Author: Linda Ma

Chery New Energy, a division of the Chinese auto giant Chery, has announced a significant price reduction for three of its new energy vehicle (NEV) models. The cuts, ranging from RMB 4,000 ($581) to RMB 9,000 ($1,310), are effective from March 27, 2023. The reductions affect the QQ Ice Cream, Little Ant, and Wujie Pro models, with the Little Ant seeing the largest percentage drop. Chery New Energy cited the correction of new energy material prices globally and the company’s supply chain management capabilities as reasons for the price cuts. One significant factor in the price correction has been the…

Tesla has issued a new recall for its Model S sedans due to issues with the front trunk (frunk) latch lock, which could result in the lid unexpectedly popping open while driving. This poses a significant safety risk as it can limit forward visibility. The latest recall affects 2,649 Tesla Model S sedans that were imported from the US, with no impact on any other market since the Model S and its counterpart, the Model X SUV, are only produced at the Tesla Fremont factory in California. The recall in China applies to Model S vehicles produced between October 14,…

XPeng has announced the first deliveries of its P7i sedan, a facelift of its flagship P7 sedan, in seven Chinese cities. The automaker held delivery ceremonies in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Chengdu, and Chongqing. Although the company did not disclose the number of P7i vehicles delivered, it marks the shortest time between the official launch and delivery of any XPeng model. The P7i was officially launched on March 10, offering four versions with a starting price of RMB 249,900 ($36,390). The P7i is built on the regular 400 V platform, but the model has undergone significant upgrades. Its maximum…

Avatr is a brand jointly owned by tech giants Huawei, CATL, and Changan, with Huawei responsible for the technology used in the vehicles. The brand’s first SUV, the Avatr 11, was officially unveiled last year with only one powertrain option, consisting of two electric motors producing a combined output of 570 hp (425 kW) and 650 Nm of torque. The dual-motor version came with two battery options, a smaller CATL-supplied battery pack offering 555 km of range, and a bigger 116 kWh pack rated at 680 km by CLTC. Starting next month, the Avatr 11 will be available from Huawei…

NIO, a leading Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker, has announced a strategic partnership with Wencan Group, a supplier of one-piece die-casting parts, to provide supply support near its Hefei plants. The five-year cooperation framework agreement will involve collaboration on supply, low carbon, digitalization, and globalization, as well as deep research and development on lightweight die-casting structural parts for the body and new material applications. The two companies will also explore all-round cooperation in products such as integrated battery boxes, core EV components, and automotive chassis. Wencan, one of China’s leading suppliers of integrated die-casting parts and a core supplier of…

Li Auto, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, announced that it has achieved a major milestone with its cumulative vehicle deliveries topping 300,000. The company achieved this feat in just 39 months since it began delivering vehicles in December 2019, making it the fastest among China’s homegrown new luxury carmaker brands. Li Auto’s latest announcement came after it delivered the Li L9, Li L8, and Li L7 models to three owners at its Beijing delivery center on March 24. The company’s cumulative deliveries as of the end of February were 289,095, with 15,141 and 16,620 vehicles delivered in January and…

NIO, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, has opened its first flagship showroom in the Netherlands. The NIO House is located in Rotterdam, the country’s second-largest city, and boasts seven main areas, including a vehicle display section and spaces for NIO owners to relax and engage with the community. Local visitors can explore NIO’s three EV models, including the ET7, EL7 (known as the ES7 in China), and ET5, in the vehicle display area. NIO’s flagship showrooms are designed to showcase and sell vehicles while also providing a hub for NIO owners to enjoy a quality lifestyle. Smaller NIO Spaces…

Hamburg is set to receive five new zero-emission buses as the municipal operator Hamburger Hochbahn has ordered the Solaris Urbino 12 hydrogen buses. These buses are equipped with a 70 kW hydrogen fuel cell and will hit the streets as early as the second quarter of 2024. The growing demand for hydrogen as an alternative fuel has led to an increase in orders from carriers for hydrogen-powered buses. The benefits of hydrogen-powered vehicles include zero-emissions and an extremely low noise level. Hamburg is just one of the many cities opting to modernize their fleets with hydrogen-powered vehicles. The Solaris Urbino…

Zeekr, a new electric vehicle (EV) brand by Geely, is set to unveil its upcoming electric X crossover on April 12th, but the company has been giving glimpses of the car’s features ahead of its official launch. Recently, Zeekr released images showcasing the car’s interior, which boasts of a minimalist and luxurious design. While the company has not disclosed many specifics about the car’s features, it is apparent that the driver will sit behind a two-spoke steering wheel and a freestanding digital instrument cluster. To the right of the steering wheel is a widescreen infotainment system mounted on a slider…

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is set to visit China next week to promote a potential deal between Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD and Ford’s former factory in northeast Brazil. The factory, located in Bahia state, has been inactive since Ford ceased production in Brazil in 2021. BYD signed a letter of intent with the Bahia government in October 2021, indicating their interest in investing $570 million to set up electric vehicle production in the Camaçari industrial park. Since then, negotiations have been ongoing, and BYD executives expressed hope in November that a final agreement could be reached…

Evergrande New Energy Vehicle Group, the ambitious electric vehicle (EV) arm of Chinese real estate giant Evergrande, is on the brink of disaster. The company’s latest filing reveals a dire situation, with the automaker struggling to deliver on its production targets, facing a liquidity crisis and cutting costs by reducing its workforce headcount. The filing highlights that Evergrande NEV delivered only around 900 units of its flagship Hengchi 5 model since production began in mid-September 2022, a major setback for the company’s EV ambitions. To make matters worse, the automaker has had to cut 931 jobs in a bid to…

BYD, a Chinese car manufacturer, has recently entered the smartphone accessory market with its latest product, the BYD smartwatch. While other companies like Xiaomi, Huawei, and Nio have ventured into different industries, BYD has taken a small but significant step by introducing a smartwatch that can replace car keys. The BYD smartwatch is designed to be a convenient solution for car owners who want to simplify their lives by reducing the number of devices they carry around. Instead of carrying car keys, users can wear the smartwatch, which also functions as a traditional smartwatch with activity tracking, notifications, and Bluetooth…

China’s largest new energy vehicle (NEV) maker, BYD, has reduced shifts at two of its plants in response to weakened consumer demand for electric vehicles (EVs), according to a new report. The Xi’an plant, BYD’s largest manufacturing hub, has asked some workers to work only four days a week, with the plant running two eight-hour shifts a day. The Shenzhen plant, which makes the Han sedan, has also reduced shifts from three shifts a day to two. The reason for the reduction in shifts was not given in the internal memo, but one person familiar with the matter said BYD…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Nio is ramping up production of its third generation Power Swap Station (PSS), with mass production expected to be achieved in May. The company is bringing the first 10 stations online on March 28, a month earlier than planned. The latest PSS can store 21 batteries, a significant improvement from the previous model which could only store 13 batteries. The first generation PSS, meanwhile, could only hold five batteries at once. While the PSS can store 21 batteries, it can service 408 vehicles in a 24-hour period. This translates to 17 electric cars charged every…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng delivered over 120,000 vehicles in 2022, marking a 23% increase from the previous year. However, despite higher sales, the company reported a net loss of 9.14 billion yuan ($1.25 billion) – nearly double that of the previous year. In its annual report, Xpeng revealed that its sales for the year reached 26.86 billion yuan ($3.67 billion), up 28% from the previous year. However, its gross margin for the year slipped to 11.5%, down one percentage point from 2021. See also: XPeng officially launches G9 electric SUV with range of up to 436 miles The…

Bonnet, the London-based EV charging app with a growing presence across Europe, has launched a public crowdfunding campaign after existing users of the app pledged to invest in the company. Alongside this, Bonnet has also secured £3 million in equity from a range of investors, including GV (the investment arm of Google), Lightspeed Venture Partners, Tier Mobility, Wise, Deliveroo, and 20VC. The new funding will enable Bonnet to further expand and enhance its service, with a particular focus on reliability, as well as increasing its coverage across the UK and Europe. Bonnet’s long-term goal is to become the go-to app…

China’s automotive sector is facing a slump, which has resulted in carmakers and dealerships slashing prices to boost sales. This has affected veteran carmakers such as Ford, Volkswagen, and General Motors, who are offering discounts on their vehicles to attract consumers. Even Tesla, which dominates the EV industry in the United States, is facing stiff competition from local Chinese automakers such as BYD. Legacy automakers have initiated efforts to drive demand by adopting pricing strategies such as aggressive price cuts. Ford is offering a discount of approximately $6,000 on its Mustang Mach-E until the end of April, and Volkswagen has…

BYD, the largest Chinese manufacturer of new energy vehicles (NEVs), recently made its brand debut in Uzbekistan, one of the largest automotive markets in Central Asia. During the brand debut event held on March 16, BYD introduced three models to local consumers, including the Han EV, Song Plus DM-i, and Chazor DM-i. As Uzbekistan is transitioning toward vehicle electrification, BYD’s advanced blade battery and DM-i super hybrid technology are expected to meet the demand of local consumers. Furthermore, three BYD stores will open in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, this month, including a flagship store and technology museum, a comprehensive brand experience…

In a bid to address the growing importance of recycling and reprocessing materials in the expanding new energy vehicle (NEV) market, Mercedes-Benz has signed a memorandum of understanding with CATL’s Brunp subsidiary in China. The deal will see Brunp recycle used electric car batteries from Mercedes-Benz and process the materials into cathode materials, which will then be used by CATL in new electric vehicle batteries supplied to Mercedes-Benz. Brunp, which already works with Volvo, BMW, FAW-Volkswagen, and GAC-Toyota, among others, operates 251 battery recycling sites across China. Its parent company CATL is also building two large industrial parks to recycle…

Xpeng, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, is making significant strides in the development of autonomous driving technology with the expansion of its City Navigation Guided Pilot (City NGP) feature. Similar to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, Xpeng’s NGP is equipped with LiDAR sensors that enable the vehicle to detect and avoid obstacles, making the driving experience safer. Starting in Shenzhen, China, Xpeng’s NGP system will be available through an over-the-air (OTA) upgrade for the Xpeng P5 electric sedan. This will be the seventh OTA upgrade for the P5, and Xpeng claims it will provide up to 90% efficiency compared to…