China EV price war spreads to gas-fueled cars, denting foreign brands

GUANGZHOU — Foreign automakers in China are grappling with stalling sales alongside price wars in conventionally fueled vehicles that are leaving electric-vehicle laggards with less money to invest in the transition.

A mid-October visit to a GAC Mitsubishi Motors dealership in Guangzhou revealed a ghost town with no staff and no vehicles on display. Promotional materials for the Outlander sport utility vehicle were all that remained. Eleven days later, Mitsubishi Motors announced its exit from auto production in China amid weak sales.