Author: Linda Ma

Xiaomi has filed a single-motor variant of its YU7 SUV with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), signaling the company’s ongoing expansion into the electric vehicle (EV) market. The filing follows a dual-motor version submission last month, with both versions nearing regulatory approval. According to the MIIT’s catalog released on Thursday, the YU7 single-motor variant is powered by a 235 kW motor and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries supplied by BYD’s FinDreams Battery. The vehicle measures 4,999 mm in length, 1,996 mm in width, and 1,608 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,000 mm and a top…

Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD will officially enter the South Korean passenger car market on January 16, expanding its footprint in Asia after Japan. The company will hold a brand launch event to mark its official debut in the local market, following its earlier entry into South Korea’s commercial vehicle market. BYD Korea’s website is currently counting down to the launch event, which marks a significant step for the company in diversifying its presence in South Korea. The company first entered the market in 2016, focusing on commercial vehicles, including forklifts, buses, and trucks. In November 2024, BYD…

SAIC Motor, China’s largest automaker, has signed a new agreement to strengthen its partnership with Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL), focusing on the development of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This expanded collaboration will cover areas such as technology development, battery aftermarket services, and international market expansion. As part of the agreement, SAIC Motor will make CATL its preferred supplier of EV batteries, with a focus on integrating CATL’s Qilin and Shenxing battery technologies into SAIC’s vehicles. The two companies will work closely to customize these batteries to meet specific requirements for SAIC’s electric vehicle lineup. Additionally, the partnership will…

Tesla reportedly secured 50,000 orders for the newly refreshed Model Y within 24 hours of its unveiling in China, according to local reports. The mid-cycle update, introduced last week, includes design changes and spec upgrades, but it has faced mixed reactions compared to the recent Model 3 refresh. The orders came swiftly after Tesla revealed the updated Model Y, which is expected to begin deliveries in March, although it hasn’t yet launched in Europe or North America. While the figure represents just over a month’s worth of orders in a single day, the high demand is attributed to anticipation for…

Chinese logistics firm Cainiao, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, has launched the GT Pro, an advanced autonomous delivery vehicle designed for public road operations. The GT Pro is positioned as a significant enhancement of the GT model introduced last year, currently deployed across more than 10 provinces in China. “The GT Pro brings significant improvements in design, range, algorithm optimization, and interactive features,” Cainiao said in a statement. At 12 feet long, 7 feet high, and 4 feet wide, the GT Pro boasts compact dimensions comparable to small passenger cars like the Toyota Aygo X. Despite its size, the vehicle…

ProLogium, a Taiwanese company specializing in solid-state batteries, has introduced its fourth-generation lithium ceramic battery (LCB) system at CES. The new generation offers improvements in energy density, charging speed, and safety, marking a notable development in solid-state battery technology. The fourth-generation LCB battery delivers an energy density of 380 Wh/kg and 860-900 Wh/L, surpassing the third generation’s figures of 359 Wh/kg and 811 Wh/L. Charging time has been reduced, allowing for a 60% charge in four minutes and 80% in six minutes, compared to the previous generation’s five minutes to 60% and 8.5 minutes to 80%. These changes are expected…

Svolt Energy, the independent battery maker that spun off from Great Wall Motor, has unveiled its new fast-charging power battery at its 5th Battery Day event in Chengdu, Sichuan. The company introduced the Fengxing Short Blade Battery, which features an impressive 6C charging multiplier and an energy density of 185 Wh/kg, marking a significant step in advancing charging efficiency. The Fengxing battery is capable of charging from 10% to 80% state of charge (SOC) in just 8.5 minutes, showcasing the rapid charging capabilities that could become a key technology for future electric vehicles. Powered by Svolt’s third-generation short blade cells,…

Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD announced the maiden voyage of its third car carrier, the BYD Hefei, as it set sail for Europe carrying nearly 5,000 vehicles. The vessel, completed in September 2024, is the first ship in BYD’s fleet directly owned by the company. The BYD Hefei, named after the city housing one of BYD’s major production facilities, measures 199.9 meters in length, has a beam of 38 meters, and a design speed of 18.5 knots (34 km/h). It features a dual-fuel ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) design with a 7,000-car capacity. The vessel was built by Guangzhou Shipyard International…

Chinese automaker BYD has teased two upcoming models, the Tang L SUV and Han L sedan, signaling the start of heightened competition in the country’s new energy vehicle (NEV) market for 2025. The company shared teaser images of both models today on Weibo, marking the first public mention of these new vehicles. BYD has not provided additional details about the Tang L and Han L, which have yet to appear in regulatory databases. However, the images reveal that both models will be equipped with LiDAR technology, a feature not found in the current versions of the Tang and Han. LiDAR…

Volkswagen’s joint venture with SAIC Motor continued its dominance in China’s electric vehicle (EV) market in 2024, securing the title of top-selling joint venture brand. The partnership sold over 1.2 million vehicles last year, with more than 1.14 million units attributed to the Volkswagen brand, making it the top-selling joint venture in the country. The SAIC-Volkswagen ID family stood out with strong sales performance, especially the ID.3, which became the top-selling joint venture EV and A-class hatchback in China. With 130,222 ID electric vehicles sold in 2024, marking a 24% increase from 2023, the ID series was the best-selling joint…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Zeekr, a subsidiary of Geely Automobile Holdings, has outlined plans to launch three new models in 2025, including its first hybrid offerings. The announcement was made during a recent company call detailing sales targets for the coming year. The product lineup for 2025 will include a shooting brake model based on the Zeekr 007 electric sedan in the second quarter, a full-size flagship SUV in the third quarter, and a mid-to-large luxury SUV in the fourth quarter. The SUVs will be available in both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) configurations.…

Xiaomi has achieved significant success in 2024, delivering more than 135,000 electric vehicles (EVs) through its EV division, Xiaomi EV. With this accomplishment, the company is now targeting 300,000 vehicle deliveries for 2025. As of now, Xiaomi EV has expanded its presence with 200 stores in 58 cities across China. The company’s first model, the SU7, has already surpassed its 2024 delivery targets, reaching over 130,000 units by December 28, a year before its official unveiling. The SU7, launched in March 2024, is available in three variants—Standard, Pro, and Max—with prices starting at RMB 215,900 ($29,580). Deliveries of the Standard…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio has officially launched the ET9, a flagship executive sedan positioned to challenge premium offerings from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi. The ET9 debuted during Nio Day 2024 in Guangzhou, China, with a starting price of RMB 788,000 ($108,000), inclusive of the battery. The ET9 showcases Nio’s advancements in EV technology, marking its entry into the executive sedan segment. It features Nio’s proprietary 5 nm Shenji NX9031 autonomous driving chip, which boasts performance equivalent to four mainstream smart driving processors. The ET9 incorporates two of these chips alongside roof-mounted and side LiDAR units to enhance its intelligent…

Nio has begun preparations for the launch of Firefly, a new sub-brand dedicated to smart electric vehicles (EVs) for the global urban market. The brand’s official WeChat account, mini program, and mobile app became available today, alongside the unveiling of its logo. Firefly is positioned as a premium small car brand, offering a dynamic and agile solution for city commuters. The logo features a glowing firefly in flight, with the top half symbolizing the freedom to fly and the bottom representing inner strength, according to the company’s first post on WeChat. The brand is inspired by the firefly, which emits…

Huawei and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC) have completed a new factory for their jointly created automotive brand, Maextro, as they prepare for the launch of its first luxury model, the Maextro S800 sedan. The factory, located in Hefei, Anhui province, where JAC is headquartered, was officially completed on December 16. A ceremony marking the event was attended by executives from JAC and Huawei, as well as local officials, according to JAC’s statement. The facility is described as a state-of-the-art smart factory, incorporating advanced automation and artificial intelligence technologies. It houses nearly 1,500 robots to automate critical processes such as…

BYD has officially entered the Estonian passenger car market, marking a significant step in its ongoing European expansion. On December 11, the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker opened its first two stores in Estonia, located in the capital city of Tallinn and the country’s second-largest city, Tartu. This expansion was made possible through a partnership with international dealership group Inchcape Motors. The company introduced four of its key models to the Estonian market: the BYD Seal, Song Plus EV, Song Plus DM-i, and Dolphin, with pre-sales also kicking off on the same day. In Estonia, the Song Plus EV…

BYD’s Seagull, the company’s most affordable electric vehicle (EV), surged in sales last month, topping both electric and gas-powered car sales in China. With a starting price of approximately $10,000, the Seagull sold 56,156 units in November, a 38% increase compared to the same month in 2023. This performance allowed the Seagull to reclaim the title of China’s best-selling car from the Tesla Model Y. According to the China Passenger Car Association, the Seagull’s success came amidst a decline in sales for the Tesla Model Y, which saw an 11% drop in year-over-year sales, reaching 44,576 units. The Seagull, launched…

Chinese companies, known for their dominance in the electric vehicle (EV) market, are expanding their reach into the electric truck sector, using a robust domestic supply chain and competitive pricing strategies. Electric trucks currently account for less than 1% of global truck sales, but China led the market with 70% of sales in 2023, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). “This industry, I believe, is ripe for disruption,” said Han Wen, founder of the start-up Windrose, as the company’s first electric trucks were assembled at its factory. Established firms like BYD and Beiqi Foton are also ramping up exports,…

Xiaomi has unveiled its second electric vehicle (EV), the YU7, as the company moves forward with plans to expand its presence in the automotive market. Following the submission of its sales license application to China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the company also revealed key specifications and the first official images of the production version of the YU7. While the unveiling coincides with the MIIT’s release of homologation filings, it also provides a closer look at what Xiaomi’s new all-electric SUV has to offer. Design and Dimensions The Xiaomi YU7 is an all-electric SUV with a sleek and…

China’s electric vehicle (EV) market is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, with sales of fully electric and hybrid vehicles nearly tripling over the past three years and surging to almost eight times the levels recorded in 2020. While this rapid adoption is a boon for automakers, it poses significant challenges for the global oil industry, long reliant on China’s growing demand. Currently, almost 20% of the world’s oil production is consumed by China, with gasoline accounting for 25% of the nation’s oil usage. However, the rise of EVs is expected to drive a sharp and sustained drop in gasoline demand.…