing consumer behaviors, the rise of outdoor recreation, and the booming NEV market.
The irony? A regulation meant to protect workers might first shrink their job opportunities. The next 12 months will reveal whether the sector can strike a balance—or whether a generation of independent workshops will vanish, taking their workers’ livelihoods with them.
“China’s auto market surged in March 2025, with NEVs hitting 51% retail penetration as domestic brands dominated, while easing price wars and export pressures shaped a stabilizing yet competitive landscape.”