Author: Eric Liu
Eric Liu
Eric Liu reports on China’s electric vehicle ecosystem, including battery technology, charging infrastructure, and regulatory trends. His work aims to provide accessible insights into how policy and innovation are shaping the future of electric mobility in China.
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…
Lotus Technology, majority-owned by Geely Holding, has launched its first plug-in hybrid SUV in China, marketed locally as the Lotus For Me and globally as the Lotus Eletre X. The model entered the Chinese market with two variants, priced at 508,000 yuan ($73,500) for the Standard trim and 558,000 yuan ($80,730) for the SE version. Deliveries are set to begin on March 30, while a global launch is scheduled for June 2026. Built on Lotus’s X-Hybrid platform with a 900-volt architecture, the Eletre X combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with dual electric motors, delivering a peak output of 700 kW…
Tesla has denied reports that it plans to introduce a lower-cost version of its Model 3 sedan in China, following widespread speculation on social media. Citing the company, local outlet Caiwen reported that Tesla has no plans to launch a cheaper Model 3 variant in the Chinese market and has not established any related production lines at its Shanghai factory. Tesla said its Giga Shanghai facility remains focused on producing and delivering existing Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y vehicles, including both domestic sales and export orders. The company added that there are currently no plans to introduce additional…
Xpeng has previewed the 2026 version of its Mona M03 electric sedan, introducing its in-house developed Turing AI chip as the company pushes to expand advanced driving features into lower-priced vehicles. He Xiaopeng said the updated Xpeng Mona M03 has already arrived at stores across China, marking the start of its market rollout. The new model will be the first to feature Xpeng’s proprietary Turing AI chip, delivering up to 750 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of computing power. The chip is designed to support all-scenario assisted driving capabilities, bringing higher-level intelligent driving features to the sub-$20,000 segment. The move…
BMW is recalling nearly 180,000 vehicles in China due to a potential fire risk linked to improperly routed air conditioning wiring harnesses, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation. The recall affects a total of 179,527 vehicles, including both domestically produced and imported models. Among them, 133,849 units are locally manufactured BMW 5 Series vehicles built between December 5, 2023 and April 12, 2025. An additional 8,978 imported 5 Series cars produced between October 2023 and April 2025 are also included. The recall further covers 36,527 imported BMW 7 Series vehicles manufactured between June 2022 and April 2025, along…
Leapmotor has opened its first overseas innovation center in Munich, Germany, marking a step in its efforts to globalize design and product development as it expands internationally. The facility, located in Schwabing-Freimann in northern Munich, will oversee design iterations and the conceptual development of future models. The company said the move reflects a shift from exporting vehicles to exporting design capabilities, as it integrates international design concepts into its product strategy. Leapmotor now operates a global design network spanning Munich, Hangzhou and Shanghai, supporting its broader ambitions in overseas markets. The expansion comes amid rising export volumes, with the company…
Li Auto has reportedly suspended orders for several versions of its L-series extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), as the Chinese automaker prepares to launch updated models in the coming months. The flagship Li L9 is no longer accepting new orders, while only limited configurations remain available for the Li L7 and Li L8, according to a report by local outlet Lanjinger citing sources familiar with the matter. The move comes ahead of a broader product refresh, with the next-generation Li L9 expected to launch in the second quarter. Updated versions of other L-series models are also planned as part of the…
Geely Galaxy, the new energy vehicle brand under Geely Auto, has teased a new off-road sport utility vehicle as it prepares to enter the fast-growing rugged SUV segment. The company has not yet finalized the model’s official name and said on Tuesday that it has launched a global naming campaign for the upcoming vehicle. Geely Galaxy has released limited details about the model so far. Earlier this month, the brand shared winter testing images of the SUV, referring to it at the time as the Geely Galaxy Cruiser. The vehicle’s concept version was first unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show…
CATL is expanding support for its battery swap ecosystem as Chinese automakers GAC Aion and BAIC’s Arcfox prepare to launch new electric vehicle models compatible with the company’s Choco-SEB battery swap system. GAC Aion said on Thursday it will introduce a battery swap version of its Aion RT sedan in April. The model will feature what the company described as a 99-second ultra-fast battery replacement process. The Aion RT was originally launched in September 2025 as a family sedan available in four variants priced between 99,800 yuan ($14,460) and 123,800 yuan. Arcfox, the electric vehicle brand under BAIC, announced on…
BYD has launched what it describes as the world’s most powerful mass-produced electric vehicle supercharger, alongside the introduction of its second-generation Blade Battery, as the Chinese automaker accelerates the expansion of its charging infrastructure. The new supercharger delivers a maximum output of 1,500 kilowatts per charging gun, representing a 50% increase compared with the company’s first-generation flash charger introduced in March 2025. See also: BYD Unveils Second-Generation Blade Battery With Nine-Minute Flash Charging Each flash-charging station is equipped with two charging guns and an integrated energy storage system designed to support ultra-fast charging. BYD said the system can maintain flash-charging…
BYD has unveiled its second-generation Blade Battery, introducing what the Chinese new energy vehicle maker describes as “flash charging” technology capable of significantly reducing charging times. The new battery can charge from 10% to 70% in five minutes and from 10% to 97% in nine minutes, the company said during a launch event on Thursday. See also: BYD UK Announces Pricing And Specification Updates For 2026 Seal BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu said the company deliberately designed the system to stop charging at 97% in order to improve efficiency. “Stopping the charge at 97% is a deliberate energy-saving measure,” Wang said,…
Nio is strengthening its presence in the power battery sector with plans to establish a new research and development base in Shanghai, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Jiading district government. Authorities in Anting town, located in Shanghai’s Jiading district, recently signed a cooperation agreement with the electric vehicle maker to host the new battery R&D facility. The project will focus on developing next-generation power battery technologies aimed at enhancing Nio’s battery strategy and long-term technological capabilities. See also: Nio and Bosch Sign Strategic Partnership During Merz China Visit Jiading already serves as the location of Nio’s global…
Chinese technology group Xiaomi is facing mounting scrutiny over the safety design of its first-generation SU7 electric sedan after a financial media outlet urged the company to recall around 370,000 vehicles. Yicai, a prominent Chinese financial publication, called on Xiaomi to initiate a recall to address the risk that the vehicle’s electronically controlled exterior door handles could fail in the event of a power outage. The article cited a recent forensic report related to a fatal crash in October involving a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. See also: Xiaomi EV Delivers 600,000th Vehicle Less Than Two Years After First Shipment According to…
Nio has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Germany’s Bosch Group during Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to China, strengthening ties between the Chinese electric vehicle maker and one of Europe’s largest automotive suppliers. Nio said the partnership will span all three of its brands — Nio, Onvo and Firefly — and focus on collaboration in core technologies for smart electric vehicles. Areas of cooperation include steer-by-wire chassis systems, battery management systems, electric powertrains and autonomous driving perception modules. See also: Nio Says It Will Press Ahead in Europe as EU Signals Shift From Tariffs to Pricing Plan The agreement was…
Nio said its semiconductor subsidiary GeniTech Co Ltd, also known as Shenji, has secured 2.257 billion yuan ($330 million) in its first external funding round, confirming earlier media reports. Under the agreement, Chinese investors will subscribe to newly issued shares in the chip unit, Nio said in a statement. After the transaction, a Nio subsidiary will retain a controlling 62.7% stake, allowing the company to continue consolidating Shenji’s financial results. See also: Nio February Deliveries Rise 57.6% to 20,797 Units Year on Year The investors will hold a combined 27.3% stake, implying a post-investment valuation of about 8.27 billion yuan…
BYD has begun large-scale installation of megawatt-level electric vehicle charging stations across China, signalling a move from development to deployment of its ultra-fast charging infrastructure. Images circulating on Chinese social media show newly installed units with a cyan exterior and a T-shaped overhead structure that suspends charging cables from above, reducing ground drag and improving ease of use. The distinctive design appears intended to create a recognisable visual identity for the network. See also: BYD February NEV Sales Fall 41.09% to 190,190 Units as Exports Rise The rollout follows BYD’s unveiling in March 2025 of a 1-megawatt (MW) charger based…
Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio said its customers performed a record 175,976 battery swaps in a single day across its nationwide network, underscoring the scalability of the company’s alternative to conventional fast charging. The milestone, achieved during the peak return travel period of the Lunar New Year holiday, surpassed a previous record set just days earlier of 165,898 swaps. The holiday season represents the busiest annual travel period in China, placing heavy demand on transportation and energy infrastructure. At the peak rate, the figure equates to nearly two battery swaps per second across the network over a 24-hour period. The…
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has become the official automotive partner of Manchester City, in a sponsorship agreement aimed at strengthening the company’s brand recognition across Europe. The deal follows BYD’s previous role as an automotive partner of the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament in Germany and adds to its growing involvement in European football, including sponsorship of Inter Milan. Manchester City, a multiple-time English champion and recent UEFA Champions League winner, has a global fan base that companies often target for international marketing campaigns. Under the agreement, BYD branding will appear on the sleeves of the men’s and women’s teams’…