Author: Linda Ma

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.…

Zeekr (NYSE: ZK) announced that it has delivered more than 30,000 units of its Zeekr 7X electric SUV, 75 days after its launch. The Zeekr 7X, which was introduced on September 20, is the company’s second model after the Zeekr 007 sedan. Deliveries began on September 21. The Zeekr 7X is available in three variants in China, with starting prices of RMB 229,900 ($31,570), RMB 249,900, and RMB 269,900. On November 11, Zeekr reported that deliveries of the 7X had exceeded 20,000 units within 50 days of its release. Zeekr reported delivering 27,011 vehicles in November, marking the third consecutive…

Chinese automakers are making significant strides in the global electric vehicle (EV) market, with new data showing that for the first time, half of the top ten global EV sales leaders are from China. This marks a major shift, as established automakers from the US and Europe face increasing competition from Chinese brands like BYD, Geely, and Xiaomi. In the third quarter of 2024, global EV sales reached 2.52 million units across 55 markets, with Tesla maintaining its lead by selling 432,000 vehicles, up 2% from the previous year. However, Chinese automaker BYD is rapidly closing the gap, with a…

Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker Leapmotor, backed by Stellantis NV, reported record-breaking deliveries in November, surpassing its annual sales target ahead of schedule. Leapmotor delivered 40,169 vehicles in November, marking the first time its monthly deliveries exceeded 40,000 units and representing the sixth consecutive month of record growth. This figure reflects a 117.04% increase compared to 18,508 units in November last year and a 5.22% rise from October’s 38,177 units. For the January-November period, Leapmotor’s total deliveries reached 251,207 units, a 100.11% increase year-on-year, achieving the company’s full-year target earlier than anticipated. The company has set an ambitious sales…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Zeekr reported its highest-ever monthly deliveries in November, with 27,011 units sold. This marks the third consecutive month of record-breaking performance, reflecting a 106% increase from the same month last year and a 7.8% rise from October’s 25,049 units. From January to November, Zeekr delivered 194,933 vehicles, representing an 85% increase year-on-year. Since its inception in 2021, the company has achieved cumulative deliveries of 391,566 vehicles. To meet its full-year target of 230,000 units, Zeekr aims to deliver an additional 35,067 vehicles in December. Founded in March 2021, Zeekr introduced its first model, the Zeekr…

BYD, China’s top electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has requested price cuts from its suppliers for the coming year, signaling its intention to intensify the price competition in the domestic market while further expanding into Europe and other regions. According to a leaked letter circulating on social media, the company has asked a supplier for a 10% price reduction starting in January. The email, which surfaced on Weibo, highlights BYD’s strategy to drive costs down amid an ongoing price war in China. In response to the leak, BYD’s PR and branding director, Li Yunfei, clarified the company’s position in a Weibo…

Tesla has engaged more than 400 tier-1 local suppliers in China, with over 60 integrated into its global supply chain system, according to Chinese media reports. The company’s Shanghai factory, operational since late 2019, sources over 95% of its components locally, reflecting its reliance on regional suppliers for production efficiency. As Tesla’s first wholly foreign-owned auto manufacturing project in China, the Shanghai facility began producing Model 3 sedans in early 2020 and Model Y crossovers a year later. In the first three quarters of 2024, the Shanghai plant delivered 675,758 vehicles, accounting for over half of Tesla’s global deliveries during…