Author: Andrew Xu

Nio founder, chairman and CEO William Li said autonomous driving should primarily focus on improving road safety and reducing driver fatigue rather than replacing ride-hailing or taxi drivers. Speaking at the Internet Entrepreneurs Forum during the 2026 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit on November 4, Li discussed the potential role of artificial intelligence in the automotive industry and the broader implications of intelligent driving technology. He said autonomous driving could help reduce the risks associated with prolonged driving and driver distraction by taking over designated driving tasks. Automotive Industry Offers Large AI Market Li described smart electric vehicles as one…

CATL has partnered with Blue Vector Intelligent Technology to develop batteries for the Chinese company’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, expanding the battery manufacturer’s presence in the emerging electric aviation market. The two companies recently signed strategic and product cooperation agreements, under which Blue Vector selected CATL as its exclusive battery partner, CATL said in a statement on Monday. The collaboration will focus on the Skyla V30, an eVTOL aircraft developed by Skyla Aviation, Blue Vector’s electric aviation business. CATL will develop customised battery systems for the aircraft. The companies did not disclose the agreement’s financial value, battery…

Volkswagen has secured a road test permit for Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving in Hefei, Anhui province, and has begun real-world testing and data collection as it advances its plans for conditional autonomous driving in China. The permit marks a step toward Volkswagen Group’s target of achieving L3 technology readiness in China in 2027, Volkswagen China said in a statement on Monday. The company did not disclose which vehicle models are covered by the permit, the designated test routes or the size of the testing fleet. Volkswagen China is scheduled to hold its first Technology Day in Hefei on Wednesday,…

Xpeng has received approval to conduct Level 4 autonomous driving demonstration operations across Guangzhou, marking a new stage in the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer’s efforts to develop a commercial robotaxi service. The company announced on Monday that its robotaxi business, Xpeng Yoyo, had obtained authorization for Level 4 autonomous driving trials. The qualification allows the business to carry out demonstration operations across its home city, according to Candice Yuan, head of Xpeng’s robotaxi division. https://twitter.com/XPENG_Global/status/2114621811035910428 In a post on Weibo, Yuan said the approval would allow the company to begin expanding its service beyond internal testing. However, the authorization does…

Approximately 15 million passenger cars in China were equipped with Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) capabilities as of August 2026, highlighting the growing adoption of advanced driver-assistance technology in the country. The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) said on Friday that around 61 million passenger cars had Level 2 (L2) driver-assistance features as of the same month. NOA-equipped vehicles accounted for approximately 25% of that fleet. The figures cover vehicles already in use, rather than new car sales during 2026. China Revises Connected-Vehicle Standards The data was presented at the 2026 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference, held in…

Chinese autonomous delivery vehicle company Neolix has secured nearly $400 million in a Series E funding round to expand its international operations, develop regional service hubs and advance the artificial intelligence (AI) systems powering its driverless delivery fleet. The round was co-led by Boyu Capital, with participation from Alibaba’s AEF NextGen Fund, Granite Asia, Vertex Growth, Meridian Capital and other new and existing investors. Monolith Management, Stone Venture and Trustar Capital were also named among the investors in reports covering the financing. Neolix has not disclosed its valuation following the investment. The latest funding brings its total capital raised to…

China has warned the United Kingdom that it will take countermeasures if London imposes restrictions on Chinese electric vehicle imports, as British officials continue discussions with European partners about potential tariffs. China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Monday that automotive cooperation between the two countries benefits both sides. It urged the UK to comply with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and reconsider any move to restrict Chinese electric vehicles. “China will closely monitor the UK’s actions. If the UK insists on imposing restrictions on Chinese EVs, China will take firm countermeasures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its…

Xpeng demonstrated its NGP VLA 2.0 intelligent driving system on public roads in Paris during the Paris Motor Show 2026, offering supervised test drives to assess how the technology performs in European traffic conditions. Tesla and Xpeng were the only two automakers among the 60 exhibitors to offer test drives on Paris streets, according to the account of the event. For Xpeng, the programme marked its first large-scale NGP test-drive event in Europe. The drives took place as part of the motor show’s official Autonomous Lab venue. Each session lasted approximately 30 minutes and followed a pre-planned route, with a…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng has launched its own robotaxi brand, Yoyo, marking a step toward commercialising its autonomous driving technology through a dedicated ride service. The company has opened registration for external users in China, with initial access limited to people holding an invitation code. The service currently covers selected areas of Guangzhou, where Xpeng manufactures its robotaxis. Xpeng Establishes Its Own Robotaxi Brand With Yoyo, Xpeng is expanding beyond developing vehicles and autonomous driving systems into offering its own robotaxi service. The brand provides a commercial platform through which the company intends to bring its self-driving technology to…

Chinese driving technology supplier Momenta has entered into a global strategic partnership with Dongfeng Stellantis Automotive Technology (Wuhan) Co Ltd (DSAT) to develop advanced driver assistance systems for new Peugeot and Jeep production vehicles. The agreement was signed in Shanghai on September 24 and will cover vehicles intended for China, Europe and other international markets. Under the partnership, Momenta will use its R7 world model as a technology foundation for driver assistance systems developed jointly with DSAT. Joint Development of Peugeot and Jeep Models Momenta will participate in product definition and joint development for new Peugeot and Jeep models, with…

China is proposing new legal rules that would require automakers or vehicle importers to handle traffic violations committed when fully autonomous driving functions are activated, as the country moves to establish a regulatory framework for higher levels of vehicle automation. The proposed changes are included in a draft revision of China’s Road Traffic Safety Law submitted for initial review by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on Tuesday, according to a report from China Central Television (CCTV). Dedicated Rules for Autonomous Vehicles The draft contains nine chapters and 170 articles, including a new chapter titled “Special Provisions for…

Pony AI plans to deploy between 500 and 1,000 fourth-generation (Gen-4) autonomous heavy-duty trucks in China over the next two to three years as the company moves toward larger-scale commercial operations. The Chinese autonomous driving company will initially focus the robotruck programme on long-haul freight, bulk commodity transportation and port logistics, He Xing, Pony AI’s vice president and head of its robotruck business, said at a media briefing on Aug. 3. The company is pursuing a larger long-term target for lighter vehicles, aiming to deploy 100,000 Level 4 (L4) autonomous light-duty trucks by 2030. Gen-4 Trucks Move Into Production Pony…

China has approved its first mandatory national safety standard for autonomous driving systems, establishing a unified regulatory framework for Level 3 (L3) and Level 4 (L4) intelligent connected vehicles as automated driving technologies move toward wider commercial deployment. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced that the national standard, Safety Requirements for Autonomous Driving Systems of Intelligent Connected Vehicles (GB 44721-2026), will take effect on July 1, 2027. The standard was approved on July 30 by the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Standardization Administration. National Safety Framework The regulation applies to M-category passenger vehicles and…

Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide has expanded into Denmark through a strategic partnership with Danish mobility operator GreenMobility, becoming the first Chinese robotaxi developer to enter the Nordic region. The collaboration aims to establish Denmark’s first commercial autonomous shared mobility service, subject to regulatory approval, with public operations targeted for the first half of 2027. First Nordic Market Entry Under the agreement, WeRide and GreenMobility will introduce WeRide’s latest-generation GXR robotaxi, an EU-compliant Level 4 autonomous vehicle designed for commercial ride-hailing services. https://twitter.com/WeRide_ai/status/2084142620570513446 Passengers will be able to book fully autonomous rides once the service receives approval from Danish regulators.…

Chinese autonomous driving company Momenta has received approval from Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) to conduct Level 4 autonomous driving tests on urban roads across the country, marking a milestone in the company’s European expansion. Momenta said it is the first Chinese company to obtain a nationwide Level 4 testing permit covering urban roads in Germany, eliminating the need to seek separate approvals from individual cities. Germany Approval Supports European Expansion The company said the authorization aligns its safety validation process directly with the European Union’s regulatory framework, allowing more efficient testing while meeting one of the world’s most…

Chinese autonomous driving technology company Momenta has officially entered the autonomous delivery vehicle market, launching its robovan business in Suzhou as it seeks to expand the commercial use of its self-driving technology beyond passenger vehicles. The company said its driverless delivery vans have begun operating in Xiangcheng District, Suzhou, where Momenta is headquartered, supporting express and overnight delivery services designed to improve last-mile logistics. The announcement follows earlier reports by local media outlet 21jingji that the vehicles had been operating in the city for several months. Driverless Delivery Targets Commercial Growth Momenta said its robovans are powered by the company’s…

Hong Kong’s Transport Department (TD) has approved fully driverless trials of autonomous vehicles on Airport Island, allowing participating vehicles to operate without in-vehicle backup operators following successful remote operation testing. Driverless Trials Expanded The approval marks the next phase of Hong Kong’s autonomous vehicle testing program after the Transport Department reviewed operational reports and conducted site inspections of previous trials. https://evmagz.com/weride-geely-farizon-and-kwoon-chung-partner-on-right-hand-drive-robotaxi-for-hong-kong-launch/ Airport Island trials had previously required both remote control center operators and backup operators inside each vehicle. Following the latest assessment, the department concluded that the vehicles had demonstrated satisfactory safety, operational stability, driving accuracy and overall performance, allowing…

Pony.ai has signed an agreement with JD Auto Service, the automotive maintenance business of JD.com, to establish a standardized maintenance and spare-parts network for its robotaxi fleet as the company expands autonomous mobility services across China. Partnership to Support Fleet Operations The collaboration will initially cover the cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, where Pony.ai currently operates or is expanding its autonomous driving services. https://evmagz.com/catl-and-jd-com-sign-strategic-cooperation-agreement-to-promote-green-logistics-and-energy-solutions/ Under the agreement, JD Auto Service will integrate its nationwide service network with Pony.ai’s fleet management platform to coordinate vehicle maintenance capacity and spare-parts supply. The companies will also connect their operational systems to…

Chinese autonomous driving technology company Momenta has entered the autonomous cargo van market, with self-driving delivery vehicles reportedly operating for several months in Suzhou, according to a report by local media outlet 21jingji, citing people familiar with the matter. The move marks Momenta’s expansion beyond passenger vehicle driver-assistance systems and robotaxi development as the company seeks to broaden the commercial applications of its autonomous driving technology. https://evmagz.com/momenta-shares-gain-in-hong-kong-trading-debut-after-hk6-8-billion-ipo/ Company Broadens Autonomous Driving Portfolio Founded in 2016, Momenta has become one of China’s largest independent providers of intelligent driving systems. The company says its technology has been deployed in more than one…

China has resumed issuing robotaxi licences after a regulatory pause introduced in April following a safety incident involving Baidu’s Apollo Go autonomous taxi fleet. According to Bloomberg, regulators have begun approving new permits in selected cities after completing an industry-wide safety review at the end of June. The move signals a gradual reopening of China’s autonomous driving testing programme, with some operators already receiving new approvals and previously suspended services beginning to return. Safety Review Followed Apollo Go Incident The licensing pause followed an incident on 31 March 2026, when numerous Apollo Go robotaxis reportedly stopped on roads in Wuhan.…