Author: Daniel Ong

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…

Aito, the automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and Seres Group, has expanded its M7 sport utility vehicle lineup with longer-range variants of its extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), as Chinese automakers increasingly equip hybrid models with larger battery packs. The new additions include five-seat and six-seat versions priced from 299,800 yuan ($42,970) and 319,800 yuan, respectively. Both variants deliver a China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) battery-only range of up to 327 kilometres and a combined range of up to 1,690 kilometres when fully charged and fuelled, the company said. See also: Aito Plans 2026 Launch of New M6 SUV…

Leapmotor founder and chief executive Zhu Jiangming has warned against loss-making price competition in China’s electric vehicle market, saying automakers must maintain gross margins even as rivalry intensifies and prices come under pressure. In a recent interview with People’s Daily, Zhu said selling vehicles at a loss is unsustainable. “Carmakers must never sell cars at a loss; we have to keep a gross margin — that’s something we’ve always insisted on,” he said. Zhu added that companies should rely on market-based mechanisms, improve product quality and reduce costs through scale and efficiency so that both the industry and consumers benefit.…

Firefly, the premium compact car brand under Nio Inc, has reached cumulative deliveries of 40,000 vehicles, around nine months after the launch of its first and currently only model, highlighting rapid early momentum for the marque. The company announced the milestone on social media platform Weibo on Tuesday without providing additional details. Based on previously disclosed figures, the update implies that Firefly delivered about 586 vehicles so far this month, after cumulative deliveries stood at 39,414 units at the end of December. See also: Nio Expands Firefly EV Deliveries to Denmark and Greece as European Rollout Accelerates Nio formally introduced…

Zeekr, the premium new energy vehicle brand owned by Geely Holding Group, has released official images of its upcoming 8X SUV, offering a clearer look at the model as it prepares for launch in China later this year. The newly published images show the Zeekr 8X in a bright red finish, highlighting a wide stance, large grille and prominent chrome detailing. Chrome accents are visible around the window frames, beneath the side mirrors and on the roof rails, reflecting a renewed emphasis on glossy, high-contrast exterior styling that has gained popularity in the Chinese market. See also: Zeekr 8X Hybrid…

Xiaomi has unveiled a redesigned interior for the updated SU7 electric sedan in China, showing substantial changes to the centre console and cabin materials as the company prepares for an April launch. Images of the revised interior, released a day after the exterior and technical specifications were disclosed, show that Xiaomi has reworked the centre tunnel area compared with the current SU7. The changes include the removal of the vertical stack of physical buttons, which has been replaced by a smaller, horizontally oriented button layout positioned below the wireless charging pad. See also: Xiaomi Files Updated SU7 Electric Sedan Ahead…

Tesla said on Thursday its Shanghai factory has rolled out its five millionth electric drive system, marking a new production milestone for the U.S. electric vehicle maker’s largest manufacturing hub. The electric drive system, developed in-house by Tesla, integrates the motor, gearbox and inverter into a single three-in-one unit that the company describes as the “heart” of its electric vehicles. Tesla said the system offers higher energy conversion efficiency, a more compact structure and lighter weight, contributing to energy savings, strong performance and longer service life. See also: Tesla Rolls Out Ultra-Long-Term Low-Interest Financing in China as EV Tax Takes…

Xiaomi EV has started pre-sales of an updated version of its SU7 electric sedan at a higher entry price, reflecting expanded standard features and upgraded technology as competition in China’s EV market intensifies. The updated SU7 carries a pre-sales starting price of 229,900 yuan ($32,890), up 14,000 yuan, or 6.5%, from the previous model’s 215,900 yuan. The increase reduces the price gap with Tesla’s Model 3 in China to about 5,600 yuan, from nearly 20,000 yuan previously. Xiaomi EV said the new-generation SU7 is scheduled for official launch in April. In line with common industry practice in China, final retail…

Chinese technology group Xiaomi is aiming to deliver 550,000 vehicles in 2026, as demand for its existing electric models grows and the company prepares to broaden its automotive lineup with several new launches. The target was announced by Lei Jun, Xiaomi’s founder, chairman and chief executive, during a livestream over the weekend. The goal implies an increase of about 34% from the more than 410,000 vehicles the company expects to deliver in 2025. See also: Xiaomi Plans Four New EV Launches in 2026, Including First Extended-Range Models For 2025, Xiaomi’s electric vehicle unit had set a delivery target of 350,000…

Xiaomi’s electric vehicle unit is planning to introduce four new models in 2026, including its first extended-range electric vehicles, as the company accelerates efforts to expand its automotive portfolio, according to a report by Chinese media outlet 36Kr. The planned lineup includes a facelifted version of the SU7 sedan, an executive variant of the same model, a five-seat extended-range sport utility vehicle, and a larger seven-seat extended-range SUV, the report said, citing industry sources. The SU7 facelift and the seven-seat extended-range SUV are expected to debut in the first half of the year, while the executive sedan and five-seat SUV…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio has scaled back its use of alternative battery suppliers and increased reliance on Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL), reversing efforts made in recent years to diversify its supply chain, according to a report by Chinese media outlet 36Kr. Nio had introduced multiple battery suppliers, including BYD’s FinDreams Battery, CALB, and Sunwoda, as part of a strategy to reduce dependence on CATL. However, that approach has begun to shift as the automaker faces supply pressures and rising production demands. See also: Nio Battery Unit Mirattery Completes Expanded Series C Funding Round According to the report,…

Ultra-luxury electric vehicle brand Yangwang, a sub-brand of BYD, has introduced a special exterior edition of its U9 electric supercar to commemorate recent performance milestones at Germany’s Nürburgring circuit, the company said on Tuesday. The new edition adds a green exterior option to the Yangwang U9 lineup, which previously offered purple, red and silver finishes. Customers opting for the commemorative version will pay an additional RMB 50,000 for the exterior and RMB 30,000 for an exclusive interior, on top of the model’s starting price of RMB 1.8 million ($256,260). Yangwang said the special edition marks the achievement of the U9…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor has released interior images of its flagship D19 sport utility vehicle, extending its marketing campaign roughly two months after the model’s debut and ahead of its expected market launch in the first half of 2026. Images shared on Weibo show that the D19’s front cabin design closely follows Leapmotor’s recent models, featuring a horizontally mounted 17.3-inch central touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. For rear passengers, the six-seat SUV is equipped with a ceiling-mounted 21.4-inch 3K entertainment display. The second row is configured with two zero-gravity seats that recline up to 120 degrees and…

Chinese automaker BYD has implemented salary increases for its research and development staff, becoming the latest major company to lift pay as China steps up efforts to rein in excessive competition and stimulate domestic consumption. Reports of the pay rises were confirmed by BYD, according to a report on Wednesday by local financial media outlet Cailian. Market speculation suggested most employees received monthly increases of between 500 yuan ($71) and 1,000 yuan, while a smaller group saw raises of 2,000 to 3,000 yuan. BYD did not comment on specific amounts, Cailian said. BYD operates two annual salary adjustment windows and…