Author: Andrew Wang

Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor reported a recovery in vehicle deliveries in March, rebounding from weaker performance earlier in the year as it prepares to introduce new models to sustain growth. The company, backed by Stellantis, delivered 50,029 vehicles in March, representing an increase of 34.87% year-on-year and 78.25% compared with February, according to data released on Wednesday. The result ended a three-month streak of month-on-month declines. For the first quarter, Leapmotor delivered 110,155 vehicles, up 25.82% from a year earlier but down 45.21% compared with the fourth quarter of 2025. The sequential decline reflected seasonal weakness in China’s auto…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng has entered the Mexican market with the launch of its G6 and G9 electric SUVs, marking a further step in its international expansion strategy across Latin America. The company unveiled both models at an event in Mexico City on March 25, with initial dealership openings scheduled from April 6 in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey. Xpeng said it has partnered with three local dealer groups to manage sales and aftersales services in these key urban markets. The G6 and G9 are built on Xpeng’s 800V high-voltage silicon carbide platform, supporting 5C ultra-fast charging. Both vehicles…

Volkswagen has begun pre-sales of its ID. ERA 9X sport utility vehicle in China, signaling a strategic shift toward extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) technology in response to evolving market demand. The model was introduced by the automaker’s Chinese joint venture, SAIC-Volkswagen, during an event on Monday. It is Volkswagen’s first EREV offering, a notable move given the company’s previous criticism of the technology as outdated and environmentally unfriendly. The ID. ERA 9X is available in three variants—Pro, Max and Ultra—priced at 329,800 yuan ($47,720), 359,800 yuan and 379,800 yuan during the pre-sales phase. The vehicle is scheduled for official launch…

Contract manufacturer Magna Steyr has begun production of the compact electric vehicle GAC Aion UT in Graz, marking the second model from China’s GAC Group to be built at the Austrian facility after the GAC Aion V. The move signals a further step in GAC’s localisation strategy in Europe, as Chinese automakers increasingly shift production to the region to mitigate tariffs and expand market access. Production of the Aion UT follows shortly after Magna Steyr began assembling the Aion V in November 2025, underscoring the rapid expansion of the partnership. The cooperation stems from a broader agreement signed between GAC…

Audi has begun pre-sales of its China-specific A6L e-tron electric sedan, as the carmaker expands its premium battery-electric lineup in the world’s largest auto market while reshaping leadership at its local joint venture. The long-wheelbase model, produced by Audi FAW NEV Company, is offered in four variants with pre-sales prices ranging from 313,000 to 443,000 yuan ($39,300 to $55,670). Final retail pricing may be adjusted lower at the official market launch, in line with common practice in China’s competitive EV sector. The A6L e-tron is the second China-focused model built at the Changchun plant following the Q6L e-tron SUV, with…

A joint venture of Toyota in China has launched the new Toyota bZ7, as the company seeks to strengthen its position in the world’s largest electric vehicle market. GAC Toyota introduced the mid-to-large-size electric sedan with a limited-time subsidised starting price of 147,800 yuan (approximately $21,380). The model is the second developed under Toyota’s China-based engineering leadership, following the bZ3X. The bZ7 reflects Toyota’s strategy of integrating local technologies to better compete with domestic EV manufacturers. The vehicle is powered by Huawei’s DriveONE electric drive system, delivering up to 207 kW and a top speed of 180 km/h. Battery options…

Chinese automaker SAIC Motor’s brand MG Motor is set to debut a new electric SUV, the MG 4X, at the Auto China in late April, as it expands its global electric vehicle portfolio. The MG 4X is positioned as an SUV derivative of the MG4 Urban and has been revealed ahead of its official launch through regulatory filings with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). According to the filings, the compact SUV measures 4.50 metres in length, 1.85 metres in width and 1.62 metres in height, with a wheelbase of 2.74 metres. Depending on configuration, kerb weight ranges…

Leapmotor has launched its new compact electric SUV, the A10, introducing LiDAR-equipped intelligent driving features to the entry-level market as competition intensifies in China’s EV sector. The Leapmotor A10 is priced from 65,800 yuan ($9,500) for base variants, while the top-spec version featuring LiDAR starts at 86,800 yuan ($13,020), positioning it among the most affordable vehicles to offer the technology. The A10 is a five-seat compact SUV measuring 4,270 mm in length with a 2,605 mm wheelbase. It is powered by a 90 kW electric motor delivering 150 Nm of torque, targeting urban commuting use. The model is offered with…

Arcfox, the electric vehicle unit of Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group), has launched the updated Alpha S5 sedan, introducing extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants alongside battery electric versions for the first time. The mid-size model is offered in seven variants—three EREV and four BEV—with a post-discount starting price of 99,800 yuan ($14,520), reflecting an aggressive pricing strategy aimed at capturing market share in China’s competitive EV segment. The lineup includes a launch discount of 5,000 yuan across all variants. The Alpha S5 measures 4,886 mm in length, 1,930 mm in width, and 1,480 mm in height, with a 2,900 mm…

Nio’s semiconductor unit is approaching automakers including Leapmotor and Geely Auto to promote its newly developed smart driving chip, following a successful tape-out, according to local media reports. The chip, known as M97, was co-developed by Nio subsidiary GeniTech Co Ltd (Shenji) and Axera Semiconductor. It delivers computing performance exceeding 700 tera operations per second (TOPS), positioning it against competing products such as Horizon Robotics’ Journey J6P, which offers 560 TOPS. The M97 is expected to be released in the third quarter, the report said, citing previous disclosures from Axera. Shenji was spun off as an independent unit by Nio…

Geely Auto has officially entered the Hungarian market, marking a further step in its expansion strategy across Central and Eastern Europe, the company said. The announcement was made at the AMTS Auto Show on March 13, where Geely presented two electric sport utility vehicles tailored for European customers—the Geely E5 and the Geely Starray EM-i. The models are also marketed in some regions as the Geely EX5 and Geely EX5 EM-i. The move reflects Geely’s broader push to strengthen its footprint in Europe, particularly in emerging markets within the CEE region. The company said it plans to introduce additional electric…

BYD is assessing plans to build a manufacturing facility in Canada and remains open to acquiring an established global automaker, according to a Bloomberg report. The Shenzhen-based new energy vehicle (NEV) producer is studying the Canadian market for a potential plant, Executive Vice President Stella Li said in an interview with Bloomberg. “No decision has been made yet,” Li said, adding that the company would prefer to fully own and operate any future factory rather than pursue a joint venture. See also: BYD to Keep First-Generation Blade Battery Alongside New Ultra-Fast Charging Version Li noted that a joint venture structure…

China’s sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) declined year-on-year in February for the first time in nearly two years, reflecting weaker domestic demand even as exports from the world’s largest electric vehicle market continued to rise sharply. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), manufacturers operating in China sold 765,000 NEVs in February, a category that includes battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles. The total represented a 14.2% drop compared with February 2025 and a 19.1% decline from January 2026. Domestic demand accounted for much of the downturn. NEV sales within China reached 483,000 units, down 36.5%…

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…