Author: Linda Ma

Electric SUVs are the talk of the town, but the YangWang U8 is no ordinary vehicle. With a 1,100hp power output from its four electric motors, it already dwarfs its competition. But, that’s not all. The U8 has another statistic that makes it the most formidable electric SUV on the market: its size. Despite being a new brand, YangWang has launched the most powerful electric SUV to date, and now it turns out, it’s the biggest as well. At 5.3 meters, the U8 is nearly 20cm longer than the Mercedes EQS SUV, nearly 40cm longer than the BMW iX, and…

HiPhi, the luxury electric car brand, is set to unveil its latest vehicle, the HiPhi Y, at the upcoming Shanghai Auto Show in April. The HiPhi Y will be the smallest and cheapest model yet from the Chinese automaker, and it is also set to be released in global markets, including Europe. The HiPhi Y is a departure from the brand’s earlier models, the HiPhi X and the HiPhi Z, which are high-end electric vehicles with price tags of over $80,000. The HiPhi Y, on the other hand, is designed to be less expensive, with the aim of selling in…

China’s fuel cell vehicle (FCV) market has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of FCV sales reaching 32.3% during the 2016-2022 period. Luo Junjie, Executive Vice President of the China Machinery Industry Federation, announced on Tuesday at a press conference that about 10,300 FCVs were sold in China during this period. FCVs use hydrogen gas to generate electricity to run their motors, making them a type of electric vehicle. China has been actively promoting the development of the hydrogen energy industry and has implemented numerous policies to attract more investment in the sector,…

Denza, the premium new energy vehicle (NEV) brand under BYD, is gearing up to launch two new SUVs in the near future. While Denza has been focusing on marketing its N7 model earlier this month, the brand has already started promoting the N8 model on social media platforms such as Weibo. The Denza N8 is expected to carry over much of the design of the discontinued Denza X, which measures 4,890mm in length, 1,950mm in width, and 1,725mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,820mm. The N8 will be a mid to large-size SUV and will be available in 5-,…

Li Auto, a Chinese new energy vehicle company, announced on March 25 that its assisted driving system has accumulated over 550 million kilometers of total mileage, with its Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) feature exceeding one billion kilometers. The company’s NOA users have also surpassed 250,000. Li Auto highlighted the importance of its automatic emergency braking (AEB) function, which has been triggered more than 122,000 times over the past three years, providing strong protection for drivers’ safety. Li Auto continues to invest heavily in research and development, independently developing core components such as range extenders and XCU central domain controllers. The…

China’s DeepWay, a smart commercial vehicle developer and manufacturer, recently announced that it has raised CNY 770m ($117m) in a Series A+ financing round led by Shandong Weiqiao Pioneering Group and SB China Venture Capital, with participation from existing investors, including Qiming Venture Partners. The company plans to use the new round of financing to manufacture smart electric heavy-duty trucks and develop intelligent driving systems to ensure mass production and high-quality delivery of DeepWay trucks, further consolidating the company’s leadership position in the smart electric heavy truck market. With the funding, DeepWay aims to become a vital player and promoter…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker NIO has partnered with Norwegian smart energy provider Tibber to enhance the charging experience of NIO customers in Europe. The partnership will enable NIO customers in Norway, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands to connect their vehicles to Tibber’s app through a dynamic power contract. Tibber offers a range of services, including real-time energy prices, energy use tracking, and the ability to control the charging of EVs during hours when electricity prices are at their lowest. The Tibber App’s Smart Charging feature can be used with any wallbox, including NIO’s Power Home 3.0. According to the…

Didi Chuxing, the popular Chinese ride-hailing company, has announced the launch of its autonomous driving services in the Huadu district of Guangzhou, Guangdong province. The move aims to tap into the rapidly growing market of autonomous vehicles in China. Using WeChat’s mini-programs, customers can now ride in Didi’s autonomous vehicles and pay based on distance and usage time. According to Li Jian, an officer in charge of the company’s autonomous driving business, the vehicles have achieved multiple levels of safety by installing around 50 high-performance sensors in both onboard and remote assistance systems. See also: Baidu Secures Permit to Launch…

CATL has signed a 450 MWh supply agreement with US battery storage project developer HGP. Under the deal, CATL will provide HGP with the EnerC, an outdoor premade pod system that offers high safety, long life, and high integration for a variety of weather extremes. The battery storage project will be deployed in Texas and is expected to begin commercial operations in 2024. The partnership between CATL and HGP will leverage the strengths of both companies in battery technology and energy infrastructure and storage resource development to provide a more convenient solution for the market. This will help meet the…

Nine years after its first vehicle entered the Chinese market, Tesla has announced that deliveries of the new Model S and Model X have begun in mainland China. While the company’s China website shows expected delivery dates for both models in the second quarter, Tesla has confirmed the start of deliveries through a post on Weibo. Despite not providing additional information on Weibo, Tesla did announce the prices of the new Model S and Model X on January 6, which are not produced locally in China. This announcement came at the same time as the company significantly reduced the prices…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer NIO has launched trial operations of its third-generation battery swapping station, Power Swap Station 3.0, in China. The move is part of Nio’s efforts to make battery swapping a more viable alternative to rival EV makers’ rapid-charging technology. The new stations are faster and more efficient, and can store up to 21 battery packs each. According to Shen Fei, Nio senior vice president for power management, the station can speed up battery swapping to less than five minutes, and reduce the service cost per swap. Nio has set a target of having 2,300 battery swapping stations…

Aion, a Chinese automaker best known for producing cheap and cheerful EVs targeted at younger customers, has just entered the hypercar market with its first electric vehicle – the Hyper SSR. Boasting a 900 kW (1,225 hp) powertrain and a lightning-fast 0 to 100 km/h spring time of just 1.9 seconds, this dramatic-looking vehicle has the potential to compete with the fastest electric cars in the world. The Hyper SSR is set to be a halo vehicle for the Aion brand, with the company hoping to sell more upmarket electric cars as part of its new strategy. While Aion has…

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…