Author: Linda Ma

Nio unveiled its third-generation ES8 electric SUV on Thursday, featuring a lower starting price, larger dimensions, and upgraded technology, as the Chinese automaker seeks to broaden its appeal in the country’s competitive EV market. Pre-sale prices for the large SUV start at RMB 416,800 ($58,050) with a 100-kWh battery, representing a 25% reduction compared to the previous generation. Under the company’s Battery as a Service (BaaS) scheme, the SUV starts at RMB 308,800, which Nio said is “even lower than the starting price of RMB 339,000 for Tesla’s Model Y L six-seat SUV in China.” https://twitter.com/NIOGlobal/status/1958549784635257174 The new ES8 has…

Xpeng chairman and chief executive He Xiaopeng has raised his stake in the Chinese electric vehicle maker, buying 3.1 million Class A ordinary shares through his wholly owned company Galaxy Dynasty, the firm said in a Hong Kong Stock Exchange filing on Friday. The shares were acquired on Aug. 20-21 at an average price of HK$80.49 each. Following the transaction, Galaxy Dynasty holds 3.1 million Class A shares and 1,419,922 American Depositary Shares (ADSs). He also controls 327.7 million Class B shares and 2.2 million ADSs through Simplicity Holding, and 21 million Class B shares via Respect Holding, in addition…

GAC Group’s sub-brand Hyptec has introduced the extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) version of its HL SUV, adding another hybrid model with a high-capacity battery pack to China’s competitive new energy vehicle market. The Hyptec HL EREV, the first to feature GAC’s Xingyuan extended-range system, is available in four trims with starting prices from RMB 269,800 ($37,540) to RMB 299,800. The vehicle comes standard with a 60-kWh nickel-cobalt-manganese battery supplied by CATL, delivering a CLTC electric-only range of 350 km. Combined with a 1.5-liter range extender engine, the SUV achieves a CLTC range of 1,369 km, while consuming 6.7 liters of…

Shangjie, the new car brand jointly developed by Huawei and SAIC Motor (SHA: 600104), will open pre-sales of its first model, the H5, on August 25, with the vehicle set to become the most affordable under Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) portfolio. The company announced the pre-sale date on Weibo on Monday and released two images of the H5’s interior. The vehicle was listed last month in a regulatory filing with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, with Shangjie stating at the time that a full launch would follow in September. The H5 measures 4,780 mm in length,…

Huawei and BAIC’s joint venture brand Stelato said its new S9T station wagon received 20,000 reservations within 24 hours of presales in China, underscoring brisk early demand for the vehicle ahead of its official launch in September. The S9T, priced between 328,000 and 388,000 yuan ($46,570–$54,020), is the second model under the Stelato brand following last year’s S9 sedan. The station wagon is offered in both battery-electric (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) versions, with options ranging up to 385 kW (516 hp) of power, Huawei’s ADS 4 driver assistance system with four LiDAR sensors, and air suspension. Huawei’s sales…

Tesla has reinstated the turn signal stalk in its Model 3 sedan two years after removing the feature, addressing a controversial design change that had replaced stalks with steering wheel buttons. According to Tesla China’s website, all versions of the Model 3 — including rear-wheel drive, long-range rear-wheel drive, long-range all-wheel drive, and high-performance all-wheel drive — will now include the turn signal stalk as standard equipment. The company is also giving current owners the option to add the feature back. Through its mobile app, Tesla is offering the upgrade for RMB 2,499 ($350), with availability beginning in mid-September. The…

The Stelato S9T, a new energy station wagon jointly developed by Huawei and state-owned automaker BAIC. Priced from 328,000 yuan ($45,670), the model drew strong early interest, securing 10,000 orders within one hour of its release ceremony. The S9T comes in both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) versions, showcasing advanced features such as air suspension and Huawei’s ADS 4 driver-assistance system. From the outside, the Stelato S9T reflects the sleek design language of its sibling sedan, the Stelato S9. Measuring 5,160 mm long, 2,005 mm wide, and 1,492 mm tall with a 3,050 mm wheelbase, it…

Tesla has officially launched the Model Y L, a six-seat version of its Model Y SUV, in China, priced from RMB 339,000 ($47,180). Deliveries for Chinese customers are expected to begin in September, according to Tesla China’s website. The Model Y L features a longer wheelbase than the five-seat Model Y, measuring 4,976 mm in length, 1,920 mm in width, and 1,668 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,040 mm. The SUV has a CLTC range of 751 kilometers and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. See also: Everything You Should Know About Tesla Model…

Geely’s Livan Auto has unveiled the Livan Smurf, a new micro electric vehicle priced below 36,000 yuan ($5,000), as the company strengthens its presence in China’s competitive urban EV market. The Livan Smurf, essentially a rebadged version of the Geely Panda Mini EV, is powered by a single electric motor producing 30 kilowatts (40 horsepower) with a top speed of 100 km/h. It is equipped with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack estimated at 17 kWh, providing a range of around 200 km under China’s CLTC testing cycle, according to CarNewsChina. The car measures 3,100 mm in length, 1,558…

Stelato, the electric vehicle brand jointly developed by Huawei and Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group), has started pre-sales of its S9T station wagon, set to compete with Nio’s ET5 Touring. The S9T, Stelato’s second model after the S9 sedan, is priced from 328,000 yuan ($45,660), higher than the ET5 Touring’s starting price of 298,000 yuan. Like the S9, it will be available in both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants. The BEV version uses a 100-kWh Huawei Giant Whale battery, offering up to 801 km of range, while the EREV version features Huawei’s Xuexiao range-extension system,…

Chinese autonomous driving startup Momenta has begun testing its first in-house chip designed for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), with the processor intended to compete with established rivals such as NVIDIA’s DRIVE Orin-X, local media outlet 36Kr reported. Primarily known for its software in assisted and autonomous driving, Momenta started developing its own custom silicon in 2023, recruiting key personnel from the chip division of Chinese smartphone maker Oppo. The move signals the company’s shift toward a full-stack solution, combining both software and hardware capabilities for automakers. In parallel, Momenta is accelerating its international presence. Sources familiar with the matter said…

The U.S. government said on Friday it has filed lawsuits to block California from enforcing stricter emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks, arguing the rules conflict with federal law. In complaints submitted to two federal courts this week, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is preempted from implementing emissions rules that govern trucks and engines. Among them is the Clean Truck Partnership, a 2023 initiative aimed at reducing emissions while providing manufacturers with flexibility in meeting state requirements. The DOJ said the move followed findings from a House of Representatives committee that CARB staff had…

Xpeng said its new P7 electric sedan completed a 24-hour endurance test, covering 3,961 kilometers and setting a new record for the longest distance traveled by an electric vehicle in a single day. The test was conducted in Changchun, Jilin province, in northeastern China between 9:02 a.m. on Aug. 14 and 9:02 a.m. on Aug. 15. The vehicle drove continuously at 210 kilometers per hour, including time spent charging. Xpeng noted that the test verified the robustness of the P7’s core system capabilities. The endurance run was delayed by one day due to heavy rain and fog, which impacted track…

Changan officially introduced the 2026 Deepal L07 to the Chinese market, marking its most affordable model yet equipped across the range with Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 4.0 SE advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS). The new sedan is offered in both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants, featuring more powerful electric motors and an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip powering the Deepal OS 4.0. Pricing for the new Deepal L07 ranges from 145,900 yuan ($20,300) to 165,900 yuan ($23,100), depending on the variant. Both the BEV and EREV models are rear-wheel drive, with the BEV featuring a 200 kW…

Li Auto has reportedly reversed a sales network restructuring introduced earlier this year, returning to a province-based system after less than six months under a five-region model. Local media outlet 36kr reported that the company had initially consolidated its previous 26 provincial sales regions into five “war zones” — East, West, South, North, and Central — with each zone responsible for its own sales volume, profit, and Net Promoter Score (NPS). The regional approach had aimed to allow teams to tailor strategies to local markets, but it reportedly created internal competition for orders and strained short-term sales targets. Facing intensified…

BYD has launched the Seal 5 DM-i plug-in hybrid sedan in Thailand, marking the fourth model produced at its Rayong plant and the first right-hand drive vehicle from the facility. The Seal 5 DM-i, known as the Chaser 05 in China, is available in two trims – Premium and Standard. The Premium variant starts at 769,900 Thai baht ($23,730) with a limited-time promotional price of 699,900 baht. Pricing for the Standard version will be announced after competing models set their market rates. The Thai-produced Seal 5 DM-i underscores BYD’s growing investment in Southeast Asia’s automotive manufacturing sector. The company has…

Great Wall Motor (GWM) has begun pre-sales for the refreshed Tank 500 SUV, offering two plug-in hybrid variants aimed at distinct customer segments. The Tank 500 Hi4-T is designed with off-road capability in mind, while the Hi4-Z focuses on family use. The Hi4-T is priced at RMB 360,000 ($50,080) and comes with a single-motor system delivering 120 kW, paired with a 37.1 kWh battery offering a WLTC range of 110 kilometers. The Hi4-Z, priced at RMB 388,800, features dual motors with a combined output of 455 kW and a larger 59.05 kWh battery that provides a 201-kilometer WLTC range. Both…

China’s BYD Co Ltd sub-brand Fang Cheng Bao has commenced production of the first mass-produced unit of its Tai 7 hybrid sport utility vehicle (SUV), with the official launch planned for the fourth quarter, the company said. Fang Cheng Bao announced the milestone on its Weibo account without providing additional specifics. The Tai 7 is the second model in the Tai series, following the Tai 3, and marks the brand’s first hybrid SUV featuring a unibody design. The move reflects the brand’s strategy to diversify its lineup from primarily off-road vehicles to models suited for everyday urban use. The Tai…

Shares of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng gained nearly 8% in Hong Kong trading on Monday after the company set a launch timeline for its first hybrid model, the X9 EREV, boosting investor expectations for sales growth. The stock rose 7.94% to HK$85.65, its highest level in almost five months, bringing its gains this month to 19%. The advance came after the extended-range version of Xpeng’s X9 multi-purpose vehicle was listed in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s regulatory filing catalog, signalling an upcoming market debut. The X9 EREV, described as the company’s first super hybrid model, is scheduled…

China’s retail sales of passenger new energy vehicles (NEVs) fell back below 1 million units in July, with hybrid models recording their first year-on-year decline since tracking began, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). July passenger NEV retail sales totaled 987,000 units, representing a 12.0 percent increase from the same month last year but an 11.2 percent decrease compared to June. This figure was below earlier CPCA estimates, which had forecast retail sales just above the 1 million mark. The data marks a retreat from May and June’s rebounds that pushed sales above 1 million…