Author: Jackson Han

Neta Auto has resumed full salary payments at its Tongxiang factory in July, according to Chinese media outlet ITHome, in what could be an early sign of operational recovery as the electric vehicle maker undergoes bankruptcy reorganisation. The brand, owned by Hozon New Energy Automobile Co., launched a pre-registration process for strategic investors on July 10 through Alibaba’s asset disposal platform. As of early August, 47 entities had reportedly expressed interest. Neta entered formal restructuring proceedings in June after months of cash flow shortages, unpaid wages dating back to November 2024, and workforce reductions of nearly 50%. At its Tongxiang…

Brazil’s foreign trade committee, Gecex-Camex, said it will implement a 35% import duty on disassembled electric and hybrid vehicles 18 months earlier than planned, a move likely to affect manufacturers using completely knocked down (CKD) and semi-knocked down (SKD) assembly formats. The decision advances the tariff schedule aimed at encouraging automakers to increase domestic production. Established manufacturers in Brazil operate full vehicle plants, including bodywork production, while BYD currently assembles imported components at its facility in Camaçari, in the northeastern state of Bahia. “It is significantly cheaper to import automotive parts than entire vehicles,” the committee said, noting the difference…

Li Auto reported a significant drop in vehicle deliveries for July, continuing a downward trend as the Chinese electric vehicle maker navigates market challenges and prepares for a new model launch. The company delivered 30,731 vehicles in July 2025, representing a 39.7% decline compared to the same month last year and a 15.3% decrease from June. Cumulative deliveries for the year reached 234,669 units, down 2.2% year-on-year. See also: Li Auto Officially Launches Li i8 Electric SUV With 720-Km Range and Advanced Smart Driving System Li Auto is preparing to begin deliveries of its newest model, the Li i8, a…

Leapmotor reported July 2025 deliveries of 50,129 vehicles, marking the first time the company has exceeded the 50,000-unit mark in a single month. The figure represents a new all-time monthly high and the third consecutive month of record-breaking performance, according to data released on Friday. The July total reflects a 126.9% increase from the same month in 2024, when Leapmotor delivered 22,093 vehicles. It also shows a 4.4% rise from June’s 48,006-unit figure. With these results, the company’s cumulative deliveries have reached 871,341 vehicles since its founding. See also: Leapmotor Launches B01 Electric Sedan Starting at RMB 89,800, Targeting China’s…

BYD has advanced to 91st place on the latest Fortune Global 500 list, marking a 52-position jump from the previous year and placing it ahead of U.S. rival Tesla, which now ranks 102nd, according to a report released on Tuesday. The Fortune Global 500 ranks the world’s largest companies by revenue. This year’s edition reflects a combined $41.7 trillion in revenue and $2.98 trillion in profit across all listed firms, the report noted. https://twitter.com/BYDCompany/status/1950302814162604149 The new rankings highlight shifting momentum in the global electric vehicle (EV) sector. BYD’s rise comes amid continued efforts to expand internationally, including plans to introduce…

Ferrari is moving forward with plans to launch its first fully electric vehicle next spring, and recent sightings suggest the Italian marque may be benchmarking one of China’s most advanced performance EVs—the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra—as part of its development process. A Xiaomi SU7 Ultra sedan, finished in the distinctive yellow-and-silver livery widely used in the model’s marketing campaigns, was recently spotted outside Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello. While it is common practice for automakers to study competitors’ models, the appearance of a Chinese EV on Ferrari grounds reflects a shifting landscape in global automotive innovation. https://twitter.com/DriveGreen80167/status/1950072698832322803 The SU7 Ultra has attracted…

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has constructed more than 400 battery swap stations for passenger vehicles as of the end of July and is on track to reach its target of 1,000 stations by the end of 2025, the company said during its mid-year performance briefing. The battery swap business, which also includes support for heavy-duty trucks, is progressing steadily. Around 100 swap stations have already been built for commercial trucks, with the number expected to triple by the end of the year. CATL has partnered with multiple automakers to launch over 20 vehicle models that support battery swapping using its…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has introduced a more affordable version of its Yuan Up compact electric SUV, cutting prices by 25% as it aims to reach a broader segment of the market. The new variant, priced at RMB 74,800 ($10,400), undercuts the previous base model by RMB 25,000. It comes with a smaller 32-kWh battery pack, offering a CLTC-rated driving range of 301 kilometers, compared to the 401-kilometer range of the higher-tier models, which are equipped with a 45.12-kWh battery. In addition to the reduced battery capacity, the latest version excludes BYD’s “God’s Eye C” smart driving system, a…

Chinese battery manufacturer Sunwoda Electronic has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong, becoming the latest company in the sector to pursue a listing in the city following Eve Energy. Goldman Sachs and CITIC Securities are acting as joint sponsors for Sunwoda’s proposed listing, according to the preliminary prospectus. Details regarding the number of shares to be issued and the timeline of the listing have not yet been disclosed. Founded in 1997 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2011, Sunwoda expanded its international presence in November 2022 with the issuance of Global Depository Receipts (GDRs)…

Nio is preparing to unveil its third-generation ES8 SUV in the coming months, with the model recently spotted undergoing road tests in China, according to images shared by a local automotive blogger. The company previously confirmed the vehicle would be introduced at its annual Nio Day event, which has been moved to the fall to align with the peak sales season in the fourth quarter. The third-generation ES8, listed last month in a regulatory filing from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, features a larger body compared with its predecessor. The updated SUV measures 5,280 mm in length, 2,010…

WeRide and Uber have expanded their Robotaxi operations in Abu Dhabi to include Al Reem and Al Maryah Islands, in coordination with the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC). The expansion is expected to double ride volumes and significantly increase the service area, which now includes parts of Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, and highway routes to and from Zayed International Airport. Since launching their joint service in December 2024, WeRide and Uber have tripled the size of their Robotaxi fleet in Abu Dhabi. Both companies intend to expand further later this year, with plans to operate in Khalifa City, Masdar City, and…

BYD has become the leading electric vehicle (EV) brand in Hong Kong for the first half of 2025, capturing 27% of new private EV registrations and overtaking rivals Tesla and BMW, according to data from the city’s Transport Department. The Shenzhen-based automaker registered 4,902 EVs out of 18,356 total private EV registrations between January and June. Its sales were led by the Sealion 07, a mid-size SUV launched in late 2024, which accounted for 3,676 units—making it the best-selling EV model in the city during the period. Tesla followed with 3,889 registrations, while other automakers including Zeekr, Toyota, and Xpeng…

Aito, the automotive brand backed by Huawei and Seres Group, has opened pre-sales for the battery electric vehicle (BEV) version of its M8 SUV, the company said Friday. The vehicle is scheduled to launch officially in August. The starting price for the Aito M8 BEV is RMB 378,000 ($52,780), according to a post by Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) on Weibo. Customers who place a deposit of RMB 5,000 will receive a discount of the same amount and a complimentary purple exterior option valued at RMB 8,000. Originally launched on April 16 as an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), the…

Yangwang, the premium sub-brand of Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD, announced on Sunday it will begin pre-sales for its flagship U8L Dingshi Edition on July 31. The official launch event will take place at 2:30 p.m. Beijing Time on the same day. The U8L is a full-size executive luxury SUV distinguished by a logo made from 24-karat pure gold, positioning it at the ultra-luxury end of the market. The model was first unveiled at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show on April 23, with the company confirming at the time that a launch was expected in the second half of the…

Leapmotor has officially launched the B01, expanding its electric vehicle lineup with a new mid-size sedan targeting China’s price-sensitive EV market. The company revealed six variants of the B01 at a launch event, with prices starting at RMB 89,800 ($12,550), representing a 15% reduction from its earlier pre-sale price of RMB 105,800. The B01 now includes a newly introduced base model offering a CLTC range of 430 kilometers. Higher variants deliver extended ranges of 550 km and 650 km, with corresponding battery capacities of 56.2 kWh and 67.1 kWh. The entry-level model comes equipped with a 43.9 kWh lithium iron…

Tesla is planning to open its first Tesla Diner in China, with a launch targeted around the Lunar New Year in February 2026, according to a report by local media outlet West China City Daily on Wednesday. The automaker has reportedly allocated a 3,000-square-meter site adjacent to its Gigafactory in Pudong, Shanghai, for the facility, which would mirror Tesla’s first restaurant and charging hub that opened in Hollywood, California, earlier this month. Tesla’s Hollywood diner, which opened on July 21, features 80 V4 Superchargers, two 66-foot LED movie screens, and a 24-hour restaurant with seating for over 250 guests. The…

Chinese car brands are continuing their rapid expansion across European markets, with sales in the first half of 2025 surging 91 percent year-on-year to 347,135 units, according to new data from market research firm Jato Dynamics. This brought their market share across 28 European countries to a record 5.1 percent, nearly double the 2.7 percent figure recorded in the same period last year. The growth puts Chinese brands just behind Mercedes-Benz, which held a 5.2 percent market share in the same period, and ahead of Ford, which accounted for 3.8 percent. The report notes that in June alone, Chinese automakers…

Great Wall Motor has offered a first glimpse of a new high-performance supercar, marking a significant step beyond its traditional SUV and pickup truck lineup. The Chinese automaker, headquartered in Baoding, unveiled the veiled silhouette of the vehicle in a photo shared by chairman Wei Jianjun on social media platform Weibo. The image, featuring Wei and top executives posing next to the shrouded vehicle, comes as Great Wall Motor commemorates its 35th anniversary. Wei’s post hinted at the significance of the model, which will be the company’s first foray into the supercar segment—a category dominated by legacy players like Ferrari…

China is reinforcing its commitment to electrification in the transport sector, with Beijing becoming the latest major city to ban new gasoline vehicles from entering the ride-hailing market, according to state-affiliated China Automotive News. The restriction, effective from July 20, prohibits the registration of new fuel-powered vehicles on ride-hailing platforms in the capital. It marks a tightening of earlier rules, which had already barred older gasoline cars with sub-National 6 emission standards from operating in the sector. Drivers attempting to register vehicles now receive notices requiring them to switch to “green-plate” vehicles, a designation used for new energy vehicles (NEVs).…

China’s cumulative power battery installation reached 299.6 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in the first half of 2025, up 47.3% year-on-year, according to data released by the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA). The figures reflect sustained growth in the country’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sector, alongside signs of a gradual shift toward a more diversified battery supply chain. CATL remained the market leader with 128.6 GWh installed, representing 43.05% of the total, though its market share declined by 3.33 percentage points from a year earlier. BYD ranked second with 70.37 GWh and a 23.55% share, down 1.55 percentage points. Combined, CATL and…