Author: Linda Ma

German luxury carmaker BMW has announced a voluntary recall of electric vehicles (EVs) in China due to safety concerns. The recall, which began on June 2, affects a total of 99 EVs, including locally produced models such as the i3 and iX3, as well as imported models like the i4, i7, and iX. The recall was issued in accordance with the guidelines of China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). BMW Brilliance, the joint venture between BMW and a Chinese partner, will oversee the recall of the domestically manufactured EVs. Among these are 42 i3 EVs produced in China between…

On June 1, Zeekr, a brand under Geely, delivered the Zeekr 001 WE electric vehicle at the CATL headquarters in China. This model comes with CATL’s cutting-edge CTP 3.0 Qilin batteries, offering an impressive 1,032 km CLTC cruising range. The introduction of the Zeekr 001 WE marks a significant milestone as it becomes the world’s first mass-produced vehicle equipped with Qilin batteries capable of exceeding 1,000 km on a single charge. Customers can choose from two battery capacity configurations for the WE version. The first option is a 100 kWh battery capacity, providing a range of 741 km and an…

Smart Automobile, the joint venture between Geely and Mercedes-Benz, is expanding its presence in China’s booming electric vehicle (EV) market with the introduction of its second model since transitioning to electrification. The highly anticipated Smart #3 was officially unveiled in China during a grand event held on Thursday evening, marking the beginning of its market availability. Deliveries of the vehicle are scheduled to commence this month, generating significant excitement among EV enthusiasts. The Smart #3 offers consumers three distinct versions to choose from: the Pro+, Pulse, and Premium. These variants come with starting prices of RMB 209,900 ($29,586), RMB 239,900,…

XPeng is gearing up to launch its latest offering, the G6 SUV. The company aims to directly compete with Tesla’s Model Y, listed on NASDAQ as TSLA. XPeng announced on Weibo that pre-sales for the G6 will commence on June 9, although specific details were not disclosed. The introduction of the G6 follows XPeng’s successful pre-sale of the P5 sedan. As per their customary approach, XPeng intends to unveil the pre-sale price of the G6 next week, with the official pricing slated for the end of June. During an analyst call on May 24, following the announcement of their first-quarter…

GAC Aion, the subsidiary of GAC Group specializing in new energy vehicles (NEVs), has achieved remarkable sales figures, surpassing expectations once again. The company reported that it sold an impressive 45,003 vehicles in May, marking the third consecutive month of surpassing the 40,000-unit milestone. This represents a staggering increase of 113.73 percent compared to the same period last year when sales reached 21,056 vehicles. Furthermore, it signifies a solid growth of 9.73 percent from April’s sales figure of 41,012 units. Throughout the first five months of this year, GAC Aion has experienced exponential growth, with a total of 166,323 vehicles…

According to the latest data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), retail sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China experienced a remarkable surge of 82 percent year on year in May. From May 1 to May 28, a total of 483,000 NEVs were sold across the country. The CPCA also reported that, as of May 28 this year, the cumulative retail sales of NEVs in China reached 2.33 million units, representing a significant 43 percent increase compared to the previous year. Concurrently, retail sales of passenger vehicles in China totaled 7.29 million units, marking a moderate 2 percent…

Cubonic, the emerging player in the electric shuttle market, has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Punch Powertrain, a leading transmission manufacturer specializing in hybrid and electric drives. This collaboration aims to integrate Punch Powertrain’s electric drives into Cubonic’s vehicle architecture, focusing on the popular PeopleMover minibus and CargoMover light transport vehicle. Having recently emerged from the insolvency of Aachen-based electric shuttle developer Moove, Cubonic is poised to leverage the expertise of Punch Powertrain to further enhance its PeopleMover and CargoMover solutions. With a reputation for delivering complete hybrid and electric drive systems, Punch Powertrain’s involvement will undoubtedly accelerate…

Neta Auto, a prominent electric vehicle (EV) brand under Hozon Auto, achieved a significant milestone today as its 300,000th production vehicle rolled off the assembly line. This momentous event marks a pivotal point in the company’s history, highlighting its remarkable growth and success. Merely 16 months ago, Neta celebrated the production of its 100,000th vehicle, showcasing its rapid expansion and increasing market demand. Last year alone, the company recorded an impressive delivery of 152,073 vehicles, representing a staggering 118.26 percent year-on-year growth. Since its establishment in 2014, Neta has positioned itself as a budget-friendly EV manufacturer, capturing the attention of…

In a recent development, NIO, the renowned electric vehicle manufacturer, has once again drawn attention by recruiting top talent from its competitor, XPeng. The trend seems to be gaining momentum as NIO aims to strengthen its position in the market. One notable addition to NIO’s team is Liu Fanfan, formerly the vice general manager of XPeng’s Internet center, who has now assumed the role of head of NIO’s navigation and location services division. This strategic move signifies NIO’s commitment to enhancing its digital cockpit and software development capabilities. As part of its evolution, NIO is gradually phasing out its NT…

Great Wall, the prominent Chinese automaker, has expressed its interest in establishing car manufacturing operations in Europe, with a focus on Germany and other countries in Eastern Europe. The company is currently in the early stages of evaluating various concepts for a European factory. Xiangjun Meng, President of Great Wall Motor Europe, stated, “The eastern German states could be potential candidates.” He further emphasized the need to analyze the strategic decisions made by experienced Asian manufacturers regarding their European locations. Hungary and the Czech Republic are also being considered as potential options for the European factory. China’s leading battery manufacturer,…

Geely Auto Group’s latest venture, Geely Galaxy, has emerged on the scene with its groundbreaking new energy vehicle (NEV) sub-brand. In a bid to conquer the burgeoning plug-in hybrid market, Geely Galaxy has taken a significant stride forward by making its inaugural model, the L7, readily available to the Chinese market. During an exclusive launch event held yesterday, Geely Galaxy proudly presented the L7 in five distinct versions, each starting at an attractive price point. With options ranging from RMB 138,700 ($19,500) to RMB 173,700, the L7 brings forth a compelling proposition for consumers. The Geely Galaxy L7 stands tall…

BYD, the renowned electric vehicle manufacturer, has officially launched the highly anticipated 2023 Yuan Pro compact SUV. This model is an improved version of the original Yuan Pro, which was initially introduced in March 2021. The 2023 Yuan Pro comes in three different versions, each with its own starting price. The prices for the base models start at RMB 95,800 ($13,500), while the higher trims are priced at RMB 105,800 and RMB 113,800, respectively. Pre-sales for the 2023 Yuan Pro began on April 7, with pre-sale prices set at RMB 99,800, RMB 109,800, and RMB 119,800 for the three versions,…

Denza N7, the highly anticipated new energy vehicle (NEV) from the brand under BYD, has announced its official launch schedule after a successful pre-sales phase that began last month. According to Zhao Changjiang, the general manager of Denza’s sales division, the Denza N7 will be officially launched in late June, with deliveries commencing in July. This announcement came during the company’s first brand day event following BYD’s effective control of Denza. Denza was established in February 2011 as a joint venture between BYD and Daimler, with both companies holding a 50 percent stake at the time. However, in February 2022,…

NIO, the prominent electric vehicle (EV) designer and manufacturer, continues to make strides in the rapidly expanding Chinese electric vehicle market. Following the recent launch of its second-generation ES6 electric SUV, NIO has garnered significant attention, amassing nearly 30,000 pre-orders within the initial three days of its release. The ES6, originally introduced in 2018, has emerged as NIO’s best-selling and most affordable model, accounting for 64% of the company’s sales in 2020, 45% in 2021, and 46% in 2022. However, with NIO focusing on new models based on its NT 2.0 platform, such as the EC7 and refreshed ES8 electric…

Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group (Evergrande NEV), the electric vehicle unit of China’s Evergrande Group, has successfully resumed production at its Hengchi Auto plant in Tianjin after a temporary suspension. The plant, which halted operations for a month due to financial challenges, resumed full-scale production on May 23, as confirmed in an official WeChat post by Hengchi. During a recent visit by officials from Tianjin Binhai New Area on May 29, it was observed that the production lines were running smoothly, and thousands of workers were diligently engaged in their tasks. This development signifies a positive step forward for Evergrande…

Chinese automotive giant BYD is actively searching for suitable locations in France, Spain, and Germany to establish its first electric car manufacturing plant in Europe. While BYD has not disclosed a preferred choice among these countries, it has made it clear that the United Kingdom has been excluded from consideration. A spokesperson from BYD informed CarNewsChina that the company is currently evaluating various potential sites for its European electric car plant. Brexit played a role in the decision to eliminate the UK as an option. The final location for the plant will be determined later this year. Notably, discussions have…

The Buick Electra E5, Buick’s inaugural model based on GM’s Ultium platform, has commenced deliveries in China, generating a positive initial response due to its competitive pricing for an electric SUV. SAIC-GM, the joint venture between General Motors and SAIC, recently announced the commencement of the first batch of Electra E5 deliveries, without disclosing the exact number of vehicles involved. Buick has outlined plans to enhance its energy replenishment system by incorporating nearly 1,000 Ultium supercharging terminals by the end of this year. Moreover, the company is on track to offer access to over 400,000 charging posts provided by prominent…

French auto parts manufacturer Valeo has announced its strategic partnership and investment agreement with Didi Autonomous Driving, a division of Didi Global, to tap into the rapidly expanding autonomous driving sector in China. The collaboration aims to jointly develop safety solutions for L4 robotaxis. Although the exact amount of Valeo’s investment was not disclosed in the press releases issued by both companies, the agreement signifies their commitment to advancing autonomous driving technology. Geoffrey BOUQUOT, Valeo’s Executive Vice President Strategy and CTO, expressed his pride in signing the agreement and emphasized the importance of combining research and development efforts for safety…

NIO, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has recently inaugurated a new factory dedicated to the production of battery swap stations. This move is in line with the company’s ambitious plan to add 1,000 battery swap stations to its network by the end of this year, a goal that was announced three months ago. On Friday evening, a brand-new battery swap station was shipped from NIO’s Hefei plant in Anhui province. It was promptly installed in Xiamen, located in the Fujian province, the following morning. Shen Fei, the Senior Vice President of NIO Power, made this announcement on Weibo, providing the…

Pony.ai, the Chinese startup supported by Toyota Motor and NIO Capital, has achieved another milestone in its pursuit of self-driving technology by launching its fully unmanned robotaxi service in Shenzhen, a prominent Chinese mega-city. As of May 29, Pony.ai has obtained a permit from the Shenzhen authorities to operate robotaxi services without a safety officer on board within the city’s core areas. It is currently the sole company to receive such authorization in Shenzhen, according to a recent press release. Since its establishment in late 2016, Pony.ai has strategically positioned its research and development centers in Silicon Valley, Guangzhou, Beijing,…