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…