Author: Linda Ma

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Zeekr has unveiled its forthcoming full-size SUV, the Zeekr 9X, positioning it as a global flagship ultra-luxury model. The 9X will be the first to incorporate Zeekr’s advanced super electric hybrid technology. The company plans to debut the Zeekr 9X at the Shanghai Auto Show in late April, with deliveries expected to commence in the third quarter of 2025. An ultra-luxury variant, the Zeekr 9X Grand, is anticipated to be priced above RMB 1 million yuan (approximately $137,840). See also: Zeekr 007 GT Makes Real-Life Debut, with 825 km Range and 800V Charging This launch signifies…

Tesla has extended the deadline for its RMB 8,000 ($1,101) insurance subsidy on the Model 3 in China to March 17, 2025, giving prospective buyers additional time to take advantage of the incentive. The subsidy applies to all Model 3 variants purchased before the new deadline. Tesla is also offering a 5-year 0% interest financing program, with down payments starting at RMB 79,900 ($10,997) and monthly payments as low as RMB 2,460 ($339). See also: Tesla Revives 0% APR Financing for Model 3 Amid End-of-Quarter Sales Push Meanwhile, in the United States, Tesla has introduced new promotional offers for the…

Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) is planning to establish an autonomous driving research and development (R&D) center in Silicon Valley as part of its broader push into the self-driving segment, local media reported on Tuesday. The new facility will report to GWM’s Chief Technology Officer, Wu Huixiao, and the company is actively recruiting smart driving talent in Silicon Valley, tech media outlet Leiphone said, citing a person familiar with the matter. GWM currently operates technology centers in Detroit and Los Angeles, according to its website. See also: Great Wall Motor Launches New Ultra-Luxury Brand  GWM spun off its smart…

Tesla reported a significant decrease in sales of its China-made electric vehicles (EVs) for February, with figures reaching the lowest point since August 2022. The company sold 30,688 units during the month, marking a 49.2% decline compared to the same period last year and a 51.47% drop from January’s sales of 63,238 vehicles. In the first two months of 2025, Tesla’s Shanghai plant sold a total of 93,926 vehicles globally, reflecting a 28.7% decrease from the 131,812 units sold during the same period in the previous year. See also: Tesla Deploys U.S. Engineers to China for FSD Development, Advances Local…

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD announced on Tuesday that it had raised $5.59 billion in a primary share sale, marking the largest offering of its kind in Hong Kong since 2021. The deal, initially planned at 118 million shares, was expanded to 129.8 million shares due to investor demand. BYD priced the shares at HK$335.20 ($43.11) each, representing a 7.8% discount to Monday’s closing price of HK$363.60. Following the sale, BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares opened 8% lower on Tuesday, while the broader Hang Seng Index  dropped 1.5%. The company said the transaction was the largest equity follow-on offering globally in…

BYD is aiming to raise up to HK$40.7 billion ($5.2 billion) through a primary share placement in Hong Kong, according to a Bloomberg report citing deal terms. The Chinese automaker is offering 118 million shares at a price range of HK$333 to HK$345 per share, representing a discount of up to 8.4% from its Monday closing price of HK$363.60. The company plans to allocate the proceeds toward research and development, overseas expansion, working capital replenishment, and general corporate purposes. See also: JPMorgan Raises BYD’s 2026 Sales Forecast to 6.5 Million Units, Expects 30% Growth in 2025 BYD’s stock has experienced…

Onvo, a sub-brand of Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio, has launched a flexible battery upgrade service, allowing owners of its L60 model to switch between standard and long-range battery packs on a daily, monthly, or annual basis. The service, which takes advantage of Onvo’s battery swap technology, will be introduced on a trial basis in 16 cities starting March 1, with a nationwide rollout expected by mid-March, the company announced on its mobile app. See also: Onvo L90 Teased in First Official Image, Set to Rival Li Auto’s Li i8 “Onvo aims to provide users with greater flexibility and convenience…

Xpeng introduced the 2025 G6 SUV in China on Friday, marking the latest step in the company’s global expansion strategy. The electric vehicle (EV) maker announced that the updated model will officially launch in early March with pricing details to follow. The 2025 G6, built on an 800-volt high-voltage platform with a standard 5C fast-charging battery pack, features 81 upgrades in design and technology. Xpeng noted that the new version updates 34% of its key components and is slightly longer than its predecessor at 4,758 mm. See also: Xpeng to Launch Mona M03 Max With Enhanced Smart Driving in May…

BYD reported a sharp rebound in new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in February, as demand recovered following the Chinese New Year holiday. The automaker sold 322,846 NEVs last month, marking a 163.95% year-on-year increase and a 7.42% rise from January, according to company data. See also: BYD to Expand In-Vehicle Drone System in Collaboration with DJI China’s auto market typically experiences a slowdown at the start of the year, particularly in months affected by the Lunar New Year holiday, which fell between January 28 and February 4 this year. BYD’s strong February performance brought its cumulative NEV sales for the…

Chinese automaker Chery has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong as it seeks to finance its expansion and strengthen its position in the global automotive market. The company, one of China’s leading vehicle exporters, aims to utilize the proceeds to accelerate research and development, enhance manufacturing capabilities, and expand internationally. CICC, Huatai Securities, and GF Securities are serving as joint sponsors for the IPO, according to a listing document made public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Friday. The targeted fundraising amount has not been disclosed. See also: Chery to Equip Low-Cost Models with Smart…

China FAW Group’s premium brand Hongqi has introduced the Tiangong 05, an all-electric mid-size sedan, marking the second model under its Tiangong modular platform following the launch of the Tiangong 08 electric SUV last month. Hongqi is offering four variants of the Tiangong 05, with starting prices set at RMB 159,800 ($22,020), RMB 169,800, RMB 175,800, and RMB 185,800, respectively. See also: China’s Hongqi Unveils Tiangong 08 Electric SUV with Up to 730 km Range The sedan measures 4,820 mm in length, 1,915 mm in width, and 1,480 mm in height, featuring a wheelbase of 2,900 mm. It is based…

Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun expressed confidence in the SU7 Ultra’s market prospects, stating that the company is “90 percent sure” of reaching its 10,000-unit sales target for the high-performance electric sedan this year. “The Ultra is a strong product, and our team is confident that we are 90 percent sure of our 10,000-unit annual sales target,” Lei wrote on Weibo on Monday, a day before the official launch event. See also: Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Gets a Sleek Cosmic Silver Makeover Xiaomi’s automotive division, Xiaomi EV, confirmed that the SU7 Ultra will be launched on February 27 at 7…

Tesla sent engineers from its U.S. headquarters to China in early February to work on the local deployment of Full Self-Driving (FSD) and refine its algorithms, Chinese media outlet LatePost reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The initiative aims to enhance FSD’s functionality in China while ensuring data remains within the country. Once the U.S. engineers complete their work, Tesla’s local team will take over to further optimize the system for Chinese road conditions, the report said. See also: Tesla Rolls Out Advanced Assisted Driving Features in China, Avoiding FSD Label Tesla has been collecting training data…

Tesla has begun rolling out high-level assisted driving features in China, stopping short of branding them as Full Self-Driving (FSD). The U.S. electric vehicle (EV) maker started pushing software update version 2024.45.32.12 on Sunday, introducing enhanced Autopilot navigation capabilities on city streets, according to Tesla’s update log. The update improves Navigate on Autopilot (NOA), enabling vehicles to handle ramps and intersections based on navigation routes and to recognize traffic signals for maneuvers, including straight driving, left and right turns, and U-turns. See also: Tesla Prepares to Roll Out FSD Features for Chinese Customers “When the navigation route is not set,…

Li Auto has unveiled its first all-electric SUV, the Li i8, signaling its latest push into China’s competitive battery electric vehicle (BEV) market. The move marks a crucial test for the automaker, which has so far relied on its success with extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). The company announced the Li i8 on its social media platforms, sharing images of the vehicle alongside the Li L9 SUV and the Li Mega multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), its first BEV model launched in March 2024. Li Auto founder, chairman, and CEO Li Xiang explained on Weibo that the “i” in the name represents “intelligence,”…

China Evergrande Group’s electric vehicle unit has agreed to sell its 20% stake in a Swedish real estate property lessor for 60 million krona ($5.63 million) as it seeks to meet urgent payment obligations, the company said on Tuesday. The sale of the stake in AB Trollhättan Propellern 13 will help China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group (0708.HK) cover imminent tax payments and other financial commitments. The company expects to incur a disposal loss of 23.8 million krona following the transaction with Logistikfastigheter i Trollhättan AB. Evergrande, the world’s most indebted property developer with liabilities exceeding $300 billion, was ordered…

SAIC-GM-Wuling has introduced a four-door version of its popular Hongguang Mini EV, aiming to broaden its market reach in China’s competitive electric vehicle sector. The new model, which builds on the success of the two-door variant, is priced between RMB 44,800 ($6,180) and RMB 50,800, the automaker announced at a launch event. The Mini EV, first introduced in July 2020, has gained traction due to its affordability and compact design. SAIC-GM-Wuling said cumulative sales of the Mini EV family have surpassed 1.5 million units. “The Mini EV has been a game-changer in urban mobility, and the four-door version will further…

Tesla is preparing to roll out a self-driving software update for customers in China, offering driving-assistance capabilities similar to its Full Self-Driving (FSD) features available in the United States, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing a person familiar with the matter. The update will be available to customers who have purchased Tesla’s FSD package for 64,000 yuan ($8,831.73), the report said. The software will enable driver-assist features for city streets and will initially be introduced on select models before being gradually expanded. See also: Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Approval in China Faces Uncertainty Amid U.S.-China Trade Tensions Tesla’s self-driving features have…

Analysts at JPMorgan have revised their sales projections for BYD, forecasting that the Chinese automaker will likely become the “Toyota” of the global electric vehicle (EV) industry. In a research note published on Wednesday, analyst Nick Lai’s team increased their global sales estimate for BYD in 2026 to 6.5 million units, up from the 6 million units projected last July. Their forecast for overseas markets remains unchanged at 1.5 million units. See also: BYD CEO: Chinese EVs Are 3-5 Years Ahead of Global Rivals The latest estimate suggests BYD’s share of the global light-duty vehicle market—including internal combustion engine models—will…

Xiaomi is set to officially launch its high-performance SU7 Ultra electric vehicle in the coming days, with a potential surprise—a two-seat variant. The latest regulatory filings from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) indicate that the SU7 Ultra has been included in a catalog of configuration changes, with public feedback open from February 20-26. Regulatory approval is one of the last steps before a model can be sold in China. The filing reveals a key modification: the SU7 Ultra will now be available with either a five-seat or a two-seat layout, departing from its original five-seat configuration. See…