Author: Linda Ma

Li Auto has unveiled its first all-electric SUV, the Li i8, signaling its latest push into China’s competitive battery electric vehicle (BEV) market. The move marks a crucial test for the automaker, which has so far relied on its success with extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). The company announced the Li i8 on its social media platforms, sharing images of the vehicle alongside the Li L9 SUV and the Li Mega multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), its first BEV model launched in March 2024. Li Auto founder, chairman, and CEO Li Xiang explained on Weibo that the “i” in the name represents “intelligence,”…

China Evergrande Group’s electric vehicle unit has agreed to sell its 20% stake in a Swedish real estate property lessor for 60 million krona ($5.63 million) as it seeks to meet urgent payment obligations, the company said on Tuesday. The sale of the stake in AB Trollhättan Propellern 13 will help China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group (0708.HK) cover imminent tax payments and other financial commitments. The company expects to incur a disposal loss of 23.8 million krona following the transaction with Logistikfastigheter i Trollhättan AB. Evergrande, the world’s most indebted property developer with liabilities exceeding $300 billion, was ordered…

SAIC-GM-Wuling has introduced a four-door version of its popular Hongguang Mini EV, aiming to broaden its market reach in China’s competitive electric vehicle sector. The new model, which builds on the success of the two-door variant, is priced between RMB 44,800 ($6,180) and RMB 50,800, the automaker announced at a launch event. The Mini EV, first introduced in July 2020, has gained traction due to its affordability and compact design. SAIC-GM-Wuling said cumulative sales of the Mini EV family have surpassed 1.5 million units. “The Mini EV has been a game-changer in urban mobility, and the four-door version will further…

Tesla is preparing to roll out a self-driving software update for customers in China, offering driving-assistance capabilities similar to its Full Self-Driving (FSD) features available in the United States, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing a person familiar with the matter. The update will be available to customers who have purchased Tesla’s FSD package for 64,000 yuan ($8,831.73), the report said. The software will enable driver-assist features for city streets and will initially be introduced on select models before being gradually expanded. See also: Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Approval in China Faces Uncertainty Amid U.S.-China Trade Tensions Tesla’s self-driving features have…

Analysts at JPMorgan have revised their sales projections for BYD, forecasting that the Chinese automaker will likely become the “Toyota” of the global electric vehicle (EV) industry. In a research note published on Wednesday, analyst Nick Lai’s team increased their global sales estimate for BYD in 2026 to 6.5 million units, up from the 6 million units projected last July. Their forecast for overseas markets remains unchanged at 1.5 million units. See also: BYD CEO: Chinese EVs Are 3-5 Years Ahead of Global Rivals The latest estimate suggests BYD’s share of the global light-duty vehicle market—including internal combustion engine models—will…

Xiaomi is set to officially launch its high-performance SU7 Ultra electric vehicle in the coming days, with a potential surprise—a two-seat variant. The latest regulatory filings from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) indicate that the SU7 Ultra has been included in a catalog of configuration changes, with public feedback open from February 20-26. Regulatory approval is one of the last steps before a model can be sold in China. The filing reveals a key modification: the SU7 Ultra will now be available with either a five-seat or a two-seat layout, departing from its original five-seat configuration. See…

Zeekr announced on Tuesday that it will release its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 on Thursday, March 20, before U.S. markets open. The company’s management will hold an earnings call at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time (8:00 p.m. Beijing Time) on the same day. On February 14, Zeekr completed its strategic integration with Geely entities, making Lynk & Co an indirect, non-wholly owned subsidiary. See also: Zeekr Completes Lynk & Co Integration, Targets One Million Annual Sales Zeekr delivered 79,250 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a 99.84% increase from 39,657 units…

SAIC Motor has officially confirmed its partnership with Huawei to develop intelligent new energy vehicles (NEVs), the automaker announced on Wednesday. The collaboration, which had been the subject of speculation, was formalized with an agreement signed in Shanghai on February 21. Under the partnership, SAIC and Huawei will cooperate in product definition, manufacturing, supply chain management, and sales and services. “This strategic collaboration aims to deliver cutting-edge smart mobility solutions and develop globally competitive smart vehicles,” SAIC said in a statement. The agreement was signed by Jia Jianxu, president of SAIC, and Wang Yanmin, president of Huawei’s Zhixuan business unit,…

Chinese battery giant CATL is ramping up production at its Arnstadt, Germany, facility and is actively recruiting additional staff to support its European expansion, the company said. “The plant is currently working at a high capacity to fulfil customer requirements,” a CATL spokesperson told the German news agency DPA. The spokesperson added that the factory’s growth will depend on market developments. See also: CATL Files for Secondary Listing in Hong Kong, Targeting $5 Billion in Funding The Arnstadt plant, which began producing battery cells in December 2022 and officially started operations in 2023, supplies automakers including the Volkswagen Group for…

Chery’s Exeed brand has revealed official images of the upcoming Exlantix ES Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) variant, with market entry expected in early March, according to Huang Zhaogen, general manager of Exeed’s marketing division. Huang described the model as “the first high-end range-extender smart sedan in its class.” While pricing details have yet to be disclosed, the all-electric Exlantix ES is currently priced between 195,900 and 299,900 yuan ($26,800 – $41,000). Mass production of the EREV version began in January, with initial deliveries made to internal test users. See also: Exeed Unveils Sterra ET: A Dual Offer with BEV and…

Great Wall Motor has partnered with Nio to provide users of its Haval, Wey, Ora, and Tank brand vehicles with access to Nio Power’s charging network. The collaboration, announced today via the Nio App, aims to offer greater convenience and coverage for electric vehicle (EV) owners in China. Through this partnership, Great Wall Motor customers will be able to find and use Nio Power’s charging stations across China, available through mobile apps. The move expands Nio Power’s service to additional brands, as the network is already accessible to EVs from 17 other manufacturers, including Xiaomi EV, Arcfox, Avatr, and Chery.…

China has reaffirmed its commitment to deeper cooperation with European automakers and called for a resolution to the European Union’s anti-subsidy case on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said during a video call on Friday with Ola Källenius, president of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) and chairman of Mercedes-Benz. During the discussion, Wang emphasized the strong foundation for China-Europe auto industry collaboration and welcomed European manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, to expand their investment in China, according to a statement from China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). He expressed hope that the ACEA and Mercedes-Benz would advocate…