Author: Eric Liu

Foxconn has opened a new research and development centre for electric vehicles in Zhengzhou, China, as it steps up efforts to become a contract manufacturer for automakers and accelerate vehicle development timelines. The centre began operations on Wednesday and aims to reduce the production cycle for new electric vehicle models to about 24 months, according to a statement from the Henan provincial government cited by Reuters. The facility will focus on next-generation electric vehicles, electric architectures and intelligent driving technologies, the statement said, quoting Li Guangyao, managing director of a Foxconn subsidiary in Henan. See also: ZF-Foxconn Venture Opens Hungary…

Nio Inc has officially entered the Uzbek automotive market, marking its first move into Central Asia as the company continues to expand its international presence. The electric vehicle maker opened its first showroom, branded Nio Space Tashkent, at the end of January, according to information shared on Sunday by Qin Lihong, the company’s co-founder and president. Images posted by Qin indicated the store opened on January 31, making Uzbekistan Nio’s first market in the Central Asian region. See also: Nio Opens Distributor-Operated Showroom in Hungary Nio later said the Tashkent operation was established in partnership with Abu Sahiy Motors, a…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng has begun overseas deliveries of its new P7+ electric sedan, with the model now available in several international markets, including Germany, where prices start at €46,600. Xpeng said in a post on its Weibo account that large-scale overseas deliveries of the 2026 model year P7+ are underway, with plans to offer the vehicle in 36 countries and regions, including across Europe. The company did not specify which markets are receiving the first shipments. The P7+ has been on sale in China since November 2024, initially as a battery-electric vehicle. For its next-generation lineup, Xpeng split…

Geely Auto was among the few Chinese carmakers to post year-on-year sales growth in January, supported by record exports and solid demand for plug-in hybrid models, even as battery electric vehicle sales declined. Geely sold 270,167 vehicles in January, up 1.29% from a year earlier and 14.08% higher than in December, the company said on Sunday. Growth was driven largely by overseas markets, with exports reaching a record 60,506 vehicles, more than doubling from a year earlier and rising 50.10% from December. Domestic sales in China totaled 209,661 units, down 12.62% year on year but up 6.69% month on month.…

Voyah, the premium electric vehicle unit of Dongfeng Motor Group, has received approval from China’s securities regulator to proceed with a planned listing in Hong Kong, as the state-owned automaker restructures its financing channels. China’s China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has issued Voyah a filing notice allowing it to move forward with the Hong Kong listing, according to a statement published on the regulator’s website on Wednesday. The filing requires Voyah to complete the listing within 12 months, after which updated materials would need to be submitted if the plan remains in place. The transaction is still subject to approval…

Li Auto founder and Chief Executive Li Xiang reaffirmed the company’s strategic focus on artificial intelligence during a company-wide meeting this week, even as some employees expressed concern that slowing vehicle sales were not being adequately addressed, according to a report by Chinese media outlet 21jingji. Li hosted a nearly two-hour online meeting with employees on Monday morning Beijing time, much of which centered on his assessment of AI development trends. During the session, Li said 2026 would be the final window for companies aiming to emerge as leaders in artificial intelligence, and that Level 4 autonomous driving technology could…

Li Auto said on Jan. 26 that cumulative deliveries of its Li Mega electric multi-purpose vehicle have exceeded 30,000 units, marking a milestone for the company’s flagship battery-electric model. The Li Mega is sold in two variants priced between 529,800 yuan ($74,000) and 559,800 yuan. The company did not disclose a time frame for the deliveries or provide updated sales targets. See also: Li Auto Sets 2026 Goal of 550,000 Deliveries, Aiming for 40% Growth Li Auto has introduced a family-oriented “Mega Home” edition that largely retains the exterior design of the standard model, including its rounded body shape and…

BYD’s Fang Cheng Bao brand is preparing an updated version of its Tai 3 all-electric off-road SUV, with improved powertrain specifications and the option of lidar for more advanced driver assistance, according to documents recently published by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The refreshed Fang Cheng Bao Tai 3 retains its existing exterior design and dimensions but introduces notable mechanical upgrades. Buyers will be able to choose between rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive variants. The rear-wheel-drive version sees its maximum output rise to 240 kW (322 hp) from 160 kW, with acceleration from zero to 100 km/h expected to…

China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sales are expected to continue growing in 2026, though at a slower pace than last year, as domestic demand remains constrained and global trade uncertainties weigh on the outlook, the country’s main auto industry association said on Wednesday. NEV sales are projected to reach 19 million units in 2026, representing year-on-year growth of 15.2%, according to a report released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). That compares with sales of 16.49 million NEVs in 2025, when volumes rose 28.2% from a year earlier. See also: China Records 16.49 Million NEV Sales in 2025,…

Chinese semiconductor maker GigaDevice said it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with automaker Chery Automobile to deepen collaboration across the automotive chip value chain, as both companies seek to support the development of next-generation intelligent vehicles. The agreement, announced on Jan. 12, establishes a long-term partnership focused on closer coordination from chip definition to vehicle-level validation. GigaDevice said the cooperation aims to jointly develop advanced intelligent vehicle system solutions suited to the AI era, strengthening the technological foundation of China’s push toward smarter, more software-driven automobiles. See also: Chery’s iCar Begins Mass Production of V27 Extended-Range Electric SUV GigaDevice…

Spy shots of the Seal 08, the upcoming flagship model in BYD’s Ocean lineup, have surfaced on Chinese social media as the automaker prepares for a debut expected in the first quarter of this year. Images shared by users on the Xiaohongshu platform show the vehicle wrapped in camouflage featuring wave patterns and “OCEAN 8” lettering, consistent with BYD’s Ocean-series branding. The sightings suggest road testing is under way ahead of an official launch. See also: BYD Files New Linghui Sub-Brand Models Aimed at Ride-Hailing Market The Seal 08 is based on BYD’s Ocean-S concept and is expected to be…

China’s Nio and battery giant CATL have signed a new five-year strategic cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening collaboration on long-life battery technology and the expansion of battery swap networks, the companies said. The agreement was signed in Hefei, Anhui province, with Nio founder and chief executive William Li and CATL founder and chief executive Robin Zeng attending the ceremony. The deal builds on earlier partnerships between the two companies as China’s new energy vehicle sector accelerates technological and business model development. See also: CATL Reaches 1,000th Battery Swap Station, Raises 2026 Expansion Target CATL said the collaboration will span technology…

Xiaomi’s electric vehicle unit reported a new delivery milestone in December, surpassing 50,000 units for the first time as demand for its models continued to rise, according to a statement released by the company on Weibo today. The company did not disclose an exact figure but confirmed that December deliveries exceeded the 50,000 mark. This followed deliveries of 46,249 vehicles in November, which represented a 99.73 percent year-on-year increase, though down 4.94 percent from October. From January through November, Xiaomi EV delivered a total of 361,625 vehicles, bringing cumulative deliveries to 501,096 units. See also: Xiaomi Plans Four New EV…

Nio’s compact electric vehicle brand Firefly has begun delivering vehicles in Austria, marking another step in its European expansion as the Chinese automaker seeks to grow its presence outside its domestic market. Firefly confirmed the latest market entry in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo, without disclosing delivery volumes or model details. The move follows earlier launches in Norway and the Netherlands in August, as well as more recent market entries in Belgium, Denmark and Greece. See also: Nio Expands Firefly EV Deliveries to Denmark and Greece as European Rollout Accelerates The brand was officially unveiled at Nio…