Author: Jackson Han

Tesla’s Chinese sales staff are under increasing pressure as the U.S. automaker faces intensifying competition in the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) market, according to a report by local outlet Jiemian News citing current and former employees. The report says Tesla sales teams in China are being pushed to work seven days a week, with working hours from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, as the company attempts to meet ambitious sales targets. These efforts come as Tesla’s grip on the Chinese market loosens in the face of growing challenges from local rivals including BYD, Nio, Li Auto, and smartphone…

Huawei  unveiled a new fully liquid-cooled supercharger with a peak power output of 1.5 megawatts, as competition escalates among Chinese companies to develop ultra-fast charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs). The new charger, introduced in Shanghai, is designed primarily for heavy-duty electric trucks, though Huawei said it is also compatible with passenger vehicles. The company claims the unit is the industry’s first MW-class supercharging solution with full liquid-cooling capabilities. See also: Huawei-Backed Aito Launches M5 Ultra and Updates M9 SUV in China According to Huawei, the charger can deliver up to 2,400A of current when using two charging guns simultaneously.…

Tesla has introduced a new five-year, zero-interest financing offer in China for its refreshed Model Y, intensifying its promotional efforts to spur demand in an increasingly competitive electric vehicle (EV) market. Chinese customers purchasing any Model Y variant before June 30 can now benefit from the five-year interest-free financing, the U.S. EV maker said in a statement posted on its official Weibo account. The offer includes a minimum down payment of RMB 79,900 and monthly payments starting at RMB 3,060. See also: Tesla Postpones Rollout of Cheaper Model Y Variant Tesla began deliveries of the updated five-seat Model Y in…

Chinese automaker BYD has filed the Sealion 06 SUV for regulatory approval, marking the latest addition to its Sealion lineup, according to a filing released by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The Sealion 06 appears in MIIT’s latest public catalog of vehicles eligible for sale in China, which is open for comment between April 17 and 23. Inclusion in the catalog is the final regulatory step before new models can enter the market. See also: BYD Unveils Sealion 05 DM-i and Second-Generation Song Pro DM-i Hybrid Models The Sealion 06 will be offered in six versions, including…

Nio’s sub-brand Onvo has filed for approval of its second vehicle, the L90 electric SUV, as the model moves closer to its public debut at the Shanghai auto show later this month. The Onvo L90 appeared in China’s latest regulatory filing catalog published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) on Wednesday. The filing, open for public comment from April 17–23, is a key step required before a vehicle can be sold in the Chinese market. See also: Nio’s Onvo Confirms Second Model as L90, Set for Q3 Launch The L90 will be available in both single-motor and…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng has completed a comprehensive review of its supply chain to safeguard operations from potential disruption linked to escalating trade tensions and tariffs between the United States and China. The company reported that its current sales have not been affected by the geopolitical developments. However, it continues to monitor the situation closely, acknowledging the challenges posed by global economic uncertainty. See also: Xpeng to Begin Mass Production of In-House Turing Autonomous Driving Chip in Q2 In parallel, Xpeng is moving forward with the mass production of its self-developed autonomous driving chip, named Turing, expected to begin…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng is preparing to begin mass production of its in-house autonomous driving chip, known as Turing, in the second quarter, according to a report by local media outlet 36kr. The chip will debut in one of Xpeng’s upcoming EV models as part of the company’s broader effort to gain control over its core autonomous driving technology. The Turing chip integrates two proprietary neural network processing units tailored specifically for high-performance inference tasks. It is designed to offer 20% higher utilization efficiency compared to general-purpose automotive chips and is capable of supporting large-scale models with up to…

Nio’s energy subsidiary, Nio Power, has entered into a new strategic partnership to expand its battery swap infrastructure in China, this time joining forces with a local infrastructure operator in Yunnan province. The move is part of a broader push to extend the company’s electric vehicle (EV) energy replenishment network across the country. The agreement, signed with a subsidiary of Yunnan Jiaotou Group Operation Development on April 11, outlines plans to jointly develop integrated service stations featuring battery swap, charging, and energy storage capabilities along highway routes in Yunnan. The cooperation will also explore linking battery swap stations to virtual…

Nio received more than 3,500 firm orders during China’s Qingming Festival holiday from April 4 to April 6 after rolling out enhanced purchase incentives for its 2024 lineup, according to a report by local media outlet Jiemian. The surge in orders follows the introduction of extended complimentary battery swap services aimed at stimulating demand. Between April 3 and April 30, customers placing deposits on eligible 2024 models—ET5, ET5 Touring, ES6, EC6, ET7, EC7, and ES8—can benefit from an additional five years of free battery swaps, capped at 240 uses. See also: CATL in Talks to Acquire Controlling Stake in Nio…

Tesla’s retail sales in China rebounded sharply in March as seasonal demand improved, with 74,127 electric vehicles sold in the domestic market, up 18.8% from a year earlier, data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed on Wednesday. The U.S. electric vehicle maker sold a total of 78,828 vehicles in China last month, including 4,701 units exported from its Shanghai factory. While total March deliveries were down 11.5% from the same month last year, they rose 156.9% from February, signaling a recovery in demand after a typically slow start to the year. See also: Tesla China Developing Lower-Priced Model…

Chinese automaker BYD has reduced the starting price of its entry-level Seagull electric vehicle to 56,800 yuan ($7,800), deepening price cuts across its Ocean Series models as competition in the domestic electric vehicle (EV) market intensifies. The discounted price applies to the non-Smart Driving Vitality Edition, which previously retailed for 69,800 yuan ($9,500). The promotion marks BYD’s latest effort to maintain its lead in the world’s largest EV market, where automakers are aggressively slashing prices to attract cost-conscious buyers. See also: BYD’s Qin L EV Sees Strong Start with Over 10,000 Units Sold in First Week Launched last year, the…

Stellantis has ceased production of the Leapmotor T03 small electric vehicle at its Tychy plant in Poland and is considering alternative manufacturing locations in Europe, the company said on Tuesday. The decision to stop assembly of the Chinese-made model took effect on March 30. “While the company remains fully engaged in the launch of Leapmotor vehicles in Europe, at the moment it is evaluating different production options,” Stellantis said in a statement, without specifying future production sites. See also: Stellantis, Leapmotor Reconsider EV Production Site Amid EU-China Tensions Over Tariffs Stellantis did not disclose the reason behind the suspension of…

Xpeng has opened pre-sales for the 2025 X9 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), unveiling a series of hardware and design upgrades that accompany a higher starting price. The updated model starts at RMB 399,800 ($54,500), reflecting an increase of RMB 40,000, or 11.12%, over the previous version’s base price. The automaker said the 2025 X9 offers 496 upgrades, including enhancements to comfort and performance. “The new X9 comes with hardware upgrades worth up to RMB 80,000 and incorporates a 35 percent refresh in design and components,” the company said in a statement. See also: Xpeng Marks Milestone as 100,000th Mona M03 Rolls…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Nio has completed an equity placement of 136.8 million class A ordinary shares, raising approximately HK$4.03 billion ($520 million) in offshore transactions to non-U.S. persons, the company said. The share sale, priced at HK$29.46 per share, represents a 9.49 percent discount to Nio’s closing price of HK$32.55 on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on March 27, when the offering was first announced. The placement was executed with the support of Morgan Stanley, UBS, China International Capital Corporation, and Deutsche Bank as placing agents. See also: Nio Appoints New Onvo President as Alan Ai Steps Down Initially,…

Shares of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers listed in Hong Kong fell sharply on Monday, after former U.S. President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on imports, intensifying trade tensions and sparking a broader global market selloff. BYD dropped 11.15% to HK$333.00, while Nio declined 11.30% to HK$25.50. Xpeng fell 11.40% to HK$72.25 and Li Auto was down 10.82% to HK$86.95 in early Hong Kong trading. The steep losses came alongside broader declines in the market, with the Hang Seng Index sliding 9% and the Hang Seng Tech Index dropping more than 11%. See also: China Urges Auto Industry Consolidation to…

Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa has introduced 100 locally assembled electric buses on a newly launched Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route, according to a report by Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The buses, part of the city’s effort to reduce vehicle emissions and improve public transport, were assembled domestically using components imported from China. The vehicles were built by Belayneh Kindie Metal Engineering Complex and display the logo of Golden Dragon, a Chinese commercial vehicle manufacturer. While technical specifications such as charging locations or battery capacity were not disclosed, the deployment represents a milestone in the capital’s electrification plans. See also:…

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics (ITWM) are employing advanced simulation and measurement techniques to enhance the performance and durability of battery cells used in electric vehicles. The initiative aims to improve understanding of battery behavior during charging and discharging, as well as to optimize production processes and examine battery ageing. The results will be showcased at the Battery Show Europe 2025, taking place from June 3 to 5, where the institute plans to present an exhibit on inline layer thickness measurement of battery foil coatings. See also: Fraunhofer ISE Develops Medium-Voltage System for Fast-Charging Stations, Enhancing Flexibility…

Nio’s sub-brand Onvo has appointed Shen Fei as its new president after Alan Ai announced his departure from the role earlier on Today. Shen, previously head of Nio Power, confirmed his new position in a post on the Onvo App, marking his first public statement since the leadership transition. See also: Nio Surpasses 70 Million Battery Swaps, Expands Charging Infrastructure “As a veteran involved in building Nio Power’s service network, I take on a new challenge today and am confident that I’ll be joining you all on this new journey,” Shen wrote. “My team and I will continue to work…

Tesla saw a significant increase in sales of its China-made vehicles in March as production and deliveries stabilized following the Chinese New Year holiday, data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed on Wednesday. Tesla China delivered 78,828 vehicles last month, including those sold domestically and those exported, marking a 156.87% surge from February’s 30,688 units. However, the figure represented an 11.49% decline from 89,064 units in March 2023. See also: Global Protests Target Tesla Showrooms Amid Controversy Over Elon Musk’s Political Role In the first quarter, Tesla China sold a total of 172,754 vehicles, reflecting a 21.79% decrease…

Nio reported a modest rebound in deliveries for March, as both its main brand and sub-brand Onvo saw improved performance. The Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker delivered 15,039 vehicles last month, a 26.74% increase from 11,866 in the same period last year and a 14% rise from February’s 13,192 units, according to company data released Monday. The Nio brand contributed 10,219 deliveries, down 13.88% year-on-year but up 11.77% from February. Meanwhile, Onvo, Nio’s sub-brand, delivered 4,820 vehicles in March, marking a 19.04% increase from the previous month. Onvo, which launched its first model, the L60 SUV, in September 2024, has…