Author: Christopher Harrison

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has revealed an updated version of the Zeekr X all-electric SUV, alongside the new Zeekr 7X. The latest Zeekr X gains a stronger rear motor rated at 250 kW (335 hp), an increase from the current 200 kW (268 hp) unit, while its exterior design remains unchanged. The Zeekr X is currently offered in four trims with 4- and 5-seat layouts, priced between 149,000 and 179,000 yuan ($20,900–$25,100). Standard exterior features include daytime running lights with 56 LEDs, a 1.21 m² panoramic sunroof, and a 1.5 m through-type taillight using 229 LEDs.…

Xpeng appears to be preparing a second model under its Mona lineup, following the August launch of the M03 electric sedan, which has quickly become the company’s best-selling vehicle. Images circulating on Chinese social media this week suggest the Mona lineup’s first SUV is in development. The vehicle, resembling the M03 at the front, appears to be a compact SUV measuring between 4.6 and 4.7 meters in length, according to automotive bloggers. They noted the model will feature frameless doors and partially concealed door handles. The SUV is expected to follow the M03’s competitive positioning, potentially extending Mona’s appeal to…

China is preparing to ban fully retractable and flush car door handles, a popular design element on many electric vehicles including Tesla models, citing safety risks that regulators say outweigh aerodynamic benefits. Industry sources told state media that authorities are finalising new mandatory standards, with a draft expected this month and enforcement slated to begin in July 2027 following a one-year transition. Automakers would still be permitted to use semi-retractable or conventional handles, but future designs must include a mechanical backup system in case of power failures. While carmakers have argued flush handles reduce aerodynamic drag, research cited by regulators…

Tesla’s share of the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) market dropped below 40% in August for the first time since 2017, as rivals including Hyundai, Kia, Honda, Ford Motor and General Motors expanded sales at a much faster pace, according to data from Cox Automotive. The company’s market share slipped to 38% last month, down from 42% in June, when it sold more than 53,000 vehicles in the United States. While Tesla’s deliveries rose 3.1% year-on-year in August, they lagged behind the overall EV market, which grew 14%. Competitors more than doubled their combined sales, grabbing market share from the long-dominant…

Tesla said on Thursday that vehicles produced at its Giga Berlin plant can now autonomously drive themselves to designated lanes in the outbound lot, streamlining factory logistics by removing the need for human drivers in post-production handling. The company explained that the system enables cars to independently move across the factory site. “They stop by the on-site Supercharger, then park in the outbound lot,” Tesla said. https://twitter.com/Tesla_AI/status/1963308798765838809 The feature is designed to streamline logistics and reduce manual handling at the site near Berlin, which serves as Tesla’s main European production hub. The announcement comes after Tesla completed what it called…

Great Wall Motor (GWM) said on Monday its August sales rose to 115,558 vehicles, the highest monthly tally this year, as demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs) and overseas shipments continued to expand. The figure marked a 22.33% increase from a year earlier and a 10.72% gain from July, the company said in a filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Overseas sales reached a record 45,166 units in August, up 11.65% year-on-year, and made up 39.09% of total sales. NEV sales climbed to 37,495 units last month, an increase of 50.92% from a year ago and 8.39% higher than…

Vietnamese vehicle maker Kim Long Motor said it is building a battery assembly plant in central Vietnam and will use cylindrical NMC cells supplied by South Korea’s LG Energy Solution to produce packs from 2026. The facility, located in the Kim Long Motor Industrial Park in Hue, is currently under construction and expected to begin operations in early 2026 with an initial capacity of 1 GWh per year, the company said in a statement. Production will be scaled up in subsequent years. Both companies have signed a letter of intent covering the supply of cells. “Through cooperation with LG Energy…

SAIC Audi has completed construction of its new AUDI production base in Anting, Shanghai, with an annual capacity of 360,000 units, marking a step forward for the brand as it expands its electrification and smart manufacturing strategy in China. The plant, built on an Advanced Digitized Platform, will begin operations with the AUDI E5 Sportback, the first model to roll off the line. The factory incorporates technologies such as AI visual inspection, digital twins and laser measurement, and has achieved full automation in critical processes alongside 100% data traceability throughout production, the company said in a statement. The AUDI E5…

Rivian may develop a smaller electric pickup truck built on its upcoming R2 platform, though the California-based EV maker is currently prioritizing the R2 crossover as it seeks to expand its customer base, Chief Executive RJ Scaringe said in an interview. “I mean, we haven’t announced anything, but… it doesn’t take a huge amount of imagination to think of, like, if there’s R2 what are the other R2 variants?” Scaringe said on the Plugged-In Podcast this week. “And we sort of hinted at that with R3, where we did an R3X. You could imagine X versions, you can imagine other…

South Korean autonomous driving firm Autonomous A2Z said it signed a partnership with Kia Motors in July to produce Level-4 autonomous vehicles, with the first units scheduled to debut at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Gyeongju. The project will be based on Kia’s Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) lineup, a customized mobility solution that began mass production in July at the automaker’s Hwaseong plant. Autonomous A2Z will convert Kia’s PV5 model into a fully autonomous version as part of the collaboration. Under the agreement, Autonomous A2Z will roll out 10 different Level-4 autonomous models in Gyeongju from late…

Xpeng launched the facelifted version of its G6 electric SUV in Thailand on August 21, marking the one-year anniversary of the brand’s presence in the country, the Chinese electric vehicle maker said in a statement. The updated G6 comes equipped with 5C ultra-fast charging capability on an 800-volt platform and introduces the AI-powered Tianji XOS system. Two variants are available in Thailand: the Long Range model starting at 1.349 million baht ($41,310) and the AWD Performance version starting at 1.489 million baht. Both carry an 80.8-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, which can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in…

Nio premium compact electric vehicle (EV) brand Firefly has started its first deliveries in Europe, marking the sub-brand’s official entry into overseas markets. The initial handovers took place on August 14 in Norway and the Netherlands, two of the region’s more mature EV markets. The rollout signals the beginning of Firefly’s global expansion as part of Nio’s multi-brand strategy. Originally launched in China on April 19, 2025, the brand was introduced to target the compact EV segment and compete with models such as BMW’s Mini and Mercedes-Benz’s Smart. Firefly began Chinese deliveries on April 29 and reached 10,000 units delivered…