Author: Linda Ma

China has exported 5,000 units of the E10X small electric car, equipped with sodium-ion batteries, to Central and South America. This marks the first shipment of electric cars with sodium-ion batteries from China and signifies a new era in electric vehicle technology. The news was reported by Car News China, which referenced a ceremony at JAC’s Smart Factory in China to commemorate the first export batch of Yiwei electric cars for Central and South America. Yiwei, founded in 2023, is a successor to the joint venture brand Sehol from JAC and Volkswagen Anhui. The brand announced at the beginning of…

Haomo.AI Technology, a Chinese autonomous driving startup backed by Great Wall Motor, has successfully secured a new round of funding, marking the first significant investment in the autonomous driving sector after China’s Lunar New Year holiday. The funding round, totaling more than RMB 100 million ($14 million), comes at a time when the autonomous driving industry is facing a capital winter, with few large fundings in recent years. Chengdu Wufa Private Equity Fund Management, a fund supported by the government of Chengdu in southwest China’s Sichuan province, led the Series B1 funding round for Haomo, according to a statement released…

Li Xiang, founder, chairman, and CEO of Li Auto, has urged China’s policymakers to establish a mechanism to facilitate mergers and acquisitions (M&A) among car companies. This call comes in the wake of the production halt of Human Horizons’ HiPhi brand, prompting discussions about the stability of the automotive market. “It’s time for the country to establish and guide a system for mergers and acquisitions of auto companies, including qualification-related issues,” Li wrote on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform. See also: Human Horizons’ HiPhi Brand Halts Production Amid Operational Challenges The call for M&A reform comes as auto blogger…

General Motors’ Buick brand has announced a significant price reduction for its all-electric SUV, the Electra E4, in China, marking the latest move in the intensifying auto price war gripping the market. According to information released by GM’s joint venture in China, SAIC-GM, the updated Electra E4 will now start at RMB 159,900, reflecting a substantial decrease of 15.8 percent from its previous starting price of RMB 189,900. See also: Buick Teases All-Electric SUV Design Amid Electrification Plans, Hinting at Kia EV9 Competition The Electra E4, which made its debut in China in June 2023, initially offered four variants with starting…

During the Chinese New Year holiday, Tesla drivers in China collectively traveled over 700 million kilometers (435 million miles), as reported by Tesla China on local social media. This significant distance, equivalent to circling the Earth 18,346 times or making seven round trips between the Earth and Mars, was achieved between February 10th and 17th. The all-electric nature of Tesla’s vehicles meant that these miles were emissions-free, leading to a reduction of approximately 160,000 tons of CO2 emissions, which is comparable to planting approximately 9.39 million trees, as reported by CNEV Post. See also: Tesla Cybertruck Showcased in Japan, Hinting at…

China’s auto market is entering the Lunar Year of the Dragon with a renewed wave of price wars, signaling an intense battle for market share in 2024. Cui Dongshu, the secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), predicts that the price war in China’s passenger car market will remain fierce throughout the year, driven by several factors. One key factor is the rapid growth of China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) market. In 2023, NEV sales in China reached 8.88 million units, surpassing the total passenger car sales in 2009. This exponential growth has made 2024 a crucial year for…

BYD, China’s largest new energy vehicle (NEV) maker, has announced its commitment to enhancing research and development (R&D) efforts to drive technological innovation and productivity. In a recent exchange announcement, the company unveiled a comprehensive action plan aimed at elevating corporate quality and delivering greater returns to shareholders. The company’s R&D team, comprising over 90,000 engineers, has been instrumental in securing more than 48,000 global patents, with over 30,000 already granted. This robust R&D framework underscores BYD’s dedication to advancing automotive technology, particularly in key areas such as batteries, motors, and electronic controls. See also: BYD’s Wang Chuanfu Forecasts Half of…

Nio has released a new video demonstrating the capabilities of its executive flagship sedan, the ET9, equipped with the innovative SkyRide chassis system. The video, released as China returns to work after the Lunar New Year holiday, shows the ET9 undergoing winter testing in snowy conditions. According to Nio’s WeChat account, the ET9 was taken out into the snow and ice at the start of the new year for winter testing. The video showcases the ET9’s ability to adjust its body height and shake off thick snow, demonstrating technological advancements not commonly seen in the automotive industry. See also: Nio Expands…

Nio continues to expand its charging network, with access to third-party chargers growing alongside the development of its own infrastructure. On February 18, Nio announced that its charging map now connects to more than 1 million third-party charging piles across China. According to the China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance (EVCIPA), the total number of public charging piles in China reached 2.73 million by the end of 2023. See also: NIO Partners with Tibber to Enhance Charging Experience for European EV Owners Nio also recently added a new battery swap station in China, bringing its total to 2,374, including 774…

Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD, predicts that China will achieve a significant milestone this year, with new energy vehicles (NEVs) accounting for half of the country’s single-month vehicle sales. This comes after NEVs surpassed 40 percent of total vehicle sales for the first time late last year. Speaking at a conference held by the Guangdong provincial government, Wang highlighted the rapid growth of NEV penetration in China, which has doubled since 2020, reaching 35 percent in 2023. He expects this trend to continue, with monthly NEV penetration exceeding 50 percent at some point this year. See also: China’s New…

Chery is set to enhance its Omoda 5 sub-compact SUV lineup in Australia with the upcoming debut of the all-electric Omoda E5. Scheduled to hit showrooms by mid-year, this new model marks Chery’s entry into the electric vehicle segment Down Under. While specific local specifications are yet to be unveiled, Chery has disclosed that the Omoda E5 will feature a single electric motor capable of producing 150 kW (201 hp) and 340 Nm (251 lb-ft) of torque. See also: Chery Unveils Cutting-Edge Concept Car with Record-Breaking Low Wind Resistance Although the battery pack’s size remains undisclosed, the E5 is expected to…

Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC) has announced that the first model jointly developed with Chinese tech giant Huawei is anticipated to be introduced to the market next year. In a New Year’s message, JAC revealed that it has entered into a comprehensive strategic partnership with Huawei to create a luxury smart internet-connected electric vehicle (EV), slated for release in 2025. While JAC did not disclose further details regarding the new model, it indirectly refuted a timeline reported by a local media outlet at the end of last month. See also: Huawei and BAIC BJEV Unveil Collaborative Venture with “STELATO” Trademark…