Author: Linda Ma

The Buick Electra E5, Buick’s inaugural model based on GM’s Ultium platform, has commenced deliveries in China, generating a positive initial response due to its competitive pricing for an electric SUV. SAIC-GM, the joint venture between General Motors and SAIC, recently announced the commencement of the first batch of Electra E5 deliveries, without disclosing the exact number of vehicles involved. Buick has outlined plans to enhance its energy replenishment system by incorporating nearly 1,000 Ultium supercharging terminals by the end of this year. Moreover, the company is on track to offer access to over 400,000 charging posts provided by prominent…

French auto parts manufacturer Valeo has announced its strategic partnership and investment agreement with Didi Autonomous Driving, a division of Didi Global, to tap into the rapidly expanding autonomous driving sector in China. The collaboration aims to jointly develop safety solutions for L4 robotaxis. Although the exact amount of Valeo’s investment was not disclosed in the press releases issued by both companies, the agreement signifies their commitment to advancing autonomous driving technology. Geoffrey BOUQUOT, Valeo’s Executive Vice President Strategy and CTO, expressed his pride in signing the agreement and emphasized the importance of combining research and development efforts for safety…

NIO, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has recently inaugurated a new factory dedicated to the production of battery swap stations. This move is in line with the company’s ambitious plan to add 1,000 battery swap stations to its network by the end of this year, a goal that was announced three months ago. On Friday evening, a brand-new battery swap station was shipped from NIO’s Hefei plant in Anhui province. It was promptly installed in Xiamen, located in the Fujian province, the following morning. Shen Fei, the Senior Vice President of NIO Power, made this announcement on Weibo, providing the…

Pony.ai, the Chinese startup supported by Toyota Motor and NIO Capital, has achieved another milestone in its pursuit of self-driving technology by launching its fully unmanned robotaxi service in Shenzhen, a prominent Chinese mega-city. As of May 29, Pony.ai has obtained a permit from the Shenzhen authorities to operate robotaxi services without a safety officer on board within the city’s core areas. It is currently the sole company to receive such authorization in Shenzhen, according to a recent press release. Since its establishment in late 2016, Pony.ai has strategically positioned its research and development centers in Silicon Valley, Guangzhou, Beijing,…

Nio, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has introduced an upgraded version of its popular ES6 model in China. The ES6, which has been converted to the new NT 2.0 platform, has garnered significant success in the Chinese market. Earlier this year, Nio announced its plan to phase out the first-generation models based on the NT 1.0 platform. This decision affects the 2022 model year vehicles, including the ES8, ES6, and EC6. The new models based on the NT 2.0 platform include the sedans ET5 and ET7, the recently introduced coupe SUV EC7, the updated large SUV ES8, and the smaller…

Geely’s electric car brand, Zeekr, has commenced deliveries of the Zeekr 001 model in China, featuring CATL’s Qilin batteries. The Zeekr 001 WE variant, equipped with an optional 140 kWh battery, boasts a range of up to 1,032 kilometers based on Chinese standards. The newly introduced model variant is priced at 403,000 yuan (approximately 53,000 euros), in comparison to the Zeekr 001 WE with a 100 kWh battery, which is priced at 300,000 yuan (about 39,500 euros). Consequently, the Qilin battery incurs an additional cost of 103,000 yuan (roughly 13,500 euros). Initially, this version will be limited to a production…

Volkswagen (VW) is taking another step towards establishing a new local sub-brand for electric cars in China. According to German media, the new brand will incorporate the lines of the ID family, which Chinese customers have received with only moderate enthusiasm. The new Volkswagen China brand will convey more lifestyle and appeal to a younger audience, and the first model to launch in China will be the Cupra Tavascan, which VW showed a few days ago. The Cupra Tavascan is the most powerful MEB model to date and the company’s first all-electric SUV coupé. The model’s infotainment touchscreen measures 15…

Electric vehicle manufacturer NIO is addressing alleged misinformation circulated on Chinese social media platforms, following the footsteps of fellow EV maker Tesla in taking a strong stance against inaccurate reports. NIO has opted for legal action to counter the misinformation, which has purportedly caused harm to the company. According to local sources, NIO has filed a lawsuit against Cheshiji, a popular vlogger with 6.5 million followers on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok. NIO accuses the influencer of disseminating false information that has negatively impacted the company’s reputation. NIO is seeking a public apology from the vlogger on their Douyin…

The global automotive industry is set to witness a significant consolidation in the next decade, with only 10 companies remaining, according to a Chinese competitor of Elon Musk’s Tesla. Brian Gu, the vice-chair of Xpeng, headquartered in Guangzhou, stated that Chinese companies aiming to survive must achieve annual sales of at least 3 million vehicles, supported by global exports. In 2022, Toyota, the world’s largest carmaker, sold 10.5 million cars, while Tesla sold 1.3 million. This warning comes at a crucial moment for the global automotive sector. China is poised to surpass Japan as the world’s leading car exporter by…

NIO reported its delivery figures for April 2023, indicating a further decline as the company continues its product switchover. According to the data released today, NIO delivered 6,658 units during the month, reflecting a 31.2% increase compared to the same period last year. However, this figure represents a significant drop of 35.85% from March’s deliveries, which totaled 10,378 units. The majority of NIO’s April deliveries consisted of 1,713 premium smart electric SUVs and 4,945 premium smart electric sedans. With these recent deliveries, NIO’s cumulative vehicle deliveries have now reached 327,255 as of April 30, 2023. During April, NIO primarily focused…

During the ongoing Auto Shanghai 2023 exhibition, emerging Chinese car brands like ZEEKR, NETA, and HiPhi have announced their plans to enter Europe, a market currently dominated by established global auto giants. ZEEKR, an electric vehicle brand owned by the Chinese automotive giant Geely, has revealed its ambitious global growth strategy at the auto show. Their first European vehicles will be launched in Sweden and the Netherlands later this year. ZEEKR Europe’s CEO, Spiros Fotinos, stated that the company aims to penetrate most of Western Europe by 2026 and strives to become a leading brand in the European electric vehicle…

Tesla is making strides in its mission to encourage widespread adoption of electric vehicles by opening up its fast-charging network to third-party electric cars in China. This follows similar moves in Europe and the US. The pilot project, which has been launched in Beijing and Shanghai, will initially see five Superchargers in each city made available to third-party brands. While Tesla has over 1,600 Supercharger hubs with 10,000 charge columns on the Chinese mainland, this project is a minimal test. See also: Tesla adds reliable third-party fast chargers in its navigation In Beijing and Shanghai, the Superchargers have only been…