Author: Linda Ma

BYD has named former Stellantis UK chief Maria Grazia Davino as its regional managing director for Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic, the Chinese automaker announced on Wednesday. Davino will assume her role on December 1, aiming to strengthen BYD’s European presence as the company continues its expansion strategy, building local manufacturing plants in Hungary and Turkey. Davino’s appointment marks BYD’s latest recruitment move as it builds a robust management team for Europe, following its August hire of former Fiat Chrysler executive Alfredo Altavilla as a special adviser for the region. “Her appointment comes at a time when…

China’s SAIC Motor (600104.SS) announced plans to file a lawsuit at the European Union’s Court of Justice after the EU imposed tariffs of up to 45.3% on Chinese-built electric vehicles (EVs). The European Commission argues that these tariffs are needed to offset subsidies it claims give Chinese EV makers an unfair advantage, citing favorable financing, land allocations, and reduced raw material costs as factors. SAIC contends the EU’s investigation was flawed, saying it “wrong in determining subsidies” and had “inflated subsidy rates” by disregarding critical information provided by the company. In response to the trade barriers, SAIC said it will…

The European Union will impose increased tariffs of up to 45.3% on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs), concluding an anti-subsidy investigation aimed at countering what it claims are unfair trade practices from Beijing. The new tariffs, formally announced in the EU’s Official Journal on Tuesday, will take effect Wednesday, ranging from 7.8% for Tesla to 35.3% for Chinese manufacturer SAIC, on top of the standard 10% car import duty. The European Commission argued that the tariffs are necessary to address subsidies that allegedly give Chinese EVs a competitive edge, including preferential financing, land allocations, and discounted raw materials. The EU maintains…

Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary of Geely Holding Group, has announced a new partnership aimed at expanding its international presence into Africa. The company signed a partnership agreement with Egyptian International Motors (EIM Group) to collaboratively explore opportunities in the Egyptian market. The agreement includes the establishment of a sales and service network in Egypt, intended to enhance the high-end driving experience for local consumers. Initially, Zeekr plans to introduce its Zeekr 001 shooting brake and the Zeekr X urban SUV in Egypt, with intentions to roll out additional models in the future. The company’s first local store…

CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer, announced on October 28 that seven extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) models are now equipped with its new sodium-containing Freevoy battery. This lineup includes vehicles from Neta, Changan Nevo, Deepal, and Avatr, with the Avatr 12 set to debut in China on November 2. The Freevoy battery, unveiled by CATL on October 24, is an LFP battery that incorporates sodium-ion technology specifically designed to provide plug-in hybrids with a range and experience closer to that of fully electric vehicles. The battery offers up to 400 kilometers of pure electric range and supports 4C…

China renewed its warning to the European Union on Monday, cautioning that separate negotiations with individual electric vehicle (EV) companies during ongoing trade talks would “shake mutual trust” and disrupt the overall discussions. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce reiterated the stance, following a similar warning earlier this month, as China and the EU work to resolve trade tensions over Chinese electric vehicle imports. The latest statement from the ministry comes just days after both parties agreed to continue technical discussions aimed at exploring alternatives to imposing tariffs on Chinese EVs. Both sides had previously agreed that price commitments would be…

China Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group announced on Friday that discussions with potential buyers regarding a partial stake sale have concluded without an agreement. The EV subsidiary of China Evergrande Group, which holds a 58.5% interest in the unit, was in talks to divest 29% of its stake, with an option to sell the remaining shares over time. In a separate statement, China Evergrande indicated that its liquidators will continue exploring potential buyers and other opportunities to divest its holdings in the EV arm. However, the company warned that the prospects for a successful sale remain uncertain. Evergrande NEV reported…

BYD launched the 2025 model of its Tang DM-i hybrid SUV on Friday, implementing the automaker’s new DM 5.0 hybrid system, which promises enhanced fuel efficiency. This marks the latest update for BYD’s Tang SUV, which previously saw a refresh with the Tang DM-i Glory Edition earlier this year. The 2025 Tang DM-i is available in four trim levels, with starting prices of RMB 179,800 ($25,250), RMB 187,800, RMB 197,800, and RMB 207,800, respectively. Compared to the Tang DM-i Glory Edition launched in February, three of the new model’s variants are now priced RMB 2,000 to RMB 12,000 lower, while…

Xiaomi has officially opened preorders for its high-performance electric vehicle, the SU7 Ultra, through its website. Customers can select their preferred dealership for the preorder process. Goldman Sachs has projected that the SU7 Ultra will start at approximately $112,500. The tech giant is set to launch the vehicle officially on October 29, alongside its 15 series smartphones. The SU7 Ultra, a modified upgrade variant, was first unveiled as a high-performance prototype in July 2024. According to Lei Jun, the founder of Xiaomi, the vehicle is designed to compete on Germany’s Nürburgring race track. It is expected to achieve a top…

Chinese autonomous driving startup WeRide has officially filed for a $119.4 million initial public offering (IPO) on Nasdaq, alongside a private placement targeting $320.5 million, according to a term sheet reviewed by Reuters on Wednesday. The Guangzhou-based company plans to offer 6.5 million American depositary shares priced between $15.5 and $18.5 each, which could raise up to $119.4 million. In August, WeRide announced its intention to pursue a valuation of up to $5.02 billion for its IPO, coinciding with expectations that the Biden administration would propose restrictions on Chinese software used in autonomous vehicles within the United States. The company…

General Motors’ Buick brand is set to launch a new model featuring extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) options in China, responding to local consumer preferences—a relatively uncommon move among foreign automakers in the region. The model, codenamed NDLB, was initially scheduled for production this quarter. However, as development approached completion, Buick’s management opted to revise the product strategy, according to a report from local media outlet AutoPix. Originally intended to be offered solely as a battery electric vehicle (BEV), the NDLB will now also include EREV variants. This change necessitates a shift in the vehicle’s architecture to accommodate both pure electric…

BYD has introduced two new electric vehicle models in Vietnam, expanding its lineup in the Southeast Asian market to five offerings. The Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer launched the all-electric Han EV sedan and the M6 electric multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on October 18. The Han EV is priced starting at VND 1,489,000,000 (approximately $58,930), while the M6 MPV begins at VND 756,000,000 in Vietnam. The Han EV, BYD’s flagship sedan, was initially launched in July 2020 and has undergone several significant updates over the years. The 2025 model, which debuted in China on September 9, is available in both…