Author: Linda Ma

CATL’s Chocolate Swap battery-swapping network has expanded to 1,650 stations across China, underscoring the company’s ambition to transform from a battery manufacturer into a comprehensive energy services provider. The company announced that its battery-swapping infrastructure now spans 127 cities nationwide, up significantly from its plan unveiled in June 2025 to build 1,020 stations across 45 cities by the end of that year. According to CATL, the network has been growing at an average pace of more than 200 new stations per month over the past six months. Building a Nationwide Swapping Network CATL said it aims to expand the Chocolate…

A senior official at the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) has called for reforms to China’s road taxation system, arguing that the rapid growth of new energy vehicles (NEVs) requires a new approach to funding road infrastructure. Cui Dongshu, secretary general of the CPCA, said the current system, which relies largely on fuel consumption-related taxes, is becoming increasingly outdated as electric vehicles gain market share. NEV Growth Reshaping the Market Cui’s comments come as China’s passenger vehicle market continues its transition toward electrification. According to preliminary CPCA data, new energy vehicles accounted for 63% of passenger vehicle retail sales in…

Leapmotor delivered a record 81,569 vehicles in May, marking its highest monthly sales total to date as the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer continued to benefit from strong demand in its home market. The May figure represented an 80.99% increase from a year earlier and a 14.26% rise from April, according to data released by the company. The result surpassed the previous monthly record of 71,387 vehicles set in April. The latest performance extends a period of rapid growth for the automaker, which has emerged as one of China’s fastest-growing new energy vehicle brands. Incentives and New Models Support Growth To…

Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) reported vehicle deliveries of 46,122 units in May, extending its recovery from a slower start to the year as new model launches contributed to stronger sales momentum. According to data released by HIMA, May deliveries increased 3.77% year-on-year and rose 40.79% compared with April. The result marked the second consecutive month of sequential growth after deliveries increased 23.17% month-on-month in April. January-May Deliveries Rise From January through May, HIMA delivered approximately 192,000 vehicles, representing a 26.5% increase compared with the same period in 2025. The alliance attributed the improvement largely to the introduction of…

Seres Group is reportedly preparing to launch a new automotive brand aimed at younger consumers and the performance-oriented vehicle market, according to a report by LatePost. The new brand is expected to debut in June and will focus on smart new energy vehicles, with support from Chongqing state-owned capital and technology participation from ByteDance’s cloud platform, Volcengine. New Venture Receives Fresh Funding According to the report, the business will operate through Chongqing Saidou Technology Co. Ltd., formerly known as Landian Technology Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Seres Group. Earlier this week, the company completed a capital increase and share expansion…

BYD has announced a new accident coverage program for its intelligent driving systems in China while unveiling its self-developed Xuanji A3 automotive chip, expanding the company’s efforts in advanced driver assistance technologies. The announcements were made during BYD’s Intelligence Strategy Launch Event in Shenzhen on 28 May 2026. Coverage for Intelligent Driving Functions BYD said it will provide one year of full damage coverage for eligible users of its intelligent driving system. The policy applies to new vehicle buyers as well as existing owners who upgrade to the latest version of the company’s God’s Eye 5.0 driver assistance platform. According…

BYD has introduced the Song Ultra DM-i sport utility vehicle in China, expanding its plug-in hybrid lineup with a new model featuring up to 310 kilometres of electric-only driving range and the company’s latest intelligent vehicle technologies. The Song Ultra DM-i was unveiled during BYD’s intelligent technology strategy event on Thursday and is offered in five variants priced between 129,900 yuan ($19,160) and 159,900 yuan. The launch marks the arrival of a plug-in hybrid SUV capable of delivering up to 310 kilometres of pure-electric range in the 130,000-yuan price segment, a notable milestone in China’s increasingly competitive new energy vehicle…

Li Auto reported a sharp deterioration in profitability during the first quarter of 2026, posting a net loss of 2.3 billion yuan ($330 million) as lower vehicle margins and slowing sales growth weighed on results. The Chinese automaker released its unaudited first-quarter earnings on Thursday, reporting a reversal from the 647 million yuan net profit recorded in the same period a year earlier. Revenue declined 11.4% year-on-year to 23 billion yuan, reflecting increasing competitive pressure in China’s electric vehicle market and a shift in product mix. Despite the weaker financial performance, Li Auto delivered 95,142 vehicles during the quarter, exceeding…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio reported higher vehicle deliveries and revenue for the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, although results declined from the previous quarter amid seasonal weakness in China’s automotive market. Nio delivered 83,465 vehicles during the January-to-March period, representing a 98.3% increase from the first quarter of 2025. However, deliveries fell 33.1% compared with the fourth quarter of 2025. The total included 58,543 vehicles under the Nio brand, along with 13,339 units from its Onvo brand and 11,583 units from Firefly. The company attributed part of the sequential slowdown to seasonal…

BYD has filed a new patent related to solid-state battery technology, expanding its research efforts in next-generation battery systems amid intensifying competition among Chinese battery manufacturers, according to a report by Sina. The patent filing, identified as CN121983643A and published by China’s National Intellectual Property Administration, covers a “composite solid electrolyte membrane and its preparation method, solid-state battery, battery pack and electrical device.” According to the filing, the patented structure combines multiple inorganic solid electrolyte particles with a polymer electrolyte fibre network coating designed to improve ionic conductivity and mechanical strength. The document describes the electrolyte layer as containing both…

Xiaomi has officially launched the high-performance Xiaomi YU7 GT, marking the company’s expansion into the premium electric vehicle segment. The YU7 GT starts at 389,900 yuan ($57,290), while a higher-specification version is priced at 429,900 yuan. The launch comes alongside Xiaomi’s newly introduced lower-cost standard YU7 variant, which starts at 233,500 yuan and is aimed at competing with Tesla’s Tesla Model Y in China. The YU7 GT is larger than the standard YU7 model, measuring 5,015 millimeters in length, 2,007 millimeters in width and 1,597 millimeters in height, while maintaining the same 3,000-millimeter wheelbase. The vehicle is powered by Xiaomi’s…

BYD has officially launched the flash charging edition of the Denza N9 luxury SUV in China as the company expands adoption of its latest fast-charging platform across its vehicle lineup. The large plug-in hybrid SUV starts at 409,800 yuan ($60,260), below the 450,000 yuan starting pre-sales price announced last month. The Denza N9 flash charging edition is offered in three trim levels priced at 409,800 yuan, 439,800 yuan and 469,800 yuan respectively. The vehicle’s main upgrade is the integration of BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery and the company’s newest flash charging technology across all variants. The plug-in hybrid model uses a…