Author: Linda Ma

China’s BYD will unveil the updated Seal 07 DM-i hybrid sedan this week, featuring a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor aimed at strengthening its advanced driver-assistance capabilities. The company said on social media platform Weibo that the 2026 model-year version of the Seal 07 DM-i will debut on August 29, the opening day of the Chengdu auto show. Official images show the LiDAR system mounted on the roof, a feature not present in the earlier model. According to BYD, “the 2026 Seal 07 DM-i will incorporate roof-mounted LiDAR to enhance safety and intelligent driving performance.” The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) will…

Tesla’s extended wheelbase Model Y L has sold out its September 2025 allocation in China, with new orders now scheduled for delivery in October, according to the company’s local website. The six-seat variant of Tesla’s best-selling crossover was launched earlier this month, with executives stating that the first batch of deliveries would begin in September. “Tesla cars are fun to drive alone, whether you have children or how many children, this car can meet all your needs. We will deliver in September and wait for you to get in the car,” Tesla China Vice President Grace Tao wrote on Weibo.…

Shares of Nio listed in Hong Kong continued to climb, rising more than 13% to HK$51.75, the highest level since October 2024, as investors responded positively to the launch of the company’s third-generation ES8 sport utility vehicle. The stock has gained about 33% over three sessions since the new ES8 debuted on August 21, and is up nearly 90% since July, when Nio’s sub-brand Onvo introduced its flagship L90 SUV. The new ES8, which entered pre-sales on August 21, comes with a standard 100-kWh battery pack and a starting price of RMB 416,800 ($58,190). That represents a reduction of RMB…

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has released subsidy data for the country’s New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sector, showing that about 1.65 billion yuan (€198 million) was paid to automakers between 2016 and 2020, with state-owned BAIC’s electric unit emerging as the largest recipient. According to the figures, Beijing Electric Vehicle (BJEV), part of BAIC and a shareholder in Mercedes-Benz, received 556 million yuan (€67 million) during the period. Despite that, BJEV’s presence in Europe remains limited, with only its Arcfox brand currently available in Spain. By comparison, BYD – China’s largest private carmaker – received just 15.74…

China’s state-owned Dongfeng Motor Corp said on Friday it would privatise its Hong Kong-listed subsidiary, Dongfeng Motor Group, in a deal valued at HK$55.13 billion ($7.06 billion), while preparing to list its electric vehicle brand Voyah separately. Dongfeng will pay HK$6.68 per share, representing an 11.9% premium to the unit’s last close on August 8 before trading was suspended. The parent company, which currently holds a 13.16% stake in the listed entity, has applied for the resumption of trading on the Hong Kong exchange, according to LSEG data. The decision comes as Chinese automakers face a prolonged price war that…

Nio has launched its third-generation ES8 sport-utility vehicle at a lower price point, with founder and chief executive William Li underscoring that survival remains the company’s top priority as competition in China’s electric vehicle sector intensifies. The new ES8 entered pre-sales this week starting at RMB 416,800 ($58,030) with a 100-kWh battery pack, representing a 25% reduction from the RMB 556,000 starting price of its predecessor. Under the company’s battery-as-a-service (BaaS) plan, the SUV begins at RMB 308,800, compared with RMB 428,000 for the previous model. Nio said the model continues to generate a gross margin despite the lower pricing,…

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…