Author: Eric Liu

BYD has shared new technical details on its official Weibo account about the one-piece aluminium frame used in the Yangwang U8L, outlining a development program that began in 2023 and led to the creation of what the company described as China’s largest automotive integrated casting machine in collaboration with aerospace-focused supplier Hantek. The latest disclosure provides additional insight into a technology previously highlighted when the Yangwang U8L was introduced with what BYD said was the world’s first one-piece low-pressure-cast aluminium vehicle frame. The structure features a 4.2-square-meter integrated casting with wall thicknesses ranging from 4 mm to 50 mm, presenting…

CATL has opened a major energy storage testing and validation facility in China, aiming to help developers improve project performance, accelerate grid connection and strengthen confidence in large-scale battery storage investments. The Chinese battery manufacturer officially launched the Xiamen Energy Storage Validation Research Institute (ESVL) on Thursday, describing it as the world’s largest integrated testing and validation platform dedicated to energy storage systems. Located in Xiamen, the facility covers approximately 10 hectares and represents an investment of about 3 billion yuan ($440 million). CATL said the platform is designed to address growing challenges facing the rapidly expanding energy storage sector,…

Huawei-backed electric vehicle brand Aito has officially launched the new generation of its flagship M9 sport utility vehicle in China, maintaining the model’s entry price while introducing updated technology, expanded dimensions and enhanced driver-assistance capabilities. The new Aito M9 starts at 479,800 yuan ($70,760), unchanged from the previous generation and 20,000 yuan below the 499,800-yuan pre-sale price announced in March. The luxury SUV is available in both battery-electric (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) configurations and is offered exclusively in five-seat and six-seat layouts. The four-seat variant available on the previous model has been discontinued. Aito is offering a total…

Bosch MC Battery Service Innovations, the battery services joint venture established by Bosch and Mitsubishi Corporation in 2025, has launched its first commercial project with the opening of a battery-swapping station for electric trucks in Chizhou, China. The facility, operated by Shanghai Lingzhou Technology, marks the debut customer deployment for the joint venture, which was created to provide infrastructure and technology solutions supporting Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) business models. According to Bosch, the station currently serves more than 100 electric trucks per day and utilizes the joint venture’s battery management and monitoring technologies. “This provides a tailored charging experience and enhanced asset…

Xpeng has launched the GX, a new full-size flagship sport utility vehicle positioned as a technology-focused premium model for China’s increasingly competitive new energy vehicle market. The GX is available in both battery-electric and extended-range variants, with all versions equipped as standard with rear-wheel steering and Xpeng’s second-generation VLA 6.2.0 driver-assistance platform. The battery-electric GX starts at 279,800 yuan ($38,900) for the Max trim and rises to 359,800 yuan for the Ultra Flagship edition. The extended-range lineup begins at 289,800 yuan, while the top-spec model is priced at 359,800 yuan. The SUV measures 5,265 mm in length, 1,999 mm in…

Svolt Energy plans to begin mass production of hybrid solid-liquid batteries by September, with the company expecting production costs to reach levels comparable to conventional liquid lithium-ion batteries. The company’s chairman and chief executive, Yang Hongxin, disclosed the plan in a video shared on Weibo on Tuesday, saying the new battery technology offers significantly improved safety performance compared with traditional battery systems. Yang said hybrid solid-liquid batteries are expected to become the dominant transitional technology before all-solid-state batteries can be commercially produced at large scale, adding that 2026 could mark the beginning of broader adoption and commercialization for the technology.…

BYD’s sales rebounded month-on-month in April as the company increasingly relies on robust growth in overseas markets amid sluggish domestic demand. The automaker’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sales stood at 321,123 units in April, representing a 6.96% increase from March, according to data released on Friday.However, this marks the company’s eighth consecutive month of year-on-year sales decline, dropping 15.51%. For the first four months of the year, BYD’s cumulative NEV sales totaled 1,021,586 units, down 26.02% year-on-year. This reflects the broader pressure brought by the Chinese auto market entering its traditional slow season at the beginning of the year. Despite…

General Motors’ Buick brand began pre-sales for the Electra E7 plug-in hybrid sport utility vehicle in China on Friday, as the automaker continues expanding its electrified product lineup in the market. The mid-size SUV is priced between 160,000 yuan ($23,410) and 210,000 yuan during the pre-sales period and will be offered in three trim levels, Buick said. The Electra E7 is scheduled to officially launch and begin deliveries on April 22. Customers who place online orders before April 21 will receive early-order incentives valued at 10,000 yuan, the company said. Buick said the Electra E7 is powered by its Zhenlong…

Tesla has added Chinese battery manufacturer Sunwoda to its global battery supply chain, Chinese media outlet 36Kr reported on Thursday, citing multiple industry sources, as the U.S. electric vehicle maker seeks to diversify sourcing and lower costs. Through its battery unit Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery Co Ltd, Sunwoda has become Tesla’s fifth global power battery supplier, according to the report. Battery cells from Sunwoda have already begun shipping from the supplier’s plant in Yiwu and are being installed in vehicles produced at Tesla’s Giga Shanghai for export markets, 36Kr reported, citing people familiar with the matter. It remains unclear when…

Nio’s sub-brand Onvo is set to introduce the company’s in-house developed Shenji smart driving chip in the updated 2026 L90 electric SUV, marking a further step in its transition away from external suppliers such as Nvidia, according to local media reports. The 2026 Onvo L90, scheduled for launch on April 21, will feature a significantly upgraded intelligent driving system and, for the first time, offer a LiDAR-equipped variant, Chinese outlet Leiphone reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The model is expected to be powered by Nio’s Shenji chip, built on a 5-nanometre process. The move would align Onvo more…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio Inc reported a sharp increase in March deliveries as demand recovered following the seasonal slowdown at the beginning of the year. The company delivered 35,486 vehicles in March, representing a 135.96% increase year-on-year and a 70.63% rise from February, according to data released on Wednesday. Deliveries included 22,490 units from the Nio brand, 6,877 from its sub-brand Onvo, and 6,119 from Firefly. In the first quarter, Nio delivered 83,465 vehicles, up 98.28% from a year earlier, although down 33.12% compared with the fourth quarter of 2025. The total exceeded the upper end of the company’s…

CALB said it has begun deploying semi-solid-state battery technology in the light truck sector, marking an expansion of advanced battery systems from passenger cars into commercial vehicles. The company announced that its solid-liquid hybrid battery, unveiled at a commercial vehicle exhibition in Hefei, Anhui province on March 28, has entered mass production and is already being installed in light trucks produced by Chery Automobile. The move represents one of the first large-scale applications of semi-solid-state batteries in light commercial vehicles, as manufacturers explore higher-performance alternatives to conventional lithium-ion systems. The hybrid technology combines solid and liquid electrolytes, aiming to balance…