Author: Linda Ma

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…

Chinese autonomous driving startup Momenta is pursuing a new funding round at a valuation of more than $5 billion, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The company is working with financial advisors to assess investor interest, with an initial target of several hundred million dollars. The size of the round could increase depending on market dynamics, the report said. The financing could strengthen Momenta’s capital base ahead of a potential initial public offering. The company confidentially filed for a U.S. listing last year, though Bloomberg noted progress would depend on broader market conditions. Separately, Reuters reported that Momenta…

BYD has added three new variants to its second-generation Qin Plus sedan and lowered prices on several existing models, aiming to strengthen its competitiveness in the crowded Chinese market. The automaker introduced one new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and two battery electric vehicle (BEV) options, priced at RMB 79,800, RMB 89,800 and RMB 99,800, respectively. At the same time, BYD discontinued three trims and cut prices by RMB 10,000 on three remaining versions, bringing the entry-level Qin Plus price down to RMB 69,800. The new PHEV variant offers a 128-kilometer range, while the two BEV versions provide ranges of…

Leapmotor has produced its one-millionth vehicle, the company announced on its Weibo account, marking a significant milestone since its founding in 2015. The milestone was reached just 343 days after the company celebrated its 500,000th vehicle. The company began mass production in June 2019, reaching 100,000 vehicles in June 2022 and 500,000 vehicles in October 2024. Leapmotor initially focused on battery electric vehicles (BEVs) but expanded into extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) in 2023. Its current lineup in China includes the T03, B10, B01, C01, C10, C11, and C16, with select models offered in both BEV and EREV variants. Leapmotor has…

Chinese automaker BYD has responded to Euro NCAP’s 2024 ‘Not Recommended’ rating of the Atto 3’s Assisted Driving system, upgrading existing vehicles via software and introducing a new system for the 2025 model year. The updated system is now rated as ‘Good,’ while older models achieve a ‘Moderate’ score after the over-the-air update. Euro NCAP had initially flagged the 2022 Atto 3 for serious shortcomings in its Intelligent Cruise Control, BYD’s Level 2 driver-assistance system. The assessment found the system failed to respond appropriately to other vehicles or motorcycles and did not adequately intervene when drivers were unresponsive, resulting in…