Author: Andrew Wang

Li Xiang is considering a potential share buyback of Hong Kong-listed stock in Li Auto as the company’s share price remains close to historic lows, according to a report by Chinese media outlet 21jingji. The company’s shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange fell to a record low of HK$61.15 ($7.81) on January 20. Over the past two months, the stock has continued trading near that level, closing at HK$69.85 on Wednesday. Details of the potential buyback, including the scale of the repurchase and the amount of capital involved, are still under discussion, according to the report, which cited several…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD is exploring a potential entry into Formula 1 as part of a strategy to strengthen its brand recognition outside China, according to a report by Bloomberg. The company is considering several options, including acquiring an existing Formula 1 team or creating a new one from scratch, although no final decision has been made. The possible move follows strong growth in BYD’s global electric vehicle business. The automaker delivered more than 2.25 million battery-electric vehicles in 2025, surpassing rival Tesla, which delivered about 1.63 million units in the same period. BYD has also expanded rapidly in…

Zeekr’s upcoming facelifted 007 GT electric vehicle is expected to see an increase in its official guide price as automakers face rising component costs and persistent chip shortages, according to a report by Chinese auto media outlet Yiche. The upgraded model, scheduled to launch in the second quarter of this year, may see a price increase of between 5,000 yuan ($720) and 8,000 yuan compared with the current version, the report said. The existing Zeekr 007 lineup, which is built on an 800-volt high-voltage architecture, currently starts at prices ranging from 209,900 yuan to 299,900 yuan. Zeekr said in January…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has refreshed the lineup of its ultra-luxury sub-brand Yangwang, unveiling updated versions of three flagship models equipped with the company’s latest battery and charging technologies. At a launch event on Thursday, the automaker introduced the 2026 versions of the Yangwang U7 sedan, the Yangwang U8 hybrid SUV and the Yangwang U8L Dingshi Edition. All three models are equipped with BYD’s second-generation blade battery and flash-charging technology. See also: Denza Launches Z9GT With Record 1,036 km Electric Range The updated vehicles are priced from 658,000 yuan ($95,310) for the U7, 1,008,000 yuan for the U8 and…

Mercedes-Benz is shifting development of a new electric vehicle platform to China and plans to base it on technology from its Chinese partner Geely Auto, according to a Chinese media report. The new entry-level EV platform, codenamed Phoenix, will be developed using Geely’s GEEA (Geely Electronic & Electrical Architecture) 4.0 platform, Chinese outlet 36Kr reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Under the reported restructuring, the Mercedes-Benz China R&D Center will become the global headquarters for compact vehicle development. The facility will independently oversee the design and engineering of future compact models, with the Phoenix platform expected to…

Changan Automobile has introduced the all-electric Deepal S05 in the United Kingdom, marking the brand’s second model to enter the market after the launch of the S07 last year. Orders for the Deepal S05 open on March 1, with pricing starting at £37,990 for the rear-wheel-drive (RWD) version and £39,990 for the all-wheel-drive (AWD) variant. Both versions are equipped with a 68.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. See also: Changan Launches Deepal S07 Electric SUV in UK Starting at £39,990 The RWD model is powered by a 200 kW synchronous motor producing 290 Nm of torque, enabling acceleration from…

Stellantis NV is considering adopting electric vehicle technology from its Chinese partner Leapmotor for use in its European mass-market brands, including Fiat, Opel and Peugeot, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter. If implemented, the move would mark the first time a major Western automaker relies on a Chinese company’s vehicle architecture and software platform to underpin models sold in Europe. See also: Leapmotor February Deliveries Rise 10.99% to 28,067 Units Despite Holiday Impact According to the report, Stellantis is evaluating whether to expand the scope of its existing joint venture with Leapmotor to gain access to the Chinese…

Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) delivered 28,212 vehicles in February, a 31.11% increase from a year earlier despite a sharp decline from January, the company said. Deliveries fell 51.29% month on month from January’s 57,915 units, reflecting the impact of the Lunar New Year holiday, which ran from Feb. 15 to Feb. 23 this year and disrupted production across China’s auto industry. See also: Huawei’s HIMA Conducts Internal Level 3 Autonomous Driving Tests in Shenzhen Cumulative deliveries under the HIMA umbrella have now exceeded 1.28 million vehicles since launch, the company said. For the first two months of the…

The Chinese joint venture between Audi and SAIC has reduced prices for its all-electric AUDI E5 Sportback in China, offering discounts of about 30,000 yuan (roughly €3,700) until March 31 as sales lag behind expectations. According to automotive outlet CarNewsChina, only 7,070 units of the model had been delivered by the end of January 2026, including just 420 vehicles sold during that month. The figures contrast with earlier claims that more than 10,000 reservations were placed shortly after pre-sales began in August 2025. Such reservation campaigns in China are typically non-binding, and industry reports suggest that only a small share…

China is preparing new vehicle safety regulations that would effectively prohibit yoke-style steering wheels from future models, according to draft rules issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and first reported by Autohome. The updated standards are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, and would apply to all newly approved vehicles. The proposal updates steering safety regulations that have remained largely unchanged since 2011. Regulators say the revisions are necessary as electric vehicles introduce unconventional interior designs, including non-traditional steering controls. Under the new rules, steering wheels must pass impact tests at ten specific points…

China’s FAW Group has begun testing prototype vehicles equipped with semi-solid-state batteries developed by its battery subsidiary China Automotive New Energy Battery (CANEB), marking another step toward commercialisation of advanced battery technologies. The new battery pack, installed in a prototype from FAW’s premium Hongqi marque, has a capacity of 142 kWh and is claimed to deliver a driving range exceeding 1,000 kilometres under China’s CLTC testing cycle. While full specifications have not been disclosed, Chinese reports indicate cell energy density above 500 Wh/kg—significantly higher than current mainstream lithium-ion batteries. At that density, the cells alone would weigh roughly 285 kilograms,…

Japan’s Toyota Motor sold more battery-electric vehicles in China than Germany’s Volkswagen brand in 2025 for the first time, though both companies remain minor players in the country’s fast-growing electric vehicle market, according to industry data. Toyota delivered about 100,000 battery-electric cars in China last year, compared with roughly 85,000 sold by the Volkswagen brand, German newspaper Handelsblatt reported, citing figures from automotive data provider MarkLines. The milestone highlights shifting dynamics in a market long dominated by local manufacturers. China is far more critical to Volkswagen’s global business than to Toyota’s. More than 40% of Volkswagen brand sales occur in…