Author: Jackson Han

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…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng announced that the 100,000th Mona M03 sedan has rolled off the production line, marking a significant milestone for the company’s latest model. Xpeng said on Weibo that the achievement, reached just seven months after the Mona M03’s launch, sets a record for the fastest production of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) by a new Chinese automaker. The event took place at Xpeng’s Zhaoqing factory in Guangdong, attended by company chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng, along with Mona M03 owners. See also: Xpeng to Launch Mona M03 Max With Enhanced Smart Driving in May The Mona…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Li Auto announced plans to open-source its proprietary automotive operating system, Halo OS, marking a direct challenge to the dominance of AUTOSAR, the widely used closed-source industry standard. Speaking at a forum in Beijing, Li Auto founder and CEO Li Xiang said the move makes Li Auto the first automaker to open-source a vehicle operating system. See also: Li Auto Prepares to Launch Updated Models in May with Smart Driving Upgrades “We are willing to promote the open source of the vehicle operating system to achieve a new height of performance,” Li said, according to remarks…

Lynk & Co has started pre-sales for its largest SUV to date, the Lynk & Co 900, targeting China’s growing large SUV market. The model, first unveiled in January, is available in four variants with pre-sale prices ranging from RMB 330,000 ($45,460) to RMB 435,000. Shortly after opening reservations, Lynk & Co reported receiving more than 8,200 pre-orders within an hour. Customers who place reservations now can access limited-time benefits, with the official launch scheduled for late April. See also: Lynk & Co 08 Hybrid SUV Launches in Europe with 200 km Electric Range, Starting at $55,630 The Lynk &…

Global energy demand surged in 2024, fueled by rising electricity consumption, according to a new report released by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Electricity use jumped by nearly 1,100 terawatt-hours (TWh), marking a 4.3% increase—almost twice the annual average growth rate of the past decade. The spike in electricity demand was attributed to multiple factors, including the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, soaring global temperatures that drove record cooling needs, increased industrial activity, and the rising energy consumption of data centers and artificial intelligence applications. Renewables Lead Energy Expansion The IEA’s Global Energy Review highlighted the critical role of renewables…

BYD has set a sales target of 5.5 million vehicles for 2025, marking a 29% increase from the 4.27 million units sold in 2024, company chairman Wang Chuanfu told a small group, according to a report by Chinese media outlet LatePost. The target includes over 800,000 vehicles for overseas markets, nearly doubling its 2024 overseas sales of 417,204 units. BYD, which has exceeded its external sales targets each year since 2021, typically sets both internal and external goals, with the internal figure being more aggressive, LatePost reported. “2025 is a big year for BYD’s products, with nearly 20 new models…

The BYD Sealion 05 EV is the latest addition to BYD’s Sealion lineup, offering a blend of practicality, advanced technology, and a competitive driving range. Designed as a compact electric SUV, the Sealion 05 EV is built on BYD’s e-Platform 3.0 Evo architecture and features a modern, minimalistic design with a spacious interior. The model is targeted at overseas markets, continuing BYD’s strategy of expanding its electric vehicle presence globally. Design and Dimensions The BYD Sealion 05 EV follows the brand’s Ocean Aesthetics design language, characterized by sleek headlights connected by an LED strip and a streamlined front end. Its…