Author: Linda Ma

Xpeng is undergoing a transformation, with sales numbers plummeting to 6,000 vehicles sold in October and November 2022. Despite reports of CEO He Xiaopeng being replaced, the company denied these claims and confirmed he would remain as the head leader. In a recent development, Xpeng has hired former Great Wall Motor President Wang Fengying to lead product planning, portfolio management, and sales operations. With her decades of experience in the automotive industry, Xpeng hopes to turn its fortunes around as they face increasing competition and declining sales. “Ms. Wang brings to us over 30 years of experience in the automotive…

Mercedes is introducing its all-electric flagship SUV, the EQS, to the Chinese market on February 14 with a grand launch event. The EQS SUV will drive through a snowy field to showcase its capabilities. Although the EQS sedan has been available in China, the EQS SUV is new to the market. The company has not confirmed which versions will be offered, but customers can expect to choose from five and seven-seat configurations. Both the EQS and EQS SUV are based on the same electric platform and have the same wheelbase of 3,210mm, however, the EQS sedan is longer with a…

Zeekr previews the new electric compact crossover model 003, set to launch later this year. Zeekr is set to reveal 003 electric compact SUV, at the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2023. The 003 shares the same Scalable Electric Architecture (SEA) platform as the Zeekr 001 and 009, developed by parent company Geely. While details of the 003’s drivetrain are scarce, it is expected to offer a choice between single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive systems, with power outputs ranging from 268bhp to 422bhp in a high-performance variant. See also: Zeekr, Geely’s EV Brand, Plans to Double Sales in…

Peterbilt 579EV is a fully electric truck designed for optimal weight distribution and performance. The Model 579EV boasts a range of up to 150 miles and is equipped with thermally-controlled Lithium Iron Phosphate battery packs, which recharge in just 3-4 hours when used with a recommended DC fast-charger. This makes the Model 579EV ideal for regional haul, drayage, pickup and delivery, and last mile operations. The Model 579EV features a tandem drive configuration with Meritor 14Xe e-axle motors and is equipped with regenerative braking, which captures energy from stop-and-go operations to help recharge the batteries and extend the vehicle’s range.…

The Neta E, an electric 4-seat coupe from Hozon Auto, has been spotted in China in what appears to be preparation for its official unveiling or a photoshoot. The car has been approved by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) for sale in China, and the debut is expected to happen soon. The Neta E is a large coupe, measuring 4.7 meters in length and 1.98 meters in width, making it larger than the Tesla Model 3. Despite its size, it has a fairly short wheelbase of 2.77 meters, which is 9 cm shorter than that of the…

Xpeng has announced plans to launch two new EVs on February 3rd, with details to be revealed next week. The teaser image appears to show the G9 crossover and the P7 sedan, with the latter offering a high-performance variant with a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, allowing a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.5 seconds, and a driving range of up to 470 km (292 miles) in the WLTP cycle. The company has also previously announced plans to open four delivery and service centers in key European markets later this year, starting with Lørenskog, Norway next month. The Badhoevedorp center in the…

According to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), BMW delivered 44,344 electric vehicles (EVs) in China in 2022, a significant increase of 95% compared to the previous year’s sales of 22,684. Of these EVs, 93% were iX3 and i3 (eDrive35L) models. Despite this growth, BMW holds a market share of only 0.93% in the Chinese EV market, ranking 18th among manufacturers. It’s important to note that the BMW i3 eDrive35L is not the same as the 2013 BMW i3 hatchback. The i3 eDrive35L is a new electric sedan that was launched in China in April 2022. It boasts a single…

Geely, a leading player in China’s electric vehicle market, has unveiled a new electric sedan. Despite only teaser images being released, the vehicle’s design is apparent in its sharp LED daytime running lights and pronounced lower bumper section. The side profile also stands out, featuring a long hood, sloping roofline, and tapered C-pillars reminiscent of the Porsche Taycan. The vehicle is also likely to feature illuminated door handles and suicide doors at the rear. According to Car News China, the sedan will measure around 4,900 mm in length, making it slightly larger than the BYD Seal but smaller than the…

London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC), a subsidiary of Geely, is reportedly planning to become a pure electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, with parent company Geely planning a significant investment to make this transition. The details of the new strategy are set to be announced in Q1 2023, but according to a Reuters report, LEVC will be discussing a range of commercial and passenger EV models on a common platform. Geely has already invested £500 million (approximately €570 million) in LEVC, which it took full control of in 2013. LEVC CEO, Chris Allen, stated that his company can draw on other group…

CATL, a Chinese battery cell manufacturer, has announced plans to construct its first production facility for the CATL Integrated Intelligent Chassis (CIIC) in Yichun, Jiangxi province. The company has signed an agreement with the city to begin construction, though no further details on the schedule or scope of production have been released. The CIIC, which utilizes cell-to-chassis technology to integrate key components of the battery and other systems into the vehicle’s floor, eliminating the need for separate battery packs, was first mentioned in November 2022 as a potential product for carmaker VinFast. CATL has also announced Neta as a strategic…

Avatr, a Chinese electric car brand from Changan, Nio, and CATL, has recently begun production and delivery of its first model, the Avatr 11. The coupe-like SUV will be followed by a large sedan, known as the E12, later this year. According to the Chinese portal Autonews Gasgoo, Avatr hopes to reach 100,000 orders with these two models in the current year. Additionally, the company plans to launch two more models by 2024, ahead of its original target of four models by 2025. In parallel with the production of the Avatr 11, the company opened its first branches in cities…

Xiaomi’s first electric vehicle, referred to as Modena, is in the final stages of development as recent photos reveal the car undergoing winter testing in Inner Mongolia. These photos suggest that the launch date of 2024 is likely, as the vehicles in the photos appear to be production-ready. The harsh weather conditions in Inner Mongolia provide the perfect environment for testing the car’s battery performance in cold temperatures and handling in snow. It is also a great opportunity for the company to test the vehicle’s range in the cold weather. Chinese blogger reports that Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has personally…

Volvo announced plans to release an all-electric minivan in China, where it will be a top-of-the-line vehicle alongside the EX90 SUV. The launch date and potential for sales outside China have not been disclosed. The electric minivan is likely to be based on the recently unveiled Zeekr 009, which shares the same Geely SEA platform and features a dual-motor all-wheel drive system with 536 horsepower and a 140 kWh battery pack with a range of 511 miles. Qin Peiji, President of Volvo Cars Greater China Sales Company, announced during a media briefing that Volvo plans to reveal a concept version…

XPeng has announced a plan to reduce prices for its G3i, P5, and P7 models. The reductions range from 20,000 to 25,000 yuan for the G3i, 23,000 yuan for the P5, and 30,000 to 36,000 yuan for the P7. The price of its G9 model, which was launched in September 2022, will remain unchanged. This move follows similar actions by Tesla China and Huawei-backed AITO. XPeng also plans to extend the warranty of the whole vehicle to 10 years and provide four years of basic maintenance for free for customers who ordered its G3i, P5, and P7 within one year…

Geely Holding announced that its total sales across its various automotive brands, including Geely Auto, Geometry, Livan, LYNK & CO, Zeekr, Volvo Cars, Polestar, Proton, Lotus, smart, Radar, LEVC, and Farizon Commercial Vehicle, reached over 2.3 million units in 2022, a growth of 4.7% compared to the previous year. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Geely Holding has achieved more than 2 million units in total sales. In 2022, Geely Holding Group’s sales of electric and clean alternative fuel vehicles (passenger and commercial) nearly doubled from the previous year, reaching 675,000 units and accounting for 29% of the group’s…

BYD plans to launch a new electric small car, the Seagull, in China later this year. The car will be smaller and cheaper than the BYD Dolphin, with a price range of 60,000 to 100,000 yuan (around 8,200 to 13,700 euros or $8,860 – $14,770 US). The car’s design will be based on the Seal electric sedan and the Dolphin electric compact car, which all form the “Ocean series”. Technical data and images of the Seagull were leaked when BYD submitted an application for approval with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The car will have an output…

The Voyah Zhuiguang electric sedan and the Voyah Dreamer NEV MPV successfully completed winter testing in China, with temperatures reaching as low as -30 degrees Celsius. Voyah reports that both vehicles passed all the tests. Voyah is a luxury NEV brand under Dongfeng, and currently offers three models: the Voyah Free SUV, the Voyah Dreamer MPV, and the Voyah Zhuiguang sedan. The CCTV recently held a winter test, named the ‘Ice and Snow Carnival’, in Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia, China, a city known for its extremely low temperatures, averaging around minus 30 °C. The test focused on evaluating the driving assist…

The Yuntu is Yudo Auto’s all-electric SUV with a pre-sale price range of 90,000 to 100,000 RMB (13,400 to 14,900 USD). It is set to officially launch in Q1 of this year, and is said to be a tribute to the upcoming Chinese Year of the Rabbit. Yudo Auto is an electric vehicle brand that was established in December 2015. Its first model, the Yudo Pi 1 small crossover SUV, was revealed in October 2017, followed by the launch of the Yudo Pi 3 compact crossover SUV in March 2018. The brand sold 9,300 units in that year. However, sales…

IM Motors announced that the IM LS7, their second model after the IS L7, will officially launch on February 10 in China with deliveries set to begin in March. The car is positioned as a medium-to-large, pure electric five-seater SUV, and pre-booking started on December 20, 2022 with prices ranging from 350,000 – 500,000 RMB (52,000 – 74,000 USD). The design of the LS7 is characterized by smooth lines and a lack of excessive ribbing on the sides of the body. The car’s dimensions are 5049mm in length, 2002mm in width and 1731mm in height, with a 3060mm wheelbase. Its…

Chinese electric car manufacturer AITO announced a price reduction of RMB 30,000 ($4,462) for its M5 and M7 electric vehicles (EVs) as part of an industry-wide trend of price cuts, similar to Tesla. According to the China Passenger Car Association, the AITO M5 EREV sold 49,000 units in 2022, while the M5 EV and M7 sold less than 10,000 and 21,000 units respectively. This suggests that customers did not perceive the pure EVs as good value and AITO is now taking steps to address this. AITO, a joint venture between Seres and Huawei, has shipped 75,000 cars in just 9…