Author: Linda Ma

Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) is planning to establish an autonomous driving research and development (R&D) center in Silicon Valley as part of its broader push into the self-driving segment, local media reported on Tuesday. The new facility will report to GWM’s Chief Technology Officer, Wu Huixiao, and the company is actively recruiting smart driving talent in Silicon Valley, tech media outlet Leiphone said, citing a person familiar with the matter. GWM currently operates technology centers in Detroit and Los Angeles, according to its website. See also: Great Wall Motor Launches New Ultra-Luxury Brand  GWM spun off its smart…

Tesla reported a significant decrease in sales of its China-made electric vehicles (EVs) for February, with figures reaching the lowest point since August 2022. The company sold 30,688 units during the month, marking a 49.2% decline compared to the same period last year and a 51.47% drop from January’s sales of 63,238 vehicles. In the first two months of 2025, Tesla’s Shanghai plant sold a total of 93,926 vehicles globally, reflecting a 28.7% decrease from the 131,812 units sold during the same period in the previous year. See also: Tesla Deploys U.S. Engineers to China for FSD Development, Advances Local…

Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD announced on Tuesday that it had raised $5.59 billion in a primary share sale, marking the largest offering of its kind in Hong Kong since 2021. The deal, initially planned at 118 million shares, was expanded to 129.8 million shares due to investor demand. BYD priced the shares at HK$335.20 ($43.11) each, representing a 7.8% discount to Monday’s closing price of HK$363.60. Following the sale, BYD’s Hong Kong-listed shares opened 8% lower on Tuesday, while the broader Hang Seng Index  dropped 1.5%. The company said the transaction was the largest equity follow-on offering globally in…

BYD is aiming to raise up to HK$40.7 billion ($5.2 billion) through a primary share placement in Hong Kong, according to a Bloomberg report citing deal terms. The Chinese automaker is offering 118 million shares at a price range of HK$333 to HK$345 per share, representing a discount of up to 8.4% from its Monday closing price of HK$363.60. The company plans to allocate the proceeds toward research and development, overseas expansion, working capital replenishment, and general corporate purposes. See also: JPMorgan Raises BYD’s 2026 Sales Forecast to 6.5 Million Units, Expects 30% Growth in 2025 BYD’s stock has experienced…

Onvo, a sub-brand of Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio, has launched a flexible battery upgrade service, allowing owners of its L60 model to switch between standard and long-range battery packs on a daily, monthly, or annual basis. The service, which takes advantage of Onvo’s battery swap technology, will be introduced on a trial basis in 16 cities starting March 1, with a nationwide rollout expected by mid-March, the company announced on its mobile app. See also: Onvo L90 Teased in First Official Image, Set to Rival Li Auto’s Li i8 “Onvo aims to provide users with greater flexibility and convenience…

Xpeng introduced the 2025 G6 SUV in China on Friday, marking the latest step in the company’s global expansion strategy. The electric vehicle (EV) maker announced that the updated model will officially launch in early March with pricing details to follow. The 2025 G6, built on an 800-volt high-voltage platform with a standard 5C fast-charging battery pack, features 81 upgrades in design and technology. Xpeng noted that the new version updates 34% of its key components and is slightly longer than its predecessor at 4,758 mm. See also: Xpeng to Launch Mona M03 Max With Enhanced Smart Driving in May…

BYD reported a sharp rebound in new energy vehicle (NEV) sales in February, as demand recovered following the Chinese New Year holiday. The automaker sold 322,846 NEVs last month, marking a 163.95% year-on-year increase and a 7.42% rise from January, according to company data. See also: BYD to Expand In-Vehicle Drone System in Collaboration with DJI China’s auto market typically experiences a slowdown at the start of the year, particularly in months affected by the Lunar New Year holiday, which fell between January 28 and February 4 this year. BYD’s strong February performance brought its cumulative NEV sales for the…

Chinese automaker Chery has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong as it seeks to finance its expansion and strengthen its position in the global automotive market. The company, one of China’s leading vehicle exporters, aims to utilize the proceeds to accelerate research and development, enhance manufacturing capabilities, and expand internationally. CICC, Huatai Securities, and GF Securities are serving as joint sponsors for the IPO, according to a listing document made public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Friday. The targeted fundraising amount has not been disclosed. See also: Chery to Equip Low-Cost Models with Smart…

China FAW Group’s premium brand Hongqi has introduced the Tiangong 05, an all-electric mid-size sedan, marking the second model under its Tiangong modular platform following the launch of the Tiangong 08 electric SUV last month. Hongqi is offering four variants of the Tiangong 05, with starting prices set at RMB 159,800 ($22,020), RMB 169,800, RMB 175,800, and RMB 185,800, respectively. See also: China’s Hongqi Unveils Tiangong 08 Electric SUV with Up to 730 km Range The sedan measures 4,820 mm in length, 1,915 mm in width, and 1,480 mm in height, featuring a wheelbase of 2,900 mm. It is based…

Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun expressed confidence in the SU7 Ultra’s market prospects, stating that the company is “90 percent sure” of reaching its 10,000-unit sales target for the high-performance electric sedan this year. “The Ultra is a strong product, and our team is confident that we are 90 percent sure of our 10,000-unit annual sales target,” Lei wrote on Weibo on Monday, a day before the official launch event. See also: Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Gets a Sleek Cosmic Silver Makeover Xiaomi’s automotive division, Xiaomi EV, confirmed that the SU7 Ultra will be launched on February 27 at 7…

Tesla sent engineers from its U.S. headquarters to China in early February to work on the local deployment of Full Self-Driving (FSD) and refine its algorithms, Chinese media outlet LatePost reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The initiative aims to enhance FSD’s functionality in China while ensuring data remains within the country. Once the U.S. engineers complete their work, Tesla’s local team will take over to further optimize the system for Chinese road conditions, the report said. See also: Tesla Rolls Out Advanced Assisted Driving Features in China, Avoiding FSD Label Tesla has been collecting training data…

Tesla has begun rolling out high-level assisted driving features in China, stopping short of branding them as Full Self-Driving (FSD). The U.S. electric vehicle (EV) maker started pushing software update version 2024.45.32.12 on Sunday, introducing enhanced Autopilot navigation capabilities on city streets, according to Tesla’s update log. The update improves Navigate on Autopilot (NOA), enabling vehicles to handle ramps and intersections based on navigation routes and to recognize traffic signals for maneuvers, including straight driving, left and right turns, and U-turns. See also: Tesla Prepares to Roll Out FSD Features for Chinese Customers “When the navigation route is not set,…