Author: Linda Ma

The rise of autonomous driving technology has generated much excitement, but also significant concerns about safety. One key challenge is how to enable self-driving vehicles to handle unfamiliar situations that they have not been trained for. Now, a research team from Tsinghua University has made a breakthrough in autonomous driving, developing a technology that allows vehicles to self-learn while driving, potentially resolving this safety concern. The newly-proposed technology enables continuous performance improvements in cars using the data collected during autonomous driving. Unlike conventional methods, which require lengthy training in various driving scenarios in advance, this approach allows cars to learn…

BYD has launched revamped versions of its flagship sedan and flagship SUV at lower prices compared to their previously available models, as the price war in China’s auto industry intensifies. During an online event on March 16, the company unveiled the 2023 Han EV and 2023 Tang DM-i, both starting at RMB 209,800 ($30,440), which received 8,196 orders on the launch day. The new 2023 Han EV model, which retains the same dimensions as the previous version, is available in five different versions with starting prices ranging from RMB 209,800 to RMB 299,800. The 715 km version is available in…

China’s leading search engine, Baidu, announced on Friday that it had secured a permit to launch a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in the Chinese capital, Beijing. The company’s self-driving division, Apollo, will deploy 10 autonomous vehicles in a technology park developed by the Beijing government. Baidu’s latest move marks a significant milestone in its quest to commercialize autonomous driving technology, following the license it obtained in December 2022 to test the service. With the new permit, the company is set to operate driverless robotaxi services in three Chinese cities, including Wuhan and Chongqing. See also: Baidu’s Apollo Go to operate…

Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) giant BYD has officially launched its vehicle offerings in Jordan through a partnership with local dealer Mobility Solutions Auto Trade Co (MSTC). This marks BYD’s first foray into the Middle East market and the company introduced four models during a joint launch event with MSTC on March 9. The models include the BYD Dolphin, Tang EV, Atto 3 and Han EV. Adam Peng, BYD’s sales director for the Middle East region, noted that the launch event was a milestone for the company’s “in-depth integration” into the Middle East market. The Dolphin is a compact car,…

China’s passenger vehicle market experienced a decline in insurance registrations last week, with a mixed performance from major new energy vehicle (NEV) makers. According to automotive industry consultancy ThinkerCar, insurance registrations for all passenger cars in China totaled 308,700 units in the week of March 6 to March 12, down 10.6 percent from the previous week and down 8.86 percent from the same period last month. Insurance registrations for NEVs were 107,800 last week, down 7.29 percent from the previous week and up 8.67 percent from the same period last month. In contrast, insurance registrations for conventional internal combustion engine…

Tesla has been enjoying a surge in sales in China this March, according to newly released insurance registration data. The data showed that a total of 17,032 Teslas were registered in the country between March 6 and March 12, which represents an increase of 28% compared to the previous week’s figures. The Model Y electric SUV is the more popular choice among Chinese consumers, with 11,336 of those registrations being for this model, and the remaining 5,696 going to the Model 3 sedan. This trend of rising Tesla insurance registrations has been ongoing for several weeks. Even during the week…

NIO has no intention of engaging in a price war, despite recent price cuts by many internal combustion engine (ICE) automakers. Pu Yang, NIO’s assistant vice president of sales operations, stated that NIO would not lower its prices, and that the current price cuts were due to cyclical fluctuations in the transition from ICE vehicles to smart EVs. He believes that price wars cannot cross the cyclical fluctuations brought about by technological revolution, and companies must adhere to their brand values. Instead, NIO will focus on continuously investing in infrastructure, keeping prices and configurations stable, and full-stack in-house research and…

Volkswagen and BMW have significantly reduced the prices of their electric vehicles (EVs) in China in an effort to boost sales and reduce inventory. This move follows similar actions taken by other carmakers in the country. FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen, joint ventures of Volkswagen, have lowered the prices of their ID. models by up to 40,000 yuan ($5,796) in China. Meanwhile, the costs of the ID.4 X, ID.6 X, and ID.3 have been slashed by up to 30,000 yuan ($4,350) by SAIC Volkswagen, and customers can reportedly receive additional benefits worth up to 10,000 yuan ($1,449) at dealerships. However, these…

Octopus Electric Vehicles, a UK-based business specializing in electric vehicles (EVs) from the Octopus Energy Group, has agreed to purchase 5,000 new EVs from BYD, a Chinese manufacturer, for its clientele over the next three years. The initial order will comprise the BYD ATTO 3, a fully electric sport utility vehicle that will make its debut in the United Kingdom in March. The BYD ATTO 3 boasts an impressive 260-mile range, making it a formidable competitor in the EV market. This is the latest addition to Octopus EV’s wide range of electric vehicles, which now includes more than 85 different…

BYD is joining the price-cutting competition initiated by Tesla earlier this year. The automaker is offering significant discounts on its two most popular models – BYD Song Plus and BYD Seal – to attract customers before the end of March. According to the promotion, customers who place an order for a brand new BYD Song Plus will receive a discount of RMB 6,800 ($980), while those ordering a brand new BYD Seal will enjoy an even bigger discount of RMB 8,800 ($1,265). However, the offer is only valid for a limited time. See also: Nio Joins the Price Wars: Discounts…

After successfully penetrating the UK’s commercial vehicle market a decade ago, BYD is now bringing its passenger cars to the European country. The Chinese automaker has announced that the BYD Atto 3, its first-ever passenger car in the UK, is now on sale as of March 8. With a starting price of £36,490 ($43,230), the Atto 3 will be delivered locally beginning March 15. The BYD Yuan Plus, as it is known in China, is the company’s first model built for the global market and is already available in several markets such as Japan, Australia, and Singapore. In China, the…

Ford’s success in the US electric vehicle (EV) market does not extend to China, where breaking through has been challenging. The American carmaker sold a paltry 7,782 units of its Mustang Mach-E model in China last year, compared to almost 40,000 units in its home country. To remain competitive in China’s rapidly expanding EV market, Ford has resorted to offering deep discounts on its electric SUV. According to a recent Reuters report, the car manufacturer is providing discounts of up to $5,700 (40,000 yuan) on the Mach-E until the end of April. A representative from Ford has revealed that the…

NIO is optimistic about its sales in 2023, projecting figures to double from those of 2022. The firm aims to finish the year with a profitable balance sheet, according to NIO CEO William Li, who stated, “We aim to break even in the fourth quarter of 2023.” The Shanghai-based company delivered 122,486 electric vehicles in 2022, representing a YoY growth of 34 percent. Li hopes to double the 2022 figure this year. However, the first quarter will be tough as new models will not arrive until the second quarter. Nonetheless, NIO has established itself as the most competitive premium brand…

Denza, the joint venture between BYD and Mercedes-Benz, has been making waves with its luxury electric vehicles. The brand’s Denza D9 MPV, the industry’s largest ever grille, has been on the market for some time now. But, the company has now announced the release of its highly-anticipated SUV – the N7. The N7 SUV is a “world-class” vehicle that has been teased by the brand for quite some time now. Finally, the first official photos of the production SUV have been unveiled, and it’s a relief to see that it looks really good. In fact, it’s a game-changer for the…

Xpeng, the Chinese electric vehicle company, has released its updated flagship sedan, the P7i, in China. Last year, the P7 was responsible for almost half of Xpeng’s total sales in mainland China. The company introduced the P7 to Europe earlier this year with updated hardware, but the P7i is solely intended for Chinese customers. The P7i is an improvement on the previous model, though Xpeng has not released any technical details about the car. However, we do know that the P7i retains the 400V architecture of its predecessor, but the battery now supports 175kW DC charging, a significant upgrade from…

Aside from the improved energy density, solid-state batteries also perform better in low temperatures. Xiaomi claims about 20% improved efficiency at -20°C. In addition, solid-state cells are safer as they don’t explode when punctured due to the lack of liquid electrolytes. The engineers at Xiaomi have further improved durability by coating the positive electrode with solid electrolyte ceramics. This not only enhances the battery’s overall durability but also makes it more resistant to overheating. The new technology promises to solve many issues with modern lithium batteries. This breakthrough could lead to the development of EVs that can travel longer distances…

The joint venture between FAW-Toyota and BYD has resulted in the production of the bZ3 electric vehicle, which has now rolled off the production line in China. The bZ3 was developed by Toyota and BYD and has been in development since 2020. After three years, it is finally available for pre-sale at a price range of 189,800 – 219,800 RMB (27,400 – 31,800 USD), with deliveries starting in Q1 2023. The first 5,000 customers who book the bZ3 online for 2,000 RMB (290 USD) before May 31 will receive a subsidy of 5,000 RMB (725 USD) when the car hits…

Li Auto and NIO, two of the leading electric vehicle (EV) companies in China, are often considered competitors in the market. However, that doesn’t stop their respective CEOs from appreciating each other’s business strategies. Li Auto’s founder, chairman, and CEO, Li Xiang, recently praised NIO’s battery swap model during a media event on March 2. According to Shanghai Securities News, Li Xiang believes that the battery swap model has a promising future in lowering the costs of EVs. In particular, he thinks that selling EVs without batteries can bring down the costs of EVs even further than traditional fuel cars.…

The electric pickup truck market in China is currently experiencing an unprecedented growth spurt, with every automaker scrambling to put a new model on the market. To keep up with the trend, Dongfeng has launched its electric pickup truck based on the diesel-powered Rich 6. The truck is essentially the 3rd generation Nissan Navara and features a double cab body on frame, room for five adults, and a load capacity of 905 kg. At nearly 5.3 meters long, the Dongfeng Rich 6 EV has bed dimensions of 1,510/1,562/474 mm, providing ample space to fit a Euro pallet, and two of…

Leapmotor, a new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, experienced a drop in sales in February compared to the same month last year, despite an improvement from January’s poor performance. The company’s latest official figures reveal that they delivered 3,198 units in February, representing a 6.9% decrease from the 3,435 units delivered in February 2022. However, the numbers do show a promising increase from January’s dismal figures, with deliveries up by 180.77% from 1,139 units in the previous month. Leapmotor, which was founded in 2015, currently offers several models for sale, including the T03 mini vehicle, the S01 coupe, the C11 flagship…