Author: Linda Ma

China will tighten safety regulations on electric vehicle (EV) batteries, with new technical standards set to take effect from July 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said on Monday, as the country seeks to address fire and explosion risks in its rapidly expanding new energy vehicle (NEV) sector. The updated rules will impose more rigorous mandatory testing on EV and plug-in hybrid batteries to prevent thermal runaway — a chemical chain reaction widely cited as the leading cause of battery-related fires. Automakers will be required to ensure batteries do not catch fire or explode during specific testing scenarios,…

Lexus, the luxury arm of Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp, has acquired a major plot of land in Shanghai for RMB 1.353 billion ($185 million), paving the way for construction of its first wholly-owned electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in China, according to the Shanghai Public Resources Trading Center. The site, located in the Jinshan district of southwestern Shanghai, spans approximately 1.13 million square meters and is designated for new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturing, lithium-ion battery production, and other related battery technologies. The rights to use the land extend for 50 years, under terms set by the local Planning and Natural…

Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd (CATL) reported a 32.85% rise in first-quarter net income, supported by improved gross margins and steady revenue growth, despite a quarter-on-quarter decline in both metrics. Net profit for the January-March period reached RMB 13.96 billion ($1.9 billion), exceeding analyst expectations. While earnings rose sharply from the same period a year earlier, they fell 5.30% from the fourth quarter of 2024. Revenue stood at RMB 84.7 billion, up 6.18% year-on-year, but 17.74% lower than the previous quarter. See also: CATL in Talks to Acquire Controlling Stake in Nio Power Gross margin improved to…

Shanghai has broadened the scope of its car trade-in subsidies, allowing residents to use vehicles registered outside the city to qualify for incentives. The move is part of a wider strategy to boost automotive consumption and promote the transition to cleaner energy vehicles. The updated policy enables individual buyers to receive up to RMB 15,000 ($2,060) when purchasing a new electric vehicle priced at RMB 100,000 or more, provided they trade in an old vehicle registered elsewhere. See also: Shanghai and Hefei Introduce Battery Swap Station Subsidies, Benefiting Nio A subsidy of RMB 13,000 is available for those opting for…

Chinese authorities are delaying approvals for BYD and Geely to proceed with vehicle manufacturing plans in Latin America due to rising concerns over global trade tensions and potential technology transfer, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The projects, which include BYD’s potential electric vehicle (EV) plant in Mexico and Geely’s collaboration with Renault to produce low-emission vehicles in Brazil, have encountered slower-than-expected progress in regulatory reviews, the sources said. See also: China, EU Discuss Strengthening Trade Ties Amid U.S. Tariff Moves Chinese state planners reportedly warned automakers that such overseas investments could carry risks of technology leakage, particularly…

Retail sales of passenger new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China rebounded in March, reversing declines from the previous two months and pushing the segment’s retail penetration rate above 50% once again. Total NEV retail sales reached 991,000 units during the month, representing a 38% increase compared with the same period last year and a 45% rise from February, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 646,000 of those sales, marking a 50.6% year-on-year increase and a 51.2% jump from the previous month. BEVs contributed 65.2% of all NEV retail sales in…

Hesai  has secured an agreement with electric vehicle (EV) maker Leapmotor to supply 200,000 units of its ATX LiDAR sensors. The agreement, signed on April 7 at Leapmotor’s Hangzhou headquarters, designates Hesai as the exclusive LiDAR supplier for Leapmotor’s upcoming vehicle models starting in 2025.​ The ATX LiDAR, which began deliveries in the first quarter of this year, is built on Hesai’s fourth-generation chip architecture. It offers advantages such as compact size, extended range, and a wide field of view. Since its launch, the ATX has been selected for numerous models by 11 domestic and international automakers.​ See also: Hesai…

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD has launched its premium brand Denza in Europe, aiming to strengthen its position in the regional market and challenge established luxury manufacturers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The move was announced at Milan Design Week, where BYD said Denza would serve as the group’s technological pioneer, with new features debuting on Denza models before being introduced to BYD’s broader lineup. The brand, once a joint venture with Mercedes, is now fully owned by BYD and accounted for just over 3% of the company’s more than 4.2 million global vehicle sales last year — most of…

Chinese battery giant CATL is in discussions to purchase a controlling stake in Nio Power, the energy arm of electric vehicle maker Nio, according to four people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The talks follow CATL’s previously announced plan to invest up to RMB 2.5 billion yuan ($342 million) in Nio Power, as part of a broader partnership to expand battery swap infrastructure in China. The value of the proposed acquisition or the size of the controlling stake under discussion was not disclosed. However, one of the sources said that Nio Power had been valued at over RMB 10…

Hesai Technology, a lidar manufacturer based in China, has partnered with Baidu’s autonomous mobility unit Apollo Go to support the deployment of more than 1,000 Level 4 autonomous vehicles in Dubai. The project is part of an ongoing effort to expand autonomous driving services internationally. The Dubai deployment follows an exclusive agreement signed in July 2024, under which Hesai provides lidar systems for Apollo Go’s robotaxis. The companies said the initiative aims to demonstrate the application of autonomous driving technologies in urban settings beyond China. See also: Apollo Go and Autogo to Launch Autonomous Robotaxi Trials in Abu Dhabi “This…

China’s government is ramping up pressure on its sprawling state-owned auto sector to consolidate operations, aiming to streamline resources and better position the country in the global electric vehicle (EV) race. A potential merger between two of the country’s largest automakers, Dongfeng Motor Corp and Chongqing Changan Automobile, is under consideration, according to state officials and recent reports. See also: Rivian CEO: China’s EV Leadership Driven by Innovation, Market Expansion Speaking at an industry event in Beijing, a vice chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) called for automakers to restructure and collaborate more closely. The commission,…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng has signed a distribution agreement with Bahrain’s largest automotive group, Ebrahim K. Kanoo, marking its official entry into the Bahraini market and furthering its ambition to expand across the Gulf region. The agreement, announced on Thursday, will see Xpeng launch its G6 and G9 SUVs, as well as the X9 MPV, in Bahrain in the second half of 2025. The company will leverage Kanoo’s established sales and service network, which commands nearly 40 percent of the Bahraini auto market, to deliver what it described as a “revolutionary smart mobility experience” to local consumers. See also:…