Author: Linda Ma

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio plans to launch its new flagship SUV, the ES9, in the first half of 2026, co-founder and president Qin Lihong said at a user event in Shenzhen, marking the first official confirmation of the model. The announcement follows the company’s rollout of the ET9 flagship sedan in late March. The ET9, priced from RMB 788,000 ($109,430), represents Nio’s highest-end offering to date and is equipped with advanced smart driving features. Qin did not provide detailed specifications of the upcoming ES9 but said the SUV would be positioned as Nio’s top-tier utility vehicle. “We are…

Chinese tech giants Huawei and Xiaomi are reigniting their long-standing rivalry, this time in the electric vehicle (EV) market, as both companies seek to establish dominance in one of the world’s fastest-growing and most competitive industries. At the opening day of the 2025 Shenzhen Auto Show, Richard Yu, Huawei’s executive director and head of its consumer business group, made indirect but pointed remarks suggesting that Xiaomi’s EVs, while commercially successful, lacked in quality and performance. “Although its products may not be that good, they’ve already sold like hotcakes,” Yu said in comments widely shared on Chinese social media. He added,…

Chinese car manufacturer GAC has entered the Brazilian market with the launch of five electric and hybrid vehicles and announced plans to build a production plant in the country by the end of 2026. The move highlights the growing competition among Chinese automakers in Brazil, the world’s sixth-largest automotive market. At a recent launch event, GAC introduced four electric SUVs—the Aion V, Aion Y, Hyptec HT, and Aion ES—alongside the hybrid Trumpchi GS4. According to CarNewsChina, the company has already established a network of 33 dealerships across Brazil to support its market debut. GAC projects that rising demand will justify…

Great Wall Motor (GWM) posted moderate growth in overall vehicle sales in May, while sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) surged to a record high, the automaker said in a statement on Sunday. GWM sold 102,231 vehicles in May, an increase of 11.78% from a year earlier and 2.17% higher than in April. NEV sales rose sharply to 32,638 units, up 32.41% year-on-year and 13.28% month-on-month, accounting for 31.93% of the total – the highest monthly share this year and marking the third consecutive month of growth in the segment. The Haval brand remained the company’s best-seller, delivering 57,693 units…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor, backed by Stellantis NV, reported record deliveries in May, supported by strong demand for its newly launched models. The company delivered 45,067 vehicles in May, setting a new monthly record and surpassing the previous peak of 42,517 units in December 2024. This marks a 148.1% increase from the 18,165 units delivered in the same month last year and a 9.8% rise from April’s total of 41,039 vehicles. See also: Leapmotor Launches Updated C10 SUV with Lower Prices and Extended Range Options Leapmotor has set an ambitious full-year sales target of 500,000 to 600,000 units, nearly…

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi said on Sunday it delivered more than 28,000 electric vehicles in May, marking the eighth consecutive month of deliveries above the 20,000-unit threshold. The company also expanded its retail footprint with the opening of 29 new EV showrooms across China. Xiaomi, which entered the electric vehicle market in 2024, did not disclose an exact figure for May deliveries but said the total was comparable to April’s performance. The company’s only model currently available is the SU7 sedan, offered in Standard, Pro, Max, and Ultra trims. The SU7 Ultra, priced at RMB 529,900 ($73,550), began deliveries in…

Nio unveiled updated versions of its ET5 sedan and ET5T touring wagon, introducing extensive feature upgrades while maintaining the original starting price of RMB 298,000 ($41,500), as competition in China’s EV market continues to intensify. The refreshed ET5 and ET5T now come standard with a 75-kWh battery pack and include more than 500 component-level upgrades aimed at enhancing vehicle safety, driving comfort, and the digital cockpit experience. Among the most notable updates is the inclusion of Nio’s in-house developed Shenji NX9031 autonomous driving chip, which the company says offers computing power on par with four Nvidia Orin X chips. This…

Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi has unveiled its second electric vehicle (EV), the YU7 SUV, which the company says is poised to compete directly with Tesla’s Model Y in China’s growing mid to large-size electric SUV segment. The YU7 was introduced at a product launch event on Thursday and follows the debut of Xiaomi’s SU7 electric sedan earlier this year. The YU7 is a five-seater SUV, measuring 4,999 mm in length with a 3,000 mm wheelbase, giving it a larger footprint than Tesla’s China-built Model Y. Three variants of the YU7 — Standard, Pro, and Max — will be offered, although…

Xiaomi plans to bring its new electric sport utility vehicle, the YU7, to market in July, CEO Lei Jun said in a post on Weibo on Thursday, marking the company’s second entry into the EV sector as it expands beyond smartphones into electric mobility. The company introduced the YU7 SUV at a product showcase on Thursday, though it did not disclose pricing details or open pre-orders. “We will not be announcing the official price or start pre-orders during this pre-launch event,” Lei said in the post. See also: Xiaomi Set to Unveil YU7 SUV, Targeting China’s Competitive Luxury EV Market…

Chinese electronics firm Xiaomi will unveil its second electric vehicle, the YU7 SUV, at a product launch event on May 22, as the company seeks to expand its footprint in China’s fast-growing and fiercely competitive electric SUV market. “Xiaomi YU7 is positioned as a luxury performance SUV,” the company wrote in a post on its official Weibo account. “It comes for the luxury experience, for advanced technology and aims to create an advanced SUV for this era.” The YU7 follows Xiaomi’s first model, the SU7 electric sedan, which launched in March and was positioned as a direct competitor to Tesla’s…

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has overtaken Tesla as the most future-ready carmaker, according to the 2025 Future Readiness Indicator report published by the Institute for Management Development (IMD) on Tuesday. The annual ranking, led by Professor Howard Yu, assesses how well companies across sectors are positioned for long-term success, factoring in metrics such as supply chain resilience, innovation, global reach, and financial health. Despite persistent trade tensions and tariff barriers, the report finds Chinese automakers are gaining ground on their international rivals, including Tesla, Volkswagen, and Toyota. “For the first time in automotive history, BYD has surpassed Tesla to…

Changan Automobile has inaugurated its first overseas electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in Thailand, marking a significant step in the Chinese automaker’s international expansion strategy. The new plant, located in Rayong, an industrial hub on Thailand’s eastern seaboard, officially began operations on May 16 with the rollout of its first vehicle—a right-hand-drive version of the Deepal S05, a model under Changan’s new energy vehicle (NEV) unit. The unit represents the company’s 28.59 millionth vehicle produced to date, Changan announced on Chinese social media platform Weibo. See also: Changan’s Sub-Brand Nevo Teases Stylish New Sedan C390 Ahead of Expected Launch Construction…