Author: Linda Ma

Xpeng said on Friday it has officially entered New Zealand, adding a new right-hand drive market to its international footprint as the automaker continues its overseas expansion. The move marks Xpeng’s first international market entry in 2026. The company has opened its initial service centres in Auckland’s North Shore and in Christchurch, offering sales, vehicle delivery and after-sales services to local customers. See also: Xpeng Tests Level 4 Autonomous Driving on Upcoming GX Flagship SUV, Report Says Both locations are showcasing the Xpeng G6, the company’s most affordable sport utility vehicle, which competes in the midsize electric SUV segment dominated…

Xiaomi EV has disbanded its dedicated sales team for the SU7 Ultra, its ultra-premium electric sedan, as demand for the high-performance model has fallen sharply in recent months, according to Chinese media reports. The specialised “Ultra Master” sales team was officially dissolved by the end of January, local outlet Lanjinger reported on Wednesday. The SU7 Ultra remains available for purchase in China, but sales are now being handled by general entry-level sales staff rather than a dedicated premium team. See also: No EV Joint Venture Planned, Ford and Xiaomi Say After Media Report Launched in February 2025, the SU7 Ultra…

Chinese new energy vehicle maker BYD has formally announced the creation of Linghui, a new sub-brand focused on the ride-hailing market and corporate clients, following regulatory filings last month for multiple models under the name. BYD said in a post on Weibo on Monday that Linghui would pioneer what it described as “ultra-value mobility.” “A car carries not just luggage and aspirations, but also supports every striving individual shining brightly,” the company said in Linghui’s inaugural social media post. See also: BYD January NEV Sales Fall 30% Year on Year as China Auto Market Weakens The launch adds a new…

Chinese automaker GWM reported a sharp decline in net income for 2025, reflecting rising expenditures linked to marketing, sales channel expansion and investment in new technologies, even as revenue and vehicle sales increased. GWM said its net income for 2025 fell 21.71% to 9.91 billion yuan ($1.43 billion), down from 12.66 billion yuan a year earlier, according to an earnings preview released on Friday. Excluding non-recurring gains and losses, net income dropped more sharply, declining 36.48% year-on-year to 6.16 billion yuan. See also: GWM January Sales Rise 11.6% Year on Year on Overseas Growth Revenue for the year rose 10.19%…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc is increasing its investment in artificial intelligence this year, strengthening its smart driving research team with the recruitment of senior AI talent as it seeks to sharpen its autonomous driving capabilities. Yang Sheng, a former algorithm expert at Alibaba Group’s DAMO Academy, has joined Nio’s smart driving team, Chinese media outlet Yiou reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Yang will work closely with Ren Shaoqing, Nio’s vice president and chief expert for smart driving research and development, focusing on autonomous driving architectures and advanced algorithms. See also: Nio Warns of Rising…

Smart, the electric vehicle brand jointly owned by Mercedes-Benz and Geely, said it will debut the two-seat Smart #2 mini electric vehicle prototype concept at the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, ahead of a planned production launch later in the year. The concept will be shown publicly at Auto China 2026, which runs from April 24 to May 3 in Beijing, Smart said over the weekend. The production version of the Smart #2 is scheduled to be launched within 2026, following its initial unveiling in September last year. See alos: Smart Begins Real-World Testing of All-Electric #2 Ahead of 2026…

Abu Dhabi has consolidated its holdings in Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio and the owner of McLaren Automotive under a newly created state-owned investment vehicle, L’imad Holding, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. The restructuring involves the transfer of CYVN Holdings, a government-owned investor focused on mobility, to L’imad, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. The move is intended to streamline management and centralise selected Abu Dhabi investments, while expanding the remit of the emirate’s newest holding company. A spokesperson for McLaren confirmed that the company will ultimately be controlled by L’imad, though CYVN will remain McLaren’s direct parent, according to…

Geely Auto’s electric-focused sub-brand Geely Galaxy on Tuesday officially launched the V900 extended-range multi-purpose vehicle, marking the first model in its newly introduced V series. The Geely Galaxy V900 is offered in three variants priced at 269,800 yuan ($38,770), 289,800 yuan and 329,800 yuan. Pre-sales for the model began on Jan. 7, when indicative prices were set higher at 319,800 yuan, 349,800 yuan and 389,800 yuan, respectively. The V900 measures 5,360 mm in length, 1,998 mm in width and 1,940 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,200 mm. It enters China’s competitive premium MPV segment, where it will face…

Nio is expected to unveil its new flagship sport utility vehicle, the ES9, in mid-April, ahead of its public debut at the Beijing Auto Show later that month, company executives said. The ES9’s technology launch event is tentatively scheduled for around April 10, Qin Lihong, Nio’s co-founder and president, said during a weekend user engagement event, adding that the date could still change. The timing would position the model for its first public appearance at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which runs from April 24 to May 3. See also: Nio Says It Will Press Ahead in Europe as EU…

Nio’s sub-brand Onvo has launched a special edition of its L60 midsize sport utility vehicle to mark the upcoming Chinese Lunar Year of the Horse, the company said. The limited-time “Ma Dao Cheng Gong” edition of the five-seat L60 is priced at 218,900 yuan ($31,420), including the battery pack, representing a premium of 12,000 yuan, or about 5.8%, over the standard model. Under Onvo’s battery-as-a-service (BaaS) scheme, the vehicle starts at 161,900 yuan, with a monthly battery rental fee of 599 yuan. See also: Nio Says It Will Press Ahead in Europe as EU Signals Shift From Tariffs to Pricing…

China Changan Automobile Group and battery maker CATL have signed a five-year memorandum of understanding to expand their strategic partnership, focusing on advanced technologies and new business models across China’s fast-evolving new energy vehicle sector. The agreement was signed on Jan. 14 in Chongqing, according to a statement published on CATL’s official WeChat account. It outlines cooperation across technology deployment, market expansion, business model innovation, overseas development and coordinated brand-building initiatives. See also: Nio and CATL Sign Five-Year Deal to Deepen Battery and Swap Network Cooperation China Changan Automobile Group was established in 2025 with approval from the State Council…

Geely Auto’s Galaxy sub-brand said on Wednesday it will launch the V900 extended-range electric multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) on Jan. 20, following the start of pre-sales earlier this month. Pre-orders for the V900 opened on Jan. 7 with three four-wheel-drive variants — Pro, Max and a Collector’s Edition — priced at 319,800 yuan ($45,840), 349,800 yuan and 389,800 yuan, respectively, Geely Galaxy said. See also: Geely Galaxy Starts Pre-Sales of V900 MPV to Take On BYD Denza D9 The V900 is an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), designed to deliver battery-electric driving characteristics while using a combustion engine as a range extender…