Author: Linda Ma

EHang Holdings Ltd, a Chinese air taxi company, recently showcased its EH216-S pilotless electric flying vehicle by conducting demonstration flights with passengers onboard. The flights were part of a tourism initiative known as Low-Altitude Tourism in Wencheng, according to a statement from EHang. EHang delivered 27 of its electric aerial vehicles (EAVs) to the Wencheng County Transportation Development Group in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, under a larger deal to supply 300 pilotless flying vehicles to the tourism development group. The group made a 50% deposit as part of the pre-delivery payment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnPkCYlNf1E During the demonstrations, EHang operated multiple passenger flights for…

Geely has unveiled its latest innovation in electric vehicle battery technology with the introduction of the ‘Aegis Short Blade Battery’. This new generation of LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries, known for their distinctive blade-like design, is set to debut in the Galaxy E5, a newly unveiled five-door electric SUV. The ‘Short Blade Battery’ represents a significant advancement in battery design, featuring a unique cell-to-pack integration that enhances energy density at the pack level. According to Geely, the battery addresses issues of high internal resistance typical in long-blade batteries by utilizing long, thin carbon nanotubes for efficient ion transfer and incorporating…

Tesla China operations have begun rehiring laid-off employees, primarily in sales and service roles, as reported by local media outlet Jiemian today. This move follows Tesla’s recent global layoffs, its largest since 2017, affecting over 14 percent of its workforce worldwide. In China, the sales and service departments bore the brunt of these layoffs, leaving some stores in malls with only a handful of staff, significantly impacting operations. According to a former Tesla sales employee cited in the report, the rehiring efforts have met with mixed responses from laid-off personnel, with some opting to pursue opportunities with other brands, including…

China is on track to produce over 10 million electric vehicles (EVs) this year, marking a significant milestone in its rapid expansion within the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector. Wan Gang, president of the China Association for Science and Technology and former minister of science and technology, made this announcement today at the 15th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions. The growth trajectory of China’s EV production has been remarkable. In 2022, NEV production surged by 102.22 percent to 6.64 million units, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) comprising 76.5 percent of this total at 5.08 million units.…

China and the European Union have agreed to initiate talks on the EU’s proposal to impose additional import tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs), with Beijing pushing for the barriers to be removed, according to the Global Times. The negotiations, ahead of a November deadline to finalize the levies, underscore concerns about the future trajectory of the broader trade relationship between the two economic giants. The issue extends beyond the interests of China’s carmakers, threatening the country’s $18 trillion economy. While automakers like BYD and Volkswagen’s main partner SAIC Motor can endure EU tariffs—ranging from 17.4% on BYD to 38.1%…

Denza, the premium new energy vehicle (NEV) brand of BYD, has taken a significant step in its international expansion by opening its first flagship showroom in Hong Kong. The brand’s new flagship store, located in the Kowloon Bay auto shopping district, was unveiled yesterday, as announced by Denza’s general manager of the sales division, Zhao Changjiang, in a Weibo post. This milestone follows the recent launch of the right-hand drive version of Denza’s D9 MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) in Hong Kong on June 11, with a local price range of HK$660,000 ($84,498) to HK$750,000. The D9, which has already garnered nearly…

He Xiaopeng, chairman and CEO of Xpeng, recently shared his positive impressions of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software after experiencing it in the United States. He praised the software’s performance, particularly in Silicon Valley and on highways, where it achieved high scores and handled many road conditions smoothly. “I experienced FSD version V12.3.6 in California over the past couple of days and also hailed a Waymo to experience it,” Mr. He wrote on Weibo today. “Overall, the Waymo performed better in the San Francisco urban area, while FSD performed extremely well in Silicon Valley and on highways, where it could…

Nio is on track to exceed expectations for the second quarter, following a record-breaking delivery performance in May. Analysts project the company will deliver over 54,000 electric vehicles (EVs) by the end of Q2, despite a slight decline in June compared to the previous month. According to Deutsche Bank analyst Wang Bin’s team, Nio is expected to deliver 18,200 EVs in June, reflecting a robust 68% year-on-year increase but marking a 12% decrease from May’s peak of 20,544 units. The company’s strong May figures set a new milestone, surpassing its previous record of 20,462 deliveries in July 2023. See also: Nio…

A recent analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies has revealed that the Chinese government has invested a staggering $230.8 billion to support electric vehicle (EV) firms between 2009 and 2023. This substantial figure far surpasses the $1 billion allocated by the US government for upfront clean vehicle tax credits this year. The analysis highlights a significant increase in spending in recent years. While only $6.74 billion was spent between 2009 and 2017, this number roughly tripled during 2018-2020 and has continued to rise sharply since 2021. See also: Chinese Automakers Mull 25% Tariffs on European Imports Amid Trade…

Chinese automaker BYD has announced a strategic partnership with cybersecurity firm Karamba Security to bolster the protection of its connected vehicles. The collaboration was revealed at the Escar USA conference, where BYD disclosed its intent to deploy Karamba’s VCode software to enhance cybersecurity measures within its supply chain. VCode, a cutting-edge cybersecurity solution, specializes in automatically identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities in electronic control units (ECUs) used in vehicles. By generating a detailed Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) for each ECU, VCode enables BYD to proactively detect and mitigate potential cybersecurity risks before they impact vehicle production. See also: U.S. Commerce…

NIO remains steadfast in its commitment to launching its affordable Firefly brand in the European Union (EU), despite looming additional tariffs on imported Chinese EVs. The company’s CEO, William Li, expressed confidence in Firefly’s competitiveness during an event in Hamburg, Germany, on Wednesday. Li criticized the EU’s decision to potentially increase tariffs on Chinese EV imports, calling it unjust. “The EU originally imposed a 10 percent tariff on Chinese EVs, and now an additional 21 percent has been added, raising it to 31 percent, which is definitely not right,” Li stated. See also: Nio Reorganizes Smart Driving Team to Focus on…

Zeekr has achieved a significant milestone with the 200,000th delivery of its Zeekr 001 shooting brake model, underscoring its success in the electric vehicle (EV) market. The delivery took place at the company’s plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, where a ceremony was held to commemorate the occasion. Launched on April 15, 2021, the Zeekr 001 has become a key model for Zeekr, with deliveries commencing in October 2021. Despite the niche market for shooting brake models in China, the Zeekr 001 has proven to be a successful venture, delivering 76,246 units in 2023, significantly contributing to Zeekr’s overall sales. See…

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi is preparing to unveil its second electric vehicle (EV), an SUV designed to rival Tesla’s Model Y, according to recent reports. Spy shots purported to be of Xiaomi’s upcoming SUV have emerged, offering a glimpse into the company’s ambitious foray into the competitive EV market segment. See also: Xiaomi’s Electric Vehicle Factory Boosts Workforce to Meet Soaring Demand Local automotive media outlets, including Xchuxing, have shared the spy shots, suggesting that Xiaomi’s new model will be an all-electric coupe SUV, drawing comparisons to Ferrari’s Purosangue. The vehicle is expected to be launched in 2025, following Xiaomi’s first…

Nio has restructured its smart driving team to emphasize end-to-end technologies, aligning with a broader industry shift towards more comprehensive autonomous driving solutions, as reported by LatePost. The restructuring, which recently took place in Nio’s smart driving research and development (R&D) division, involved merging the perception and planning-control teams into a larger model team. Additionally, the integration team was reorganized into the technology delivery team, indicating a strategic focus on advancing Nio’s capabilities in smart driving technologies. See also: Nio Introduces Fourth-Generation Battery Swap Stations with 22% Faster Swapping Under the leadership of Nio’s vice president of smart driving R&D, Ren…

BYD  has achieved a significant milestone as cumulative sales of its Yuan family models have exceeded 1 million units, further solidifying its position in the rapidly expanding new energy vehicle (NEV) market. The announcement of this achievement was made by BYD yesterday, highlighting the Yuan family’s success as the latest addition to BYD’s model lineup to reach this impressive milestone. Previously, both the Song family and the Qin family had also achieved this milestone, underscoring BYD’s prowess in the NEV segment. The Yuan family, which includes the Yuan Up, Yuan Plus, and Yuan Pro, represents a range of SUVs that…

A recent survey conducted by the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU and the China Economic Information Service revealed that the European Union’s anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles has significantly impacted Chinese firms’ confidence in investing in Europe, while also cooling their EV sales in the region. The survey, conducted in April and May, highlighted several key findings regarding Chinese EV manufacturers and their operations in Europe. According to the survey, a staggering 82% of vehicle and industry chain firms expressed that the subsidy investigation had eroded their confidence in investing in Europe in the near future. Additionally,…

SAIC-GM-Wuling has launched the 2024 Wuling Binguo in China, offering a range of minor cosmetic and technical enhancements over its predecessor. The new small electric vehicle (EV) retains its familiar design, introduced in February 2023, but introduces several new features across its variant lineup. The 2024 Wuling Binguo is available in multiple configurations, each denoting its range. The variants include the 203 km Light, 333 km Enjoyment, 333 km Lingxi Connected, and 410 km Lingxi Premium, priced at 56,800 yuan (7,303 euros), 70,800 yuan (9,103 euros), 74,800 yuan (9,618 euros), and 84,800 yuan (10,904 euros), respectively. Notable updates include the…

Nio has introduced its fourth-generation battery exchange station in China, marking a significant advancement in its service offerings. The new ‘Power Swap Station 4.0’ boasts a 22% faster swapping process than the previous generation, completing a swap in just 144 seconds. The improved efficiency of the fourth-generation station is a notable upgrade, with the ability to perform up to 480 changes per day, thanks to an enlarged compartment for 23 batteries. This is a significant increase from the third-generation stations, which could hold around a dozen batteries. Additionally, the ‘Power Swap Stations 4.0’ are equipped with six ultrawide FOV LiDARs…

Zeekr has disclosed its first-quarter financial results, marking its initial earnings report following its debut on the US stock market. The company’s performance has sparked investor enthusiasm, leading to a surge in its pre-market share prices. For the first quarter, Zeekr reported a net loss of RMB 2.02 billion ($280 million), representing an 18 percent decrease from the same period last year and a 31.2 percent decline from the previous quarter. The company’s non-GAAP net loss, excluding equity incentive expense, also decreased by 17 percent year-on-year and 30.4 percent quarter-on-quarter, amounting to RMB 2.02 billion. Both basic and diluted net…

Melexis, a Belgian semiconductor supplier, has announced a partnership with Chinese car manufacturer NIO to provide current sensor chips for its traction inverter system. This collaboration marks another instance of a European supplier teaming up with a Chinese automaker. The current sensor chips, crucial for converting a battery’s direct current into the alternating current used by an electric motor, will be utilized in all of NIO’s battery electric vehicles. Melexis highlighted its commitment to supporting NIO’s success in the electric vehicle market through the provision of these essential components. “Our current sensor (integrated circuit) ICs, coupled with the expertise of…