Author: Linda Ma

Xiaomi EV said it has started rolling out an enhanced version of its Hyper Autonomous Driving (HAD) driver assistance system to eligible vehicles, adding reinforcement learning algorithms and a so-called world model to refine driving behavior. In a post on Weibo, the company said the upgraded system is designed to continuously explore more optimal driving strategies through simulation and large-scale data training. Xiaomi said the world model enables simultaneous exploration of more than 100 driving routes, allowing the system to rapidly accumulate operational experience across a wide range of scenarios. See also: Xiaomi Hits 500,000-Vehicle Production Milestone, Sees Over 400,000…

Li Auto said it will begin deploying its in-house developed M100 smart driving chip in mass-produced vehicles next year, becoming the latest Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer to commercialise a proprietary autonomous driving processor following similar moves by Nio and Xpeng. The company disclosed the plan for the first time during its latest earnings call, officially naming the M100 as an AI inference chip. Li Auto said it is currently conducting large-scale system testing on vehicle controllers built around the chip, with commercial deployment targeted for next year. See also: Li Auto Revises Product and Overseas Strategy Amid Sales Slowdown…

Maextro, the premium automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp (JAC), plans to launch several new models next year as it steps up efforts to penetrate China’s luxury vehicle market, Chinese media outlet 36Kr reported. The brand is preparing to introduce both sport utility vehicle (SUV) and multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) models, each offered in standard and long-wheelbase variants, according to the report. In addition to the new SUV and MPV, Maextro is expected to release a higher-spec version of its only current model, the S800 sedan. Including the existing S800, the brand is projected to…

The U.S. Defense Department has concluded that Chinese companies Alibaba Group, Baidu and electric vehicle maker BYD should be added to a list of firms deemed to have links to China’s military, Bloomberg News reported. According to the report, Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg informed U.S. lawmakers of the conclusion in a letter dated Oct. 7, weeks before Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping reached a broad trade truce. It remains unclear whether the companies have formally been added to the Pentagon’s so-called Section 1260H list, which identifies Chinese companies considered to support the country’s military while operating in the…

WeRide reported one of its strongest quarters to date in the third quarter of 2025, posting significant operational and financial gains as the autonomous driving technology firm accelerated efforts to commercialize its services. Revenue climbed to 171 million yuan, up 144.3 percent from a year earlier, marking one of the company’s highest single-quarter increases since its founding, according to results released on November 24. The company said its Robotaxi division remained the key driver of growth, with autonomous ride-hailing revenue rising more than sevenfold year-on-year to 35.3 million yuan. WeRide described the division’s momentum as a sign of expanding demand…

SAIC Motor said its partner Qingtao Power has completed full-line commissioning of an all-solid-state battery production line in Anting, marking a key step in the automaker’s multiyear effort to industrialise next-generation cell technology. According to information reported by IT-Home, SAIC expects sample cells to be produced before the end of the year, with prototype vehicles to begin testing in 2025 and commercial deliveries planned for 2027. See also: Dongfeng Targets 2026 for Mass Production of 350 Wh/kg Solid-State Batteries The company has previously outlined ambitious performance targets for the solid-state chemistry, including a gravimetric energy density above 400 Wh/kg, volumetric…

BYD introduced the upgraded Tang L SUV — marketed overseas as the Atto 8 or Sealion 8 — at the 2025 Guangzhou Auto Show, unveiling six variants priced between 214,800 yuan (about 30,250 USD) and 274,800 yuan (around 38,620 USD) after subsidies. The model features both plug-in hybrid and fully electric options, according to industry outlet Y-Auto. The publication quoted BYD as saying the vehicle “combines cutting-edge electrification technology with a refined, culturally inspired design.” The refreshed Tang L continues BYD’s Dragon Face design language, updating its front “dragon whiskers” for a more fluid appearance. The D-pillar has been reshaped…

Zhuoyu Technology said on Friday it has secured more than RMB 3.6 billion in strategic funding from China FAW Group, a move that lifts its valuation to more than RMB 10 billion once the transaction is completed. The company said it will continue operating independently, keeping its management team, technology roadmap and brand strategy unchanged, while FAW will act as a strategic shareholder focused on business cooperation and resource coordination rather than direct oversight. FAW joins an existing group of investors that includes New Territory Technology Company Limited, BYD, Hengxu Capital and BAIC Capital, reflecting broad industry confidence in Zhuoyu’s…

Voyah, the premium electric vehicle unit of Dongfeng Motor, introduced a special edition of its Dream MPV at the 2025 Guangzhou auto show on Friday as the company seeks a stronger foothold in China’s high-end multi-purpose vehicle segment. The four-seat model, known as the Dream MPV Shanhe Edition, is priced from RMB 709,900 ($99,810), more than double the RMB 329,900 starting price of the seven-seat 2026 Dream MPV currently available. According to the company, the new variant incorporates exterior and interior upgrades, including a two-tone finish, revised wheels and a more upscale cabin. “A key selling point is its integration…

Onvo, a sub-brand of Nio, has introduced a limited-edition version of its L90 large electric SUV, expanding the brand’s recent product push alongside Nio’s main lineup and its Firefly division. The Onvo L90 Black Knight Edition debuted at the 2025 Guangzhou auto show, which opened on Thursday. Production is capped at 999 units, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early December. The model starts at RMB 306,800 ($43,140) including the battery pack, representing a RMB 41,000, or 15.43 percent, premium over the standard L90’s starting price of RMB 265,800. Under the Battery as a Service (BaaS) plan, the limited edition…

Dongfeng Moto announced at Huawei’s Qiankun ecosystem conference that its jointly developed automotive brand with Huawei will be named Yijing (奕境 in Chinese). The brand marks the first collaboration of its kind between a Chinese state-owned automaker and a technology company. Wang Junjun, general manager of Dongfeng eπ Automobile Technology, said Yijing’s first model is scheduled to debut at the Beijing auto show in April 2026, with the company planning to launch one new model annually. The brand’s official Weibo account was activated following the announcement, identifying the operational entity as Dongfeng eπ’s sales company. The new brand was previously…

Gotion High-tech  has started mass production of its Unified Cells for Volkswagen, with the first deliveries to the German automaker scheduled for November 20. The production marks a key milestone in the five-year strategic partnership between Volkswagen, its battery unit PowerCo, and Gotion. The Unified Cells are a standardized battery solution designed to accommodate multiple chemical systems and vehicle platforms. Gotion said the cells feature improvements in integration efficiency, fast-charging performance, safety, and low-temperature adaptability. “The delivered unified cells achieve world-class levels in energy density, safety performance, and cost control,” said Zhang Hongli, Gotion director and chairman of its Hefei…