Author: Linda Ma

Volkswagen Group has opened pre-sales in China for its first electric model developed with local partner Xpeng, the Volkswagen ID. UNYX 08, priced from around €30,000. The model, unveiled in November 2025, is the first production-ready vehicle resulting from the partnership formalised in 2023, under which Volkswagen also acquired a stake of approximately 5% in Xpeng. Built on Xpeng’s Edward platform—also used in the Xpeng G9—the ID. UNYX 08 reached production readiness within 24 months, according to Volkswagen. Manufacturing is handled by Volkswagen Anhui at its plant in Hefei. The SUV is offered exclusively in China, with pre-sale prices ranging…

BYD reported a decline in full-year net profit for 2025, as intense price competition in China’s electric vehicle market continued to pressure margins. The company posted net profit of 32.62 billion yuan ($4.72 billion), down 19% from a year earlier and below analyst expectations, according to its annual financial report. BYD said the domestic new energy vehicle (NEV) market remains highly competitive, with ongoing price wars eroding profitability. Revenue rose modestly by 3.46% to 803.97 billion yuan but also fell short of market forecasts, indicating a slowdown in growth momentum amid challenging market conditions. BYD sold 4.6 million NEVs in…

Mirattery, the battery asset management unit of Nio, has listed a new asset-backed security (ABS) on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, marking a step in its efforts to diversify funding sources and enhance asset utilization. The product, named the “CITIC Securities-Mirattery Holding-Type Power Battery Green Asset-Backed Special Plan,” began trading on March 24 and is described by the company as the world’s first holding-type power battery ABS. The issuance, completed in February, has a total size of 501 million yuan ($72.7 million). The underlying assets consist of power batteries leased to vehicle owners under a rental model, reflecting Mirattery’s role in…

Xpeng has lowered the starting price of its new-generation P7 sedan and introduced a more flexible trim structure, as the Chinese electric vehicle maker seeks to revive demand. The company launched three new P7 Max variants to replace the previous lower-priced Ultra versions, reducing the entry price by 16,000 yuan to 203,800 yuan ($29,650). The top-tier variant remains priced at 301,800 yuan. Under the revised lineup, the new Max variants come equipped with a single in-house developed Turing AI smart driving chip as standard, compared with three chips previously included in the Ultra models. Customers can now opt for upgrades,…

Nio has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Tuhu Car Inc, China’s largest independent auto service platform, to expand vehicle lifecycle services and enhance user engagement, the companies said. The collaboration will initially focus on the core Nio brand, excluding its sub-brands Onvo and Firefly. Both parties aim to integrate resources across online and offline channels to provide full-lifecycle services covering vehicle maintenance, mobility, and broader lifestyle needs. The companies said the partnership represents an effort to combine Nio’s premium electric vehicle ecosystem with Tuhu’s extensive aftermarket service network, which includes more than 150 million registered users. “The partnership represents…

Li Auto plans to launch its flagship pure electric sport utility vehicle, the Li i9, in the second half of 2026, as the company aims to regain momentum following a challenging year. Founder, Chairman and CEO Li Xiang announced the plan during an earnings call on Thursday, highlighting the model’s role in expanding the company’s battery electric vehicle (BEV) portfolio. “The year 2026 will be a crucial year for Li Auto to evolve into an embodied AI enterprise. Faced with intensifying competition in the NEV market, we will be committed to raising our technological moat,” Li said. See also: Li…

Electric vehicle brand Smart has launched a nationwide recall in China covering 18,217 units of its battery-electric models, the Smart #1 and Smart #3, due to a potential fire risk linked to battery components. The recall, filed with China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), affects vehicles manufactured between 2022 and 2023. According to the notice, the campaign includes 16,072 units of the Smart #1 and 2,145 units of the Smart #3. The recall will begin on March 17, 2026. The company said the issue stems from “manufacturing consistency of components in their high-voltage power batteries,” which could increase the…

Chinese automaker Chery has opened pre-sales for the all-new QQ3 electric city car, aiming to strengthen its position in China’s competitive small electric vehicle segment. The company introduced four variants of the model, with pre-sale prices set at 68,920 yuan ($10,020), 78,920 yuan, 78,985 yuan, and 89,985 yuan, according to the launch announcement on Tuesday. The model received strong initial interest from consumers. Li Xueyong said the new vehicle recorded 21,957 pre-sale orders within two hours of the launch. The compact electric car measures 4,195 mm in length, 1,811 mm in width and 1,573 mm in height, with a 2,700…

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD will continue producing its first-generation Blade battery even after launching its new ultra-fast charging version, as the company adopts a dual-product strategy to offer more choices to customers. Li Yunfei, general manager of BYD’s branding and public relations division, said the company plans to maintain production of the original battery alongside the newly introduced second-generation Blade battery, according to a report by Sina Tech. BYD officially unveiled its second-generation Blade battery and flash-charging technology on March 5. The new system is designed to significantly reduce charging times, enabling a battery to charge from 10% to…

Li Auto is advancing a robotics initiative under a project codenamed “Nexus” and plans to launch its first two-wheeled robot for use in factory manufacturing later this year, according to a report by Chinese media outlet 21jingji. The move is part of the company’s broader strategy to expand beyond electric vehicles and position itself as an embodied artificial intelligence company, as competition intensifies in China’s automotive market. Founder, chairman and chief executive Li Xiang said during an internal meeting in January that the coming year would be critical for the company’s transition into the AI sector. “2026 will be the…

Denza, the luxury vehicle brand owned by BYD, launched an upgraded version of its Z9GT on Thursday, introducing updated battery technology and a lower starting price as the company seeks to strengthen its position in the premium electric vehicle segment. The battery-electric version of the new Z9GT starts at 269,800 yuan ($39,150), representing a reduction of 85,000 yuan, or about 23.96%, from the previous model’s starting price of 354,800 yuan. See also: BYD Launches 1,500 kW Supercharger and Expands Flash-Charging Network in China The upgraded Z9GT BEV offers a driving range of up to 1,036 kilometres under the China Light-Duty…

Xpeng has launched the 2026 version of its X9 pure-electric multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), cutting the starting price by 50,000 yuan as it seeks to strengthen its position in China’s premium EV segment. The updated X9 begins at 309,800 yuan ($42,600), down from the previous pure-electric model’s starting price of 359,800 yuan. The new base price aligns with the extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variant introduced late last year. The 2026 X9 is built on an 800-volt platform and comes standard with a 5C ultra-fast charging battery across all variants. Xpeng said the model offers a maximum pure-electric range of up to…

BYD reported February sales of 190,190 new energy vehicles, a decline of 41.09% from a year earlier and the sixth consecutive month of year-on-year contraction, as domestic demand weakened amid holiday disruptions and policy changes. The figure also represents a 9.46% decrease from January’s 210,051 units. The Lunar New Year holiday, which ran from Feb. 15 to Feb. 23 this year, affected production and deliveries across China’s automotive sector, while last year’s holiday occurred mainly in January. Passenger vehicles accounted for 187,782 units of February sales, down 40.99% year on year and 8.63% from the previous month. Battery electric vehicles…

The European Commission has accepted a price undertaking proposal submitted by Volkswagen Anhui, exempting the China-built Cupra Tavascan electric sport utility vehicle from additional European Union import tariffs. The decision, dated Monday, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on Tuesday. Volkswagen Anhui, a Chinese joint venture of Volkswagen, had submitted the proposal in December, seeking approval for a minimum price and quota mechanism. It marks the first formal review of the EU’s tariffs on Chinese-made battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation into BEVs originating from China on Oct. 4, 2023, alleging that…

Arcfox, the electric vehicle brand of BAIC Group, has introduced a new premium-focused product lineup under the Wendao name, signaling a push upmarket as competition in China’s EV sector intensifies. The Wendao range will concentrate on “mid-to-large-size MPVs and SUVs,” Arcfox said in information released on its social media channels on Tuesday. The first model in the lineup will be the Wendao V9, an MPV positioned to compete with models such as Chery’s Luxeed V9 and BYD’s Denza D9. See also: Arcfox Launches 2026 Kaola S With CATL Batteries, Cuts Starting Price Arcfox did not disclose detailed specifications or pricing…

Li Auto has expanded its self-operated charging network to more than 4,000 supercharging stations in China, marking a key infrastructure milestone roughly six months after completing its 3,000th station, company data showed. The automaker now operates 4,001 supercharging stations nationwide, according to its in-vehicle and mobile charging map, positioning Li Auto among China’s leading carmakers in terms of proprietary high-power charging infrastructure. The expansion underscores the company’s continued investment in charging capacity as it navigates a challenging transition in its product strategy. See also: Li Auto CEO Highlights AI Push in Internal Meeting Amid Employee Concerns Over Sales Slowdown Beyond…

Chinese automaker JAC Group said on Feb. 6, 2026, that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Italian braking specialist Brembo, as both companies seek to develop next-generation braking technologies tailored to China’s rapidly evolving automotive market. Under the agreement, the two companies will jointly work on advanced braking systems and software-driven solutions designed to integrate more closely with electric drivetrains and intelligent driving architectures. Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed. For JAC Group, the collaboration forms part of its broader strategy to move upmarket and strengthen its capabilities in smart and premium vehicles. The automaker has…

Xpeng has filed its new flagship sport utility vehicle, the GX, with Chinese regulators, clearing a key step toward market launch in the coming months as the company expands its high-end product lineup. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Friday released its latest catalogue of vehicle models open for public comment prior to sales approval, with the Xpeng GX included. The public consultation period runs from Feb. 7 to Feb. 13, after which the model can receive final clearance for sale in China. The GX appears across six pages in the MIIT catalogue, covering six variants produced…

Xpeng said on Friday it has officially entered New Zealand, adding a new right-hand drive market to its international footprint as the automaker continues its overseas expansion. The move marks Xpeng’s first international market entry in 2026. The company has opened its initial service centres in Auckland’s North Shore and in Christchurch, offering sales, vehicle delivery and after-sales services to local customers. See also: Xpeng Tests Level 4 Autonomous Driving on Upcoming GX Flagship SUV, Report Says Both locations are showcasing the Xpeng G6, the company’s most affordable sport utility vehicle, which competes in the midsize electric SUV segment dominated…

Xiaomi EV has disbanded its dedicated sales team for the SU7 Ultra, its ultra-premium electric sedan, as demand for the high-performance model has fallen sharply in recent months, according to Chinese media reports. The specialised “Ultra Master” sales team was officially dissolved by the end of January, local outlet Lanjinger reported on Wednesday. The SU7 Ultra remains available for purchase in China, but sales are now being handled by general entry-level sales staff rather than a dedicated premium team. See also: No EV Joint Venture Planned, Ford and Xiaomi Say After Media Report Launched in February 2025, the SU7 Ultra…