Author: Linda Ma

Xpeng said its new P7 electric sedan completed a 24-hour endurance test, covering 3,961 kilometers and setting a new record for the longest distance traveled by an electric vehicle in a single day. The test was conducted in Changchun, Jilin province, in northeastern China between 9:02 a.m. on Aug. 14 and 9:02 a.m. on Aug. 15. The vehicle drove continuously at 210 kilometers per hour, including time spent charging. Xpeng noted that the test verified the robustness of the P7’s core system capabilities. The endurance run was delayed by one day due to heavy rain and fog, which impacted track…

Changan officially introduced the 2026 Deepal L07 to the Chinese market, marking its most affordable model yet equipped across the range with Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 4.0 SE advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS). The new sedan is offered in both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants, featuring more powerful electric motors and an upgraded Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P chip powering the Deepal OS 4.0. Pricing for the new Deepal L07 ranges from 145,900 yuan ($20,300) to 165,900 yuan ($23,100), depending on the variant. Both the BEV and EREV models are rear-wheel drive, with the BEV featuring a 200 kW…

Li Auto has reportedly reversed a sales network restructuring introduced earlier this year, returning to a province-based system after less than six months under a five-region model. Local media outlet 36kr reported that the company had initially consolidated its previous 26 provincial sales regions into five “war zones” — East, West, South, North, and Central — with each zone responsible for its own sales volume, profit, and Net Promoter Score (NPS). The regional approach had aimed to allow teams to tailor strategies to local markets, but it reportedly created internal competition for orders and strained short-term sales targets. Facing intensified…

BYD has launched the Seal 5 DM-i plug-in hybrid sedan in Thailand, marking the fourth model produced at its Rayong plant and the first right-hand drive vehicle from the facility. The Seal 5 DM-i, known as the Chaser 05 in China, is available in two trims – Premium and Standard. The Premium variant starts at 769,900 Thai baht ($23,730) with a limited-time promotional price of 699,900 baht. Pricing for the Standard version will be announced after competing models set their market rates. The Thai-produced Seal 5 DM-i underscores BYD’s growing investment in Southeast Asia’s automotive manufacturing sector. The company has…

Great Wall Motor (GWM) has begun pre-sales for the refreshed Tank 500 SUV, offering two plug-in hybrid variants aimed at distinct customer segments. The Tank 500 Hi4-T is designed with off-road capability in mind, while the Hi4-Z focuses on family use. The Hi4-T is priced at RMB 360,000 ($50,080) and comes with a single-motor system delivering 120 kW, paired with a 37.1 kWh battery offering a WLTC range of 110 kilometers. The Hi4-Z, priced at RMB 388,800, features dual motors with a combined output of 455 kW and a larger 59.05 kWh battery that provides a 201-kilometer WLTC range. Both…

China’s BYD Co Ltd sub-brand Fang Cheng Bao has commenced production of the first mass-produced unit of its Tai 7 hybrid sport utility vehicle (SUV), with the official launch planned for the fourth quarter, the company said. Fang Cheng Bao announced the milestone on its Weibo account without providing additional specifics. The Tai 7 is the second model in the Tai series, following the Tai 3, and marks the brand’s first hybrid SUV featuring a unibody design. The move reflects the brand’s strategy to diversify its lineup from primarily off-road vehicles to models suited for everyday urban use. The Tai…

Shares of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng gained nearly 8% in Hong Kong trading on Monday after the company set a launch timeline for its first hybrid model, the X9 EREV, boosting investor expectations for sales growth. The stock rose 7.94% to HK$85.65, its highest level in almost five months, bringing its gains this month to 19%. The advance came after the extended-range version of Xpeng’s X9 multi-purpose vehicle was listed in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s regulatory filing catalog, signalling an upcoming market debut. The X9 EREV, described as the company’s first super hybrid model, is scheduled…

China’s retail sales of passenger new energy vehicles (NEVs) fell back below 1 million units in July, with hybrid models recording their first year-on-year decline since tracking began, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). July passenger NEV retail sales totaled 987,000 units, representing a 12.0 percent increase from the same month last year but an 11.2 percent decrease compared to June. This figure was below earlier CPCA estimates, which had forecast retail sales just above the 1 million mark. The data marks a retreat from May and June’s rebounds that pushed sales above 1 million…

An autonomous vehicle operated by Baidu’s Apollo Go robotaxi service fell into a deep construction pit in southwestern China while carrying a passenger, local media reported on Friday, sparking renewed discussion about the safety of self-driving cars. The incident occurred on Wednesday in Chongqing, according to reports from the Southern Metropolis Daily and Huashang Newspaper. A female passenger was uninjured and was rescued by nearby residents using a ladder. Videos circulating on Chinese social media showed a white vehicle bearing the Baidu Apollo logo at the bottom of what appeared to be a construction trench. A local shop owner told…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor will introduce an all-wheel-drive version of its C10 compact SUV in Europe this autumn, featuring 800-volt technology and a dual-motor setup delivering 430 kW of power. The performance variant, available exclusively in the ‘Design’ trim, can accelerate from zero to 100 kph in four seconds. The new variant is powered by two electric motors — one on each axle — and is expected to weigh over two tonnes. It represents a major upgrade from the 400-volt architecture used in previous European C10 models. The 800-volt system is designed to improve charging performance, enabling the battery…

Li Auto shares dropped 5.3% to HK$97.35 in Hong Kong trading on Tuesday, extending their decline to 21.8% since July 21 and pushing the stock into a technical bear market. The fall comes despite the official launch of the Li i8, the company’s first all-electric SUV. The Li i8 debuted on July 29 with three variants—Pro, Max and Ultra—priced between RMB 321,800 and RMB 369,800. The starting price was cut by more than 8% from the company’s initial estimate, a common tactic in China’s competitive auto market, but analysts said the model faced pricing pressure from rival products, including Nio’s…

Nio Inc’s premium small electric vehicle brand, Firefly, will begin its first deliveries in Europe on August 14, starting in Norway and the Netherlands. The rollout marks the brand’s initial step toward building overseas sales, with additional markets expected to follow later this year. The launch coincides with the 10th anniversary of Nio’s global design center in Munich, which has played a central role in shaping the company’s European strategy. Over the past decade, the Chinese EV maker has entered five European markets — Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Denmark — while developing an ecosystem that includes products, services,…