Author: Linda Ma

Xiaomi is set to meet its annual delivery goal for its SU7 electric vehicle (EV), bolstered by recent expansions at its new Beijing factory. The company’s first foray into the automotive industry with the SU7 has seen strong demand since its launch earlier this year. In response to a surge in interest, Xiaomi raised its delivery target by 20% in May. According to CNEVPost, Xiaomi’s SU7 delivery schedule is now two months ahead of plan. With its newly completed highly automated plant in Beijing ramping up production, Xiaomi anticipates delivering 100,000 SU7 units by early November. Xiaomi’s founder and CEO,…

Nio has decided not to enter the robotaxi market, even as competitors like Xpeng and Tesla plan to venture into this space. William Li, Nio’s founder, chairman, and CEO, dismissed the business model as unappealing during an interview following the Nio IN 2024 event in Shanghai. “Robotaxi is not an exciting business model, and Nio is determined not to enter the space,” Li stated. He emphasized that smart driving technology should be utilized to reduce accidents and alleviate driver fatigue. “Robotaxi’s technology will definitely mature… but will it really necessarily be a sustainable business? No, you’re overthinking it,” Li remarked.…

Chinese electric vehicle battery manufacturer CATL (300750.SZ) recorded a 13.4% increase in net profit for the second quarter, reaching 12.36 billion yuan ($1.70 billion), despite a 13.2% decline in revenue to 87 billion yuan. The results, disclosed in a stock filing on Friday, contrasted with UBS’s forecast of 10.41 billion yuan in profit, which anticipated a 4.5% decrease. The decline in revenue marks the third consecutive quarter of shrinking revenue, exacerbating from a 10.4% drop in the first quarter. The mixed earnings reflect a cooling in China’s EV market amid a sluggish economic recovery. In June, growth in EV sales…

Volkswagen (VW) and Xpeng are broadening their technical collaboration to integrate their E/E (Electric/Electronic) architecture into a wider range of electric vehicles. Beginning in 2026, this advanced architecture will be incorporated not only into VW’s China-specific CMP (China Modular Platform) but also into all VW brand models utilizing the global MEB (Modular Electric Drive) platform tailored for the Chinese market. Initially announced in July 2023 and finalized in February 2024, the original agreement focused on incorporating the E/E architecture into at least four electric models based on the CMP, developed at VW’s eMobility Development Centre (VCTC) in China, independent of…

Xiaomi has introduced the prototype for a hypercar version of its recently launched SU7 electric vehicle (EV). The announcement was made during the annual speech by Founder Lei Jun on Friday. The new model, named the SU7 Ultra, is designed for high performance and aims to compete on Germany’s Nürburgring race track. The SU7 Ultra is a modified variant of the SU7, featuring a top speed of over 350 km/h (217 mph), acceleration from 0-100 km/h in 1.97 seconds (0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds), and 1,548 horsepower. https://twitter.com/Xiaomi/status/1814298201429512358 The hypercar boasts a fully carbon fiber body, weighing approximately 4,188 pounds.…

The U.S. Commerce Department is set to unveil proposed rules next month concerning connected vehicles, including measures that could restrict software originating from adversarial nations such as China, a senior official announced on Tuesday. “We’re looking at a few components and some software – not the whole car – but it would be some of the key driver components of the vehicle that manage the software and manage the data around that car that would have to be made in an allied country,” said Alan Estevez, under secretary for industry and security at the Commerce Department, speaking at a forum…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD announced plans on Thursday to significantly expand its dealership network in Vietnam, aiming to challenge local competitor VinFast. BYD will open thirteen dealerships on Saturday, with a goal to increase this number to about 100 by 2026. The initial offering in Vietnam includes the compact crossover Atto 3, which will be part of a three-model lineup. This will expand to six models from October, according to Vo Minh Luc, chief operations officer for BYD Vietnam. “BYD is in talks with a number of localities in Vietnam to optimize the plant plan,” Luc said in an…

Germany is set to abstain from Monday’s vote by European Union member states on imposing provisional tariffs on China-made electric vehicles, sources told Reuters on Friday. This marks the first test of support for Brussels’ landmark trade case. Provisional tariffs of up to 37.6% on EVs imported from China do not require member states’ approval. However, final tariffs could be blocked if a qualified majority of the EU’s 27 members oppose them. An abstention at this stage effectively backs the European Commission as it negotiates with Beijing over the EU’s largest trade case to date. “Germany will abstain in the…

Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei have unveiled a groundbreaking lithium-metal battery design that could revolutionize energy storage capabilities for electric vehicles and beyond. Traditionally, electric vehicle batteries offer energy densities ranging from 200 to 250 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg), limiting their efficiency and overall weight savings. In contrast, home energy storage systems achieve approximately half of this density. The new battery prototype, boasting an impressive energy density of 505.9 Wh/kg, marks a significant leap forward in battery technology. This advancement could potentially reduce vehicle weight by up to 150 kilograms (330 pounds),…

Chinese automaker Hongqi, renowned as the favored car brand of former state leader Chairman Mao Zedong, is gearing up to introduce its electric EH7 and EHS7 models in several European markets later this year, signaling a robust push into the competitive European automotive landscape despite recent EU tariffs. Hongqi announced on Thursday its plans to debut the EH7 and EHS7 models in countries including Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, leveraging established dealer networks in these regions. “We are excited to introduce the EH7 and EHS7, designed to withstand colder climates with quick charging capabilities even in sub-zero…

SAIC Motor Corp’s MG brand has unveiled a glimpse of its upcoming electric sports car, the MG Cyber GTS, following the debut of the MG Cyberster last November. Shao Jingfeng, design president of SAIC Motor R&D Innovation Headquarters, announced on Weibo today that the MG Cyber GTS concept will make its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024 in the UK, scheduled from July 11-14. The Goodwood Festival of Speed, established in 1993, is renowned as one of the world’s premier motorsports festivals, traditionally held in Goodwood, England, during June and July each year. This year’s event promises a…

BYD ambitious drive into global markets could reach a pivotal moment in 2026, according to analysts at JPMorgan, who predict the Chinese automaker will deliver 6 million vehicles that year. The forecast, outlined in a July 9 research note by analyst Nick Lai’s team, suggests BYD’s global deliveries in 2026 could include approximately 1.5 million units outside its home market, with the remainder in China. This expansion would see BYD’s share of the global light-vehicle market rise from 3 percent in 2023 to 7 percent in 2026, while maintaining a robust 22 percent share of the new energy vehicle (NEV)…

Nio has revealed detailed specifications of its debut model under the sub-brand Onvo (known as Ledao in China), the L60, following recent disclosures in a regulatory document. According to information from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the standard-range variant of the Onvo L60 will be equipped with a 60.6 kWh battery pack, offering a CLTC range between 501 and 555 kilometers. This update comes after Nio initially launched the Onvo sub-brand on May 15, commencing pre-sales of the L60 at RMB 219,900 ($30,220), excluding battery costs. Initially withholding battery specifics during the launch, Nio previously indicated CLTC…

Xpeng has officially named its highly anticipated new model, previously codenamed F57, as the Xpeng P7+. The announcement follows the viral circulation of an exclusive rendering on Chinese social media platforms, generating significant buzz over the past few days. In a recent Weibo post, He Xiaopeng, Chairman and CEO of Xpeng Motors, disclosed key details about the upcoming vehicle. “The new Xpeng P7+ is set to exceed 5 meters in length and promises enhanced technology,” he stated, affirming its place as a focal point of recent discussions. The P7+ will surpass the dimensions of its predecessor, the P7i, currently available…

Zeekr has officially named its upcoming SUV model, previously codenamed CX1e, as the Zeekr 7X, marking its entry into the family SUV segment. The announcement was made today across the company’s social media platforms, accompanied by preliminary specifications. Based on Geely’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA), the Zeekr 7X embodies Zeekr’s commitment to sustainable mobility and marks its debut in the mainstream family SUV market. The vehicle adopts Zeekr’s distinctive Hidden Energy design language and measures 4,825 mm in length, 1,930 mm in width, and 1,656 mm in height, featuring a wheelbase of 2,925 mm. Comparatively, the dimensions of the Zeekr…

China’s lithium carbonate market continues to grapple with oversupply issues, pushing prices to a new low for the year, market research firm TrendForce reported on July 8. The price of lithium carbonate in China dropped from over RMB 100,000 per ton last month to approximately RMB 90,000, reflecting ongoing oversupply challenges that are difficult to resolve in the short term, according to the report. As raw material costs decline, the cost of battery production is also decreasing, driving down prices of power battery cells, TrendForce noted. In June, battery cells for electric vehicles (EVs) saw a decrease of about 1%…

China’s retail sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) surged to 856,000 units in June, marking a significant 28.6% increase from the previous year, according to data released today by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). This figure, while slightly lower than earlier estimates, reflects a 6.4% rise from May, underscoring continued momentum in the country’s EV market. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 57.6% of NEV sales in June, totaling 493,000 units, up 9.9% year-on-year but slightly down from May’s figures. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) contributed 42.4% of NEV sales, reaching 363,000 units, reflecting a robust 67.2% increase from last year.…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio and Belgian specialty chemicals company Syensqo have teamed up to establish a joint laboratory focused on developing cutting-edge materials for electric vehicles, Syensqo announced on July 2. Located at Nio’s Nanxiang delivery center in Jiading, Shanghai, the joint lab was inaugurated on June 28 during a visit by Syensqo CEO Ilham Kadri. Under the agreement, Syensqo Asia CEO Chen Pu and Nio assistant vice president Wang Huizhang signed a collaboration agreement to advance research and development in innovative materials and validate their application in EV technology. The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of…

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD Co Ltd has strengthened its presence in Southeast Asia by acquiring a 20% stake in Thai auto dealer Rever Automotive, aiming to bolster its position in Thailand’s competitive automotive market. The share purchase agreement, finalized on July 6, underscores BYD’s strategic move to enhance its market share in Thailand, according to a statement released today. BYD formally entered Thailand’s passenger car market in collaboration with Rever in Bangkok last August. Celebrating another milestone, BYD inaugurated its Thailand factory on July 4, where it rolled out its 8 millionth new energy vehicle (NEV) on the same…

SAIC Motor, a leading Chinese auto manufacturer, announced today its intention to petition the European Union for a hearing to address additional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), asserting its stance to protect its interests and those of its customers. In a statement, SAIC expressed its formal request for the European Commission to conduct a hearing regarding the provisional countervailing duty measures imposed on Chinese EVs. The company highlighted discrepancies in the European Commission’s calculations, noting a subsidy rate initially set at 38.1 percent, which was later adjusted to 37.6 percent in a preliminary ruling on July 4. “SAIC has…