Author: Linda Ma

BYD’s premium brand Denza will officially launch its N8L large six-seat SUV later this month, Li Hui, the brand’s general manager, said on Weibo. The announcement follows strong interest in the model since pre-sales began in late September, particularly among family buyers seeking comfort, space, and performance. See also: BYD’s Denza Launches Pre-Sales for N8L Hybrid SUV, Expands Premium Lineup Pre-sales for the Denza N8L opened on September 26, with two variants priced from RMB 319,800 ($44,870) and RMB 349,800. The N8L is a large plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) measuring 5,200 mm in length, 1,999 mm in width, and…

Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle and CATL have signed a new five-year strategic cooperation agreement to deepen their collaboration in commercial vehicle electrification, according to a post from CATL on its WeChat account on October 13. The signing ceremony took place in Ningde, Fujian, marking a new phase in the long-standing partnership between the two Chinese industry leaders. Building on previous cooperation, the renewed alliance will focus on three key areas — product R&D, the establishment of industry standards, and the development of a collaborative ecosystem. Together, the companies aim to accelerate innovation in battery technologies, drive global market expansion, and establish…

Onvo, the mass-market sub-brand of Nio, has reached a major production milestone with the rollout of its 100,000th vehicle, the company announced Tuesday on its mobile app. The milestone unit is expected to be delivered this weekend, marking another step forward in Onvo’s rapid rise within China’s competitive EV market. According to delivery data, this milestone will bring Onvo’s October total to about 9,721 units, following cumulative deliveries of 90,279 vehicles through the end of September. The brand delivered 15,246 vehicles in September alone, representing 43.9% of Nio’s total monthly sales of 34,749 units. See also: Nio’s Onvo Sub-Brand Reaches…

Gotion High-Tech, the Chinese battery manufacturer backed by Volkswagen, said its self-developed all-solid-state “Jinshi Battery” has entered pilot-scale production, marking a significant milestone in China’s race toward large-scale solid-state battery manufacturing. The company also confirmed that design work has begun for a 2 GWh mass production line, according to Chinese outlet IT-Home. The move positions Gotion among the leading players in the country’s push to industrialise advanced battery technologies that promise higher energy density, improved safety, and longer lifespans for electric vehicles. See also: Gotion High-tech to Supply Advanced Battery Cells to Ehang’s EH216 eVTOL Series Developed over eight years,…

Tesla recorded a rebound in sales in China last month, though overall volumes continued to trail the same period last year. The U.S. electric vehicle maker sold 71,525 vehicles in China in September, its second-highest monthly total this year after March’s 74,127 units, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The result represented a 25.15% increase from August, narrowing Tesla’s year-on-year retail sales decline to 0.93%, compared with a 9.93% decline in August. See also: Tesla Files for New Model Y+ in China with Expected 800 km Range Despite the improvement, Tesla marked its seventh year-on-year sales…

Chinese automaker BYD has introduced the 2026 Seal 05 DM-i, a refreshed version of one of its key hybrid sedan models, featuring an extended driving range and updated specifications. The new Seal 05 DM-i is offered in a single trim level starting at RMB 79,800 ($11,180), maintaining the same entry price as the previous model, which was available in three trims. See also: Everything You Should Know About BYD Seal 06 EV Specifications Measuring 4,780 mm in length, 1,837 mm in width, and 1,515 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,718 mm, the updated model is built on BYD’s…

Tesla saw sales of its China-made vehicles rebound in September, helped by strong demand for its newly launched six-seat Model Y L, data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed. Tesla sold 90,812 vehicles last month, including both domestic deliveries and exports from its Shanghai Gigafactory. That marked a 2.82% increase from 88,321 units a year earlier and a 9.16% rise from 83,192 units in August, signalling a return to growth after two straight months of year-on-year declines. See also: Tesla Files for New Model Y+ in China with Expected 800 km Range The rise was partly driven by…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng has filed for extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) versions of its G6 SUV and P7+ sedan, signaling its broader push into hybrid technology ahead of the official debut of its first EREV model. The filings for the two new variants appear in the latest catalog of vehicles awaiting approval for sale, released by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) for public feedback between October 10 and 15. Inclusion in the catalog marks the final major regulatory step before a model can enter the Chinese market. See also: XPeng Pushes Vision-Only Autonomy as It Develops…

Researchers from the Institute of Metal Research (IMR) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a new polymer designed to reduce interfacial resistance in solid-state batteries, marking a step forward in the effort to commercialize the advanced energy storage technology. The material enhances ion transport efficiency and could help overcome one of the main barriers to widespread use of solid-state lithium batteries. The newly developed polymer serves a dual role — it conducts lithium ions while also storing energy, allowing the electrode and electrolyte to partially fuse together. This innovation significantly reduces the instability typically found at the interface…

BYD, on Wednesday began selling its electric and hybrid vehicles in Argentina, capitalizing on the government’s decision to lift import tariffs for up to 50,000 such vehicles through 2026. The move marks another step in the company’s growing presence across South America. The lineup for Argentina includes the all-electric Yuan Pro SUV, the Song Pro plug-in hybrid SUV, and the compact electric Dolphin Mini. Each model is priced under $16,000 before taxes and fees, aligning with the government’s new incentive program that suspends the 35% tariff usually applied to imports from manufacturers outside Mercosur, the South American trade bloc that…

BYD reported a rare year-on-year decline in new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in September, as falling demand for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) weighed on overall performance. The company sold 396,270 NEVs last month, down 5.52% from a year earlier but up 6.06% from August, according to data released on Tuesday. It marked BYD’s first year-on-year drop in monthly NEV sales since March 2024, following two months of growth below 1%. See also: BYD Sees Exports Rising to 20% of Global Sales in 2025 Passenger NEV sales fell 5.88% year-on-year to 393,060 units, though they rose 5.80% from August. Commercial…

Zeekr Group reported record vehicle deliveries in September, reaching 51,159 units, an 8.5% increase compared with the same month last year and a 14.1% rise from August, the company said on Tuesday. The Zeekr brand delivered 18,257 vehicles in September, down 14.4% from a year earlier but up 3.6% from the previous month. Meanwhile, Lynk & Co, another brand under the group, delivered 32,902 vehicles, up 27.5% year-on-year and 20.9% month-on-month. See also: Zeekr Launches 9X Hybrid SUV in China Starting at $65,440 For the third quarter, Zeekr Group delivered 140,195 vehicles, representing a 12.5% increase year-on-year and a 7.1%…

Nio has started deliveries of the ET9 Horizon Edition, a premium variant of its flagship electric sedan, just 10 days after its official launch. The ET9 Horizon Edition, unveiled at Nio Day 2025 on September 20, is priced at RMB 818,000 ($114,900) with the battery pack included, representing a 6.5 percent premium over the base model. See also: Nio’s Onvo Sub-Brand Reaches 20,000 Deliveries Of L90 SUV Within Two Months Under the company’s Battery as a Service (BaaS) subscription plan, the model starts at RMB 710,000, with a monthly rental fee of RMB 1,128 for a 102-kWh battery pack. Positioned…

Xpeng reported record vehicle deliveries for September, continuing strong momentum in China’s new energy vehicle market. The company delivered 41,581 vehicles last month, up 94.74% from the same period in 2024 and a 10.27% increase from August. This marks Xpeng’s third consecutive month of record deliveries. See also: XPeng Expands Fast-Charging Network in Southeast Asia Through Charge Plus Partnership In the third quarter, Xpeng delivered 116,007 vehicles, reflecting a 149.30% increase year-on-year and a 12.43% rise from the previous quarter. Year-to-date, the company has delivered 313,196 vehicles, representing a 217.77% increase from the same period last year. https://twitter.com/XPengMotors/status/1973219389039407540 Xpeng’s production…

Li Auto said it will cover purchase tax incentives for customers ordering its new Li i6 model through October, becoming the latest Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker to shield buyers from potential losses tied to delivery delays. The company said on Tuesday on Weibo that customers who lock in Li i6 orders by Oct. 31 will be compensated if deliveries are not completed this year and they lose access to national purchase tax exemptions. The subsidy will be provided as a cash rebate on the final payment, ensuring customers incur no extra purchase tax costs. The Li i6, launched on…

Smart, the brand jointly owned by Mercedes-Benz and Geely, has opened pre-sales for its first plug-in hybrid model in China, the Smart #5 EHD SUV. The vehicle was unveiled at an event on Tuesday with a pre-sale price of RMB 189,900 ($26,670), below the RMB 239,900 starting price of the all-electric Smart #5. The new model marks Smart’s entry into the plug-in hybrid segment, with an official market launch expected in October. Built on Geely’s Leishen Hybrid 2.0 platform, the five-seat SUV is powered by a 1.5-liter engine producing 120 kW alongside an electric motor delivering 200 kW. A 41.46-kWh…

Geely’s premium electric vehicle brand Zeekr launched its first hybrid model on Sunday, the Zeekr 9X, marking a push into the luxury SUV segment as it seeks to expand beyond battery-only vehicles. The six-seat full-size SUV starts at RMB 465,900 ($65,440), with an effective entry price of RMB 455,900 after a limited-time RMB 10,000 trade-in discount. Deliveries will begin on Sept. 30, though one version is scheduled for November. The four available trims are priced at RMB 455,900, RMB 485,900, RMB 559,900 and RMB 599,900. Zeekr said the 9X secured strong interest ahead of launch. Geely senior vice president Victor…

Dongfeng Motor’s premium electric off-road brand M-Hero has expanded its M817 plug-in hybrid SUV lineup with a new top-end Max+ version, adding longer electric range and higher pricing. The new variant follows the launch of the M817 last month. The M817 Max+ starts at RMB 369,900 ($51,950), compared with the previously launched Pro and Max versions priced at RMB 319,900 and RMB 349,900 respectively. The Max+ is equipped with CATL’s larger 50.4-kWh Freevoy battery, which supports a 215-kilometer electric range. When fully fueled and charged, the Max+ achieves a combined range of 1,365 kilometers. By contrast, the Pro and Max…

Xiaomi has followed Toyota in disassembling Tesla vehicles to study their engineering, using the findings to develop its YU7 electric SUV, a direct competitor to Tesla’s Model Y and Model X. The Chinese technology company reportedly purchased several 2026 Model Y units for analysis ahead of the YU7’s market launch. Xiaomi founder Lei Jun said the teardown highlighted the Model Y’s “outstanding” engineering, though the company aimed to surpass it in key performance areas. The YU7 will feature an 800-volt powertrain, faster charging capabilities and what Xiaomi described as the largest battery pack in its class, while being priced below…

China will require exporters of pure electric vehicles (EVs) to obtain licenses from next year, tightening oversight of overseas shipments of the fast-growing segment. In a joint statement on Thursday, four government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, said that from Jan. 1, 2026, pure electric passenger cars will fall under an export license management regime. Applications, conditions and approvals will be handled under rules first outlined in a 2012 policy document. China Customs will continue to use the existing commodity catalog for inspections, according to the notice. Authorities did not provide further details, though analysts said the measures could…