Author: Linda Ma

Xiaomi is working to boost vehicle production capacity as delivery wait times for its SU7 electric sedan remain high. Founder and CEO Lei Jun visited the company’s Beijing EV factory to discuss expansion efforts, stating on Weibo, “I am in the R&D center of our car factory, with the paint shop outside my window.” The first phase of Xiaomi’s EV plant, with an annual capacity of 150,000 units, is already operational. Construction of the second phase, located nearby, is underway with double shifts to speed up progress. See also: Xiaomi EV Surpasses 20,000 SU7 Deliveries for Four Consecutive Months, Aiming…

China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle said on Monday it is facing difficulties in securing strategic investors due to a severe liquidity crisis, which has disrupted operations and delayed key audits for 2024. “The tough conditions under which the new energy vehicle in Mainland China is operating has certainly not facilitated this (securing a strategic investor) process,” the company stated. See also: China Issues Groundbreaking Insurance Guidelines for New Energy Vehicles The electric vehicle (EV) unit of embattled property developer China Evergrande (3333.HK) remains in search of investors as it seeks to stabilize its operations and address ongoing financial struggles. To…

Geely has announced that its Galaxy E5 electric SUV has achieved a production milestone, with the 100,000th unit rolling off the assembly line in China. The Galaxy E5 was launched on August 3, 2024, and has seen rapid sales growth since its debut. In its first 20 days on the market, the Galaxy E5 delivered over 10,000 units. By day 45, deliveries had reached 20,000 units, and by day 67, the figure rose to 30,000 units. The SUV surpassed 50,000 units delivered by day 100 and reached 60,000 units by day 119. See also: Everything You Should Know About the…

BYD has introduced its Shark super hybrid pickup to the Ecuadorian market, further expanding its presence in the global pickup segment. Built on BYD’s DMO platform, the Shark combines electrification with off-road capability, featuring dual electric motors generating over 430 horsepower and a 0-100 km/h acceleration of 5.7 seconds. Seee also: Everything You Should Know About the BYD Shark: Specifications and Features The Shark’s battery system includes a 29.58 kWh Blade Battery, offering a total NEDC range of 840 kilometers, including 100 kilometers on electric power alone. The vehicle also boasts a low-charge fuel consumption of 7.5 L/100 km, improving…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Zeekr has announced the delivery of its 15,000th vehicle to an overseas market, reaching this milestone with a delivery in Australia. This achievement comes as the company continues its international expansion, which began in 2023 with its entry into Sweden. Currently, Zeekr operates in multiple markets, including Sweden, Denmark, France, Norway, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Singapore, among others. See also: Zeekr to Introduce Three New Models in 2025, Including Hybrid Options It has outlined plans to establish 100 sales stores and 70 service centers overseas by 2025, focusing on providing tailored services to local markets.…

Tesla’s facelifted Model Y has garnered significant attention in China, with over 70,000 orders placed within five days of its launch on January 10, according to local media outlet Yicai, citing an insider. Another report from Jiemian suggested that as of January 15, orders for the Model Y had reached 73,400, including nearly 60,000 for the revamped version since pre-sales began. See also:Tesla Debuts Model Y “Juniper” in China Showrooms The updated Model Y marks Tesla’s first major model refresh launched initially in China. The five-seat SUV, produced at Tesla’s Shanghai factory, features two variants in a “Launch Series” lineup:…

The Hongqi Tiangong 05, the production model inspired by the Hongqi E009 concept car, represents a significant leap in the brand’s pursuit of innovation in the electric vehicle market. Built on the Tiangong pure electric platform, designed to support multiple vehicle types such as sedans, SUVs, MPVs, and crossovers, the Tiangong 05 offers a fusion of sophisticated design and advanced technology. See also: China’s Hongqi Unveils Tiangong 08 Electric SUV with Up to 730 km Range On the exterior, the Tiangong 05 stands out with its sharp, slender headlights complemented by distinct light units and a trapezoidal lower grille. The…

Nio exceeded 100,000 battery swaps in a single day for the second time, with 103,919 services recorded on January 23, as Chinese New Year travel preparations drove demand. The milestone highlights the growing importance of battery swapping during high-traffic periods, the company said in a Weibo post. Over 80% of the energy supplied to Nio vehicles on highways during the travel rush came from its battery swap network. Nio’s services have proven crucial in alleviating strain on traditional charging facilities during busy travel seasons, such as the Chinese New Year holiday, which this year runs from January 28 to February…

Fang Cheng Bao, a sub-brand of Chinese automaker BYD, announced the recall of 6,843 Bao 5 plug-in hybrid vehicles due to safety concerns. The affected units were manufactured between October 16, 2023, and February 1, 2024, according to a notice published on China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) website. See also: BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao Unveils New SUV Model and Concepts The recall addresses improperly locked electrical connector bolts in the integrated dual-motor controller of certain vehicles, which could loosen over time. This defect may cause arcing and, in extreme cases, lead to smoke or fire, posing a serious…

Xiaomi has issued its first vehicle recall, targeting 30,931 SU7 Standard Edition electric cars following reports of accidents linked to its parking assistance feature. The affected vehicles were manufactured between February 6, 2024, and November 26, 2024. The recall, effective immediately, involves a free over-the-air (OTA) software update to address the issue, as per a statement on the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) website. See also: Xiaomi’s SU7 Outpaces Tesla’s Model 3 in December Deliveries in China’s Sedan Market The recall was prompted by user complaints about a timing synchronization anomaly in the parking assistance system, which hindered the…

BMW  has joined a growing list of Chinese automakers in filing a challenge at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) against the EU’s tariffs on China-made electric vehicles (EVs). The filing, available on the court’s website, comes after the EU imposed new tariffs on China-made EVs in late October, following an anti-subsidy investigation. See also: 2024 Sees Strong Growth in Global EV Market, With China Leading the Way The tariff for BMW, which produces the electric Mini Cooper and Mini Aceman in China, has been set at 20.7%. According to court documents, the German automaker submitted its…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers BYD, Geely, and SAIC have filed legal challenges against the European Union’s recently imposed import tariffs at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), court filings revealed on Thursday. The tariffs, introduced in late October following an EU anti-subsidy investigation, added substantial duties to the standard 10% car import tax. BYD faces a 17.0% tariff, Geely 18.8%, and SAIC 35.3%. Legal filings indicate the companies lodged their complaints at the General Court—the CJEU’s lower chamber—on Tuesday, narrowly meeting the filing deadline. See also: Europe’s EV Battery Ambitions Falter as China Steps in to Fill…

Chinese automaker BYD announced that its luxury Denza Z9 GT achieved a milestone, delivering 10,000 units just four months after its launch on September 20, 2024. The company claims the Z9 GT is the “fastest new energy luxury car” to surpass this mark, with an average sale price of 380,000 yuan ($52,000). Offered in both fully electric (EV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions, the Denza Z9 GT targets premium buyers, positioning itself to compete with luxury brands like Porsche and BMW. The EV variant is available in Pro and Max trims, starting at 354,800 yuan ($48,500) and 384,800 yuan ($52,600),…

CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) battery maker, revealed plans to announce a new joint venture for an EV battery plant in Europe with a local automaker. The announcement was made by Vice Chairman Pan Jian during the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday. “We expect to announce new joint venture factory projects with other OEMs in Europe this year,” Pan said, according to Interface News. While the details of the new plant, including its location and partners, remain undisclosed, the announcement underscores CATL’s ongoing efforts to expand its presence in the European market. See also: CATL Unveils…

Chinese self-driving technology developer Inceptio Technologies, also known as Yingche Technology Shanghai, is considering an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States, according to a report by Bloomberg on Monday. The company aims to raise between $100 million and $200 million if the IPO proceeds as planned this year. Inceptio specializes in autonomous driving solutions for heavy-duty trucks, a growing sector as global logistics and transportation industries embrace automation. The company has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding its IPO plans. Should the listing materialize, Inceptio would join fellow Chinese autonomous vehicle developers WeRide and Pony.ai in…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpengis set to significantly increase its office space and workforce as it continues its expansion. The company plans to open a new headquarters building in Guangzhou in August, with office space tripling to over 500,000 square meters, according to a video shared by Xpeng on Saturday. Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng announced the development at an employee meeting, stating that the building would include modern amenities such as a dining area accommodating 5,000 people and four underground garage levels with double-decker parking spaces. Xpeng’s auto-parking technology team has been tasked with ensuring vehicles can autonomously…

China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) ownership reached 31.4 million units by the end of December 2024, marking a significant milestone as the figure surpassed the 30 million mark. NEVs, which include battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and fuel cell vehicles, now account for 8.9 percent of the country’s total vehicle ownership, which stands at 353 million vehicles, according to data released by China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The ownership of BEVs alone reached 22.09 million units, making up 70.34 percent of the total NEV ownership. In 2024, China registered 11.25 million new NEVs, reflecting a 51.49 percent…

BYD has revealed official images of its flagship Han L sedan and Tang L SUV from the Dynasty series, ahead of their scheduled debut. The design introduction event is set for January 17 at 2 p.m. Beijing time. The company released two images of each model, showcasing the exterior designs of the vehicles for the first time. This follows an earlier teaser from January 3, which provided limited visual details. Both models also appeared in the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s (MIIT) latest catalog on January 10, where key specifications were disclosed. The Han L and Tang L models…

Tesla plans to halt part of its Shanghai production lines for approximately three weeks to optimize equipment and improve production capacity for its updated Model Y SUV. According to a Bloomberg report, citing sources familiar with the matter, the shutdown will affect the lines that produce the facelifted Model Y and will take place from January 22 to February 14, 2025. The disruption coincides with the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, which runs from January 28 to February 4, a period during which industrial production in China often experiences slowdowns. As noted in the Bloomberg report, it is not uncommon…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng and BP pulse have signed a memorandum of understanding to open their charging networks to each other’s customers, granting access to over 30,000 charging points across China. The collaboration will also see the two companies launch pilot projects in select cities, featuring co-branded ultra-fast chargers installed in key economic hubs. These locations, designed to enhance user experience, will provide “a higher density, higher quality, safer, and more reliable charging experience,” according to Car News China. The pilot projects aim to establish charging infrastructure in core economic zones, including transportation networks, research parks, and environmental regulation…