Author: Linda Ma

Xiaomi, known for its high-performance electric vehicles, is now emphasizing safety, with CEO Lei Jun demonstrating the resilience of its SU7 Ultra EV’s battery armor in an unconventional way—by dropping a watermelon wrapped in the material from a six-story building. In a video shared on Jun’s social media accounts, the Xiaomi chief conducted the test at the company’s EV division in Beijing. Three watermelons were dropped—one encased in Xiaomi’s “bulletproof” battery coating, which the company claims offers superior resistance to punctures, abrasions, and impacts. The demonstration is aimed at showcasing the enhanced safety performance of Xiaomi’s EV batteries, particularly in…

BYD has officially introduced the Qin L EV, a pure electric sedan built on its e-Platform 3.0 Evo vehicle architecture. Designed to appeal to young buyers, the model comes standard with free driver assistance features and advanced smart driving capabilities. Dimensions and Design The Qin L EV measures 4,720 mm in length, 1,880 mm in width, and 1,495 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,820 mm. By comparison, Tesla’s Model 3, a key competitor in China, shares the same length but has a slightly narrower width of 1,848 mm and a lower height of 1,442 mm, with a longer…

Volkswagen Group and China’s FAW Group have signed a strategic cooperation agreement at the German automaker’s Wolfsburg headquarters, outlining FAW-Volkswagen’s model strategy for the coming years, Volkswagen said on Friday. The joint venture plans to launch 11 new models from 2026, covering the Volkswagen and Jetta brands, and establishing a product roadmap through 2030, Volkswagen said in a statement. Among the planned vehicles, 10 will be new energy vehicles (NEVs), including six battery electric vehicle (BEV) models, two plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models, and two extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) models. See also: JAC Motors and Volkswagen China Plan Capital…

Chinese technology giant Xiaomi has recruited at least five senior executives from leading automakers, including Germany’s BMW Group, as it advances plans to establish an electric vehicle (EV) research and development centre in Europe, according to LinkedIn posts. Xiaomi, the world’s third-largest smartphone maker, entered the EV market last year with the launch of its SU7 sedan, marking a shift from its core business of smartphones and smart home appliances. Since December, the company has outpaced Tesla’s Model 3 in sales in China, positioning itself as a key disruptor in the domestic automotive sector. Xiaomi President Lu Weibing said this…

Zeekr reported strong financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024, with record vehicle deliveries and a reduced net loss. The Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer recorded revenue of RMB 22.78 billion ($3.12 billion), reflecting a 39.2% increase year-on-year and a 24.1% rise from the previous quarter. The company delivered 79,250 vehicles during the quarter, nearly doubling from the same period in 2023 and marking a 44.08% increase from the third quarter. The growth was primarily driven by higher deliveries of new models, particularly the Zeekr 7X. Revenue from vehicle sales climbed 82.2% year-on-year to RMB 19.3 billion, despite a…

Shanghai and Hefei will introduce financial incentives for battery swap stations starting April 1, 2025, a move that is expected to strengthen the adoption of battery-swapping technology, particularly benefiting electric vehicle maker Nio. Shanghai’s newly announced policy will provide a 40% investment subsidy for swap stations that accommodate multiple vehicle brands, while those limited to a single brand will receive a 20% subsidy. See also: Nio Reports Nearly 100,000 Daily Battery Swaps in February Amid Holiday Travel Surge Additionally, energy supplied at these stations will be subsidized, and taxi drivers who primarily use battery swapping will be eligible for a…

Honda’s sales in China fell 30.9% in 2024, totaling 852,269 units, marking the first time in nearly a decade that the Japanese automaker has sold fewer than 1 million vehicles in the country. The decline comes amid rising competition from domestic brands and waning demand for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. In response, Honda is scaling back production at its Guangdong engine plant and accelerating its transition to electric vehicles (EVs). See also: Honda S7 Electric SUV Launched in China, Priced from $36,000 China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) market—which includes battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and fuel cell…

Nio  announced that it will release its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ending December 31, 2024, on Friday, March 21, 2025, before U.S. markets open. The company’s management is set to host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 PM Beijing/Hong Kong/Singapore Time) on the same day. Interested parties can access a live and archived webcast of the call on NIO’s investor relations website. In the fourth quarter of 2024, NIO achieved record deliveries, totaling 72,689 vehicles. This figure aligns with the company’s projected guidance of 72,000 to 75,000 vehicles, marking…

China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sales declined in February compared to January, though at a reduced rate, as the country’s automotive sector continues to navigate shifting market dynamics. Retail sales of passenger NEVs reached 686,000 units last month, marking a 79.7% increase from a year earlier but a 7.8% drop from January, data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed on Monday. The figure was slightly below the 720,000-unit preliminary estimate released on March 5 but higher than an earlier forecast of 600,000 units. See also: Tesla China Delivers 26,777 EVs Locally in February, Down 11.16% Year-on-Year Battery electric…

Denza, the premium brand of China’s BYD, will officially launch its latest SUV, the N9, on March 21, following a month of pre-sales, the company announced on Weibo. Denza, which began previewing the N9 in October 2024, said it will hold a launch event in Shenzhen, where BYD is headquartered. “The Denza N9 will reshape the value of luxury flagship SUVs to a new benchmark,” the company stated on Weibo. See also: Everything You Should Know About Denza N9 The N9, a six-seater hybrid, measures 5,258 mm in length, 2,030 mm in width, and 1,830 mm in height, with a…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Zeekr has unveiled its forthcoming full-size SUV, the Zeekr 9X, positioning it as a global flagship ultra-luxury model. The 9X will be the first to incorporate Zeekr’s advanced super electric hybrid technology. The company plans to debut the Zeekr 9X at the Shanghai Auto Show in late April, with deliveries expected to commence in the third quarter of 2025. An ultra-luxury variant, the Zeekr 9X Grand, is anticipated to be priced above RMB 1 million yuan (approximately $137,840). See also: Zeekr 007 GT Makes Real-Life Debut, with 825 km Range and 800V Charging This launch signifies…

Tesla has extended the deadline for its RMB 8,000 ($1,101) insurance subsidy on the Model 3 in China to March 17, 2025, giving prospective buyers additional time to take advantage of the incentive. The subsidy applies to all Model 3 variants purchased before the new deadline. Tesla is also offering a 5-year 0% interest financing program, with down payments starting at RMB 79,900 ($10,997) and monthly payments as low as RMB 2,460 ($339). See also: Tesla Revives 0% APR Financing for Model 3 Amid End-of-Quarter Sales Push Meanwhile, in the United States, Tesla has introduced new promotional offers for the…