Author: Daniel Ong

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Zeekr has announced plans to update its flagship electric MPV, the Zeekr 009, with a launch scheduled for the second quarter of 2026. The company released a teaser for the refreshed model on Friday, confirming that the vehicle will adopt a full-stack 900-volt high-voltage electrical architecture. The updated MPV will also feature the new-generation Nvidia Drive Thor-U driver assistance processor. See also: Zeekr Enters Italy as First Customer Deliveries Begin in Germany Zeekr said additional specifications and product configurations will be announced at the official launch event. The upgrade is expected to focus on improving charging…

BYD unveiled the Datang on Thursday, introducing the first D-segment flagship sport utility vehicle in its Dynasty lineup as the Chinese automaker expands further into the premium new energy vehicle market. The company did not disclose pricing for the model but said the vehicle is expected to target the luxury segment priced above 400,000 yuan ($58,040). The Datang is scheduled for an official market launch in the first half of the year. See also: Denza Launches Z9GT With Record 1,036 km Electric Range The pure electric version of the Datang is equipped with BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery and offers a…

Xiaomi said its humanoid robot has entered live production at its electric vehicle factory, completing complex component assembly tasks in what the company described as a step forward in embodied intelligence. According to a post on Xiaomi’s official Weibo account, the robot operated autonomously for three consecutive hours at a self-tapping nut installation workstation in the die-casting workshop of Xiaomi EV. Test data showed a 90.2% success rate for simultaneous installations on both sides of the station, meeting the production line’s fastest cycle time requirement of 76 seconds. See also: Xiaomi Debuts Vision GT Supercar Concept Ahead of 2026 MWC…

BMW Group and China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation on battery supply chain decarbonization and cross-border data exchange, as Germany’s chancellor visited China with a business delegation. The agreement focuses on pilot projects using the Catena-X automotive data ecosystem to enable trusted data sharing and carbon footprint accounting under the emerging Battery Passport framework. The initiative expands a partnership between the two companies that began in 2012, moving beyond battery supply toward broader collaboration on sustainability and digital standards. BMW Chairman Oliver Zipse, who accompanied Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the…

Leapmotor delivered 28,067 vehicles in February, posting a 10.99% increase from a year earlier despite a decline from January due to the Chinese New Year holiday, the company said. The Chinese new energy vehicle maker, backed by Stellantis, reported that deliveries fell 12.45% from January’s 32,059 units, reflecting the impact of the nine-day Spring Festival break on production and logistics. Last year’s holiday occurred mainly in late January, reducing its effect on February figures. See also: Leapmotor Sets 1.05 Million Sales Target for 2026, Emphasises Efficiency and Brand Building To support future sales, Leapmotor said it will soon begin pre-sales…

China’s largest battery maker CATL has begun deploying sodium-ion batteries in passenger vehicles, marking a new phase for the technology after its initial rollout in commercial applications, according to local media reports. CATL’s sodium-ion battery products under the Naxtra brand have been installed in a passenger vehicle model from Changan Automobile’s Oshan sub-brand, with winter testing scheduled to begin, financial media outlet Cailian reported on Friday, citing multiple independent sources. The report added that additional passenger models from GAC Group and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp (JAC) are expected to adopt CATL’s sodium-ion batteries in the next stage. See also:…

China’s largest new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer BYD reported a sharp decline in sales in January, underscoring mounting pressure on the domestic auto market as seasonal weakness and reduced policy support weighed on demand. BYD sold 210,051 NEVs in January, down 30.11% from a year earlier and 50.04% from December, according to company data released on Sunday. The figures include both passenger and commercial vehicles. Passenger NEV sales totaled 205,518 units, falling 30.67% year on year and 50.45% month on month. Within that segment, battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales dropped to 83,249 units, down 33.60% from a year earlier and…

Leapmotor posted year-on-year growth in vehicle deliveries in January, even as volumes fell sharply from the previous month amid seasonal weakness in China’s auto market. The company delivered 32,059 vehicles in January, up 27.37% from 25,170 units a year earlier but down 46.94% from December’s 60,423 units, Leapmotor said in a statement. Cumulative deliveries since inception reached 1,228,162 vehicles. See also: Leapmotor Introduces Central Vehicle Computer Using Qualcomm Chips for Flagship Model Leapmotor’s January performance followed a strong full-year showing in 2025, when the company delivered 596,555 vehicles, more than doubling volumes from the prior year and meeting its annual…

Nio began rolling out the latest version of its Nio World Model (NWM) driver assistance software to vehicles in China on Wednesday, saying the update is designed to deliver a more human-like driving experience as the electric vehicle maker steps up development of advanced driver assistance technologies. The update will initially be available to more than 460,000 vehicles equipped with Nio’s Banyan system, the company said. Models running the Cedar and Cedar S systems are expected to receive the software shortly. See also: Nio Steps Up AI Push, Recruits Former Alibaba Expert to Strengthen Smart Driving Research The Banyan system…

Porsche reported a sharp drop in vehicle deliveries in China in 2025, highlighting sustained pressure in the country’s premium and ultra-luxury passenger vehicle market despite modest overall industry growth driven by domestic electric brands. Porsche delivered 41,938 vehicles in China last year, down 26% from a year earlier, according to sales data released on Jan. 17. The decline contrasted with limited growth in China’s broader passenger car market, where demand has increasingly shifted toward locally produced pure-electric vehicles. See also: Porsche Reconsiders EV-Only Strategy After Macan Decision, Former CEO Says Globally, Porsche delivered 279,449 vehicles in 2025, a 10% decline…

Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China said they have developed a new solid electrolyte that significantly reduces the external pressure required for operating all-solid-state lithium batteries, addressing one of the main barriers to their commercial deployment. The findings, published on Jan. 8, 2026, in the journal Nature Communications, describe an inorganic solid electrolyte that allows stable battery operation at pressures far below those typically reported in earlier studies. All-solid-state lithium batteries are viewed as a potential successor to conventional lithium-ion cells because of their higher energy density and improved safety, but their practical use has been…

Aito said that its one-millionth production vehicle has rolled off the assembly line, marking a key milestone for the premium automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and Seres. The milestone vehicle was the Aito M9, the brand’s flagship SUV, which starts at 469,800 yuan ($67,350), placing it among the highest-priced models produced by a Chinese domestic brand. Aito said it took five years to reach cumulative production of one million vehicles and aims to produce a second million within the next two years. See also: Aito Officially Launches Updated M7 SUV With Starting Price of RMB 279,800 “It took us…