Author: Linda Ma

SAIC Motor, China’s largest automaker, has signed a new agreement to strengthen its partnership with Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Limited (CATL), focusing on the development of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This expanded collaboration will cover areas such as technology development, battery aftermarket services, and international market expansion. As part of the agreement, SAIC Motor will make CATL its preferred supplier of EV batteries, with a focus on integrating CATL’s Qilin and Shenxing battery technologies into SAIC’s vehicles. The two companies will work closely to customize these batteries to meet specific requirements for SAIC’s electric vehicle lineup. Additionally, the partnership will…

Tesla reportedly secured 50,000 orders for the newly refreshed Model Y within 24 hours of its unveiling in China, according to local reports. The mid-cycle update, introduced last week, includes design changes and spec upgrades, but it has faced mixed reactions compared to the recent Model 3 refresh. The orders came swiftly after Tesla revealed the updated Model Y, which is expected to begin deliveries in March, although it hasn’t yet launched in Europe or North America. While the figure represents just over a month’s worth of orders in a single day, the high demand is attributed to anticipation for…

Chinese logistics firm Cainiao, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, has launched the GT Pro, an advanced autonomous delivery vehicle designed for public road operations. The GT Pro is positioned as a significant enhancement of the GT model introduced last year, currently deployed across more than 10 provinces in China. “The GT Pro brings significant improvements in design, range, algorithm optimization, and interactive features,” Cainiao said in a statement. At 12 feet long, 7 feet high, and 4 feet wide, the GT Pro boasts compact dimensions comparable to small passenger cars like the Toyota Aygo X. Despite its size, the vehicle…

ProLogium, a Taiwanese company specializing in solid-state batteries, has introduced its fourth-generation lithium ceramic battery (LCB) system at CES. The new generation offers improvements in energy density, charging speed, and safety, marking a notable development in solid-state battery technology. The fourth-generation LCB battery delivers an energy density of 380 Wh/kg and 860-900 Wh/L, surpassing the third generation’s figures of 359 Wh/kg and 811 Wh/L. Charging time has been reduced, allowing for a 60% charge in four minutes and 80% in six minutes, compared to the previous generation’s five minutes to 60% and 8.5 minutes to 80%. These changes are expected…

Svolt Energy, the independent battery maker that spun off from Great Wall Motor, has unveiled its new fast-charging power battery at its 5th Battery Day event in Chengdu, Sichuan. The company introduced the Fengxing Short Blade Battery, which features an impressive 6C charging multiplier and an energy density of 185 Wh/kg, marking a significant step in advancing charging efficiency. The Fengxing battery is capable of charging from 10% to 80% state of charge (SOC) in just 8.5 minutes, showcasing the rapid charging capabilities that could become a key technology for future electric vehicles. Powered by Svolt’s third-generation short blade cells,…

Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD announced the maiden voyage of its third car carrier, the BYD Hefei, as it set sail for Europe carrying nearly 5,000 vehicles. The vessel, completed in September 2024, is the first ship in BYD’s fleet directly owned by the company. The BYD Hefei, named after the city housing one of BYD’s major production facilities, measures 199.9 meters in length, has a beam of 38 meters, and a design speed of 18.5 knots (34 km/h). It features a dual-fuel ro-ro (roll-on/roll-off) design with a 7,000-car capacity. The vessel was built by Guangzhou Shipyard International…

Chinese automaker BYD has teased two upcoming models, the Tang L SUV and Han L sedan, signaling the start of heightened competition in the country’s new energy vehicle (NEV) market for 2025. The company shared teaser images of both models today on Weibo, marking the first public mention of these new vehicles. BYD has not provided additional details about the Tang L and Han L, which have yet to appear in regulatory databases. However, the images reveal that both models will be equipped with LiDAR technology, a feature not found in the current versions of the Tang and Han. LiDAR…

Volkswagen’s joint venture with SAIC Motor continued its dominance in China’s electric vehicle (EV) market in 2024, securing the title of top-selling joint venture brand. The partnership sold over 1.2 million vehicles last year, with more than 1.14 million units attributed to the Volkswagen brand, making it the top-selling joint venture in the country. The SAIC-Volkswagen ID family stood out with strong sales performance, especially the ID.3, which became the top-selling joint venture EV and A-class hatchback in China. With 130,222 ID electric vehicles sold in 2024, marking a 24% increase from 2023, the ID series was the best-selling joint…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Zeekr, a subsidiary of Geely Automobile Holdings, has outlined plans to launch three new models in 2025, including its first hybrid offerings. The announcement was made during a recent company call detailing sales targets for the coming year. The product lineup for 2025 will include a shooting brake model based on the Zeekr 007 electric sedan in the second quarter, a full-size flagship SUV in the third quarter, and a mid-to-large luxury SUV in the fourth quarter. The SUVs will be available in both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) configurations.…

Xiaomi has achieved significant success in 2024, delivering more than 135,000 electric vehicles (EVs) through its EV division, Xiaomi EV. With this accomplishment, the company is now targeting 300,000 vehicle deliveries for 2025. As of now, Xiaomi EV has expanded its presence with 200 stores in 58 cities across China. The company’s first model, the SU7, has already surpassed its 2024 delivery targets, reaching over 130,000 units by December 28, a year before its official unveiling. The SU7, launched in March 2024, is available in three variants—Standard, Pro, and Max—with prices starting at RMB 215,900 ($29,580). Deliveries of the Standard…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio has officially launched the ET9, a flagship executive sedan positioned to challenge premium offerings from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi. The ET9 debuted during Nio Day 2024 in Guangzhou, China, with a starting price of RMB 788,000 ($108,000), inclusive of the battery. The ET9 showcases Nio’s advancements in EV technology, marking its entry into the executive sedan segment. It features Nio’s proprietary 5 nm Shenji NX9031 autonomous driving chip, which boasts performance equivalent to four mainstream smart driving processors. The ET9 incorporates two of these chips alongside roof-mounted and side LiDAR units to enhance its intelligent…

Nio has begun preparations for the launch of Firefly, a new sub-brand dedicated to smart electric vehicles (EVs) for the global urban market. The brand’s official WeChat account, mini program, and mobile app became available today, alongside the unveiling of its logo. Firefly is positioned as a premium small car brand, offering a dynamic and agile solution for city commuters. The logo features a glowing firefly in flight, with the top half symbolizing the freedom to fly and the bottom representing inner strength, according to the company’s first post on WeChat. The brand is inspired by the firefly, which emits…