Author: Jackson Han

The European Commission should reject proposals from automakers to ease 2025 CO2 emission targets and related fines, two European electric transport groups said in a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday. The letter, seen by Reuters, urged the EU executive to maintain existing climate goals and resist calls for a slower phase-in of emissions limits or a multi-year averaging system for fines. The groups argued that any penalties should be allocated to funding the bloc’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs). See also: EU Commission Allocates €422 Million for Charging and Hydrogen Infrastructure Projects EU automakers have…

Xiaomi EV has filed for regulatory approval of a new dual-motor variant of its upcoming YU7 SUV, marking the third version of the model submitted for clearance. The filing appears in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s (MIIT) latest regulatory catalog, open for public feedback from February 20-26. Inclusion in the catalog is one of the final steps before a model can be sold in the Chinese market. See also: Xiaomi YU7 Electric SUV Revealed in Road Tests, Set to Compete with Tesla Model Y in Mid-2025 The newly registered variant, carrying the model number XMA6500LBEVA2, is a five-seater…

Nio’s sub-brand Onvo has officially named its second model the Onvo L90, dismissing earlier reports that suggested it would be called the Onvo L80. The announcement was made by Onvo president Alan Ai during a live video stream with Charles Zhang, founder of Chinese news portal Sohu. “I had so much fun talking with Charles today that I revealed the Onvo L90 will be coming soon,” Ai wrote on Weibo. Positioned as Onvo’s flagship SUV, the L90 will feature a three-row seating configuration, targeting large families. Ai confirmed that the model will debut in the second quarter of 2025 and…

Li Auto plans to integrate LiDAR sensors as a standard feature on all new models this year, including updated versions of its extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) and upcoming battery electric vehicles (BEVs), Chinese media outlet 36kr reported on Wednesday. The move comes as competition in China’s smart driving sector intensifies. Li Auto currently offers two smart driving solutions: AD Pro for lower-priced variants and AD Max for premium versions. AD Pro, powered by Horizon Robotics’ Journey 5 chip with a computing power of 128 TOPS, currently lacks LiDAR and relies on supplier QCraft for its algorithms, limiting its autonomous driving…

Denza, the premium brand of BYD, has started pre-sales for its latest SUV model, the N9, with pricing between $62,100 and $75,900, the company announced on Wednesday. The move comes just three days after launching the updated N7 SUV. Customers can secure a pre-order for $276, which includes benefits such as priority access to the limited first edition. The Denza N9 is a six-seat hybrid SUV measuring 5,258 mm in length, 2,030 mm in width, and 1,830 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3,125 mm. See also: Everything You Should Know About Denza N9 Competing in the same segment…

Nio will begin deliveries of its flagship executive sedan, the ET9, at the end of March, company founder and CEO William Li said on Tuesday. The announcement refines the company’s earlier plan to start deliveries sometime in March. Li provided the update during a conversation on Weibo with Richard Yu, managing director of Huawei’s intelligent vehicle solutions business unit, inviting him to test the ET9 at that time. Yu had previously praised the model at an event on Monday while discussing the safety performance of the Maextro S800 luxury sedan. See also: Nio Denies Layoff Rumors, Takes Legal Action Against…

Niohas refuted recent rumors of large-scale layoffs, calling them “ridiculously untrue” in a statement posted on its mobile app late Wednesday. The Chinese electric vehicle maker stated that its legal department has reported the matter to the police and warned that the individual responsible for spreading the false claim should be concerned about potential consequences. The company reiterated that it is actively recruiting for several positions and welcoming new employees. The denial follows the circulation of a screenshot on social media earlier in the day, where a user alleged that an unnamed “luxury car company” was cutting 50% of its…

Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer Foxconn has proposed a partnership with Japanese automaker Honda, Japan’s Nikkei newspaper reported on Friday. The proposal includes a joint venture involving Honda’s rivals Nissan and Mitsubishi, according to the report. See also: Foxconn Open to Stake in Nissan for Potential Cooperation Foxconn’s move follows the collapse of merger talks between Nissan and Honda, which began in December but ended on Feb. 13 due to disagreements, including Honda’s proposal to make Nissan a subsidiary. The merger, if successful, would have created the world’s third-largest automaker by sales volume. Earlier this month, Foxconn Chairman Young Liu said the…

Li Auto has reorganized its management structure, with founder, chairman, and CEO Li Xiang shifting his primary focus to artificial intelligence (AI), as the company accelerates its ambition to become a leading global AI firm by 2030. The restructuring, implemented after the 2025 Chinese New Year holiday, assigns President Ma Donghui to lead the company’s smart car strategy, overseeing planning and execution in the automotive sector, according to a report by local media outlet 21jingji, citing multiple sources. See also: Li Auto Begins Mass Production of In-House SiC Power Chips for Upcoming BEV Models Ma has also taken over as…

Tesla’s efforts to launch its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software in China are encountering fresh obstacles, as regulatory approval is reportedly becoming entangled in broader U.S.-China trade negotiations. Chinese authorities are considering leveraging Tesla’s FSD license as a bargaining tool in discussions with the U.S. administration, following recent tariff increases on Chinese imports, according to a report from The Financial Times. See also: Tesla China Launches Free 30-Day Trial of Enhanced Autopilot for Chinese New Year Tesla had originally planned to introduce FSD in China and Europe by early 2025, but the timeline now appears uncertain. Beijing has not provided a…

Tesla has expanded its discount offerings on the 2024 Cybertruck models in the United States, providing reductions of up to $4,000 for standard versions and $6,000 for the “Foundations Series.” This move comes as the company addresses an accumulation of unsold inventory. The automaker faced challenges in selling the Cybertruck throughout 2024, its inaugural full production year. In efforts to boost sales, Tesla has previously modified vehicle badges and adjusted market strategies. Despite these efforts, inventory levels have remained high in both the U.S. and Canada. See also: Tesla Cybertruck Lead Engineer Offers Sneak Peek at Upcoming Off-Road Armor Complicating…

SWTCH Energy, a prominent provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions, has been selected to manage one of Washington State’s largest multi-family EV charging deployments. The initiative will see SWTCH Energy’s smart charging platform overseeing 2,500 charging stations across 136 Greystar properties, significantly enhancing the accessibility and convenience of EV charging for thousands of residents. This large-scale deployment is supported by a $25.6 million grant from the Washington Department of Commerce’s Electric Vehicle Charging Program. The grant aims to address the growing need for accessible EV charging infrastructure as adoption rates increase in the state. As part…

BYD has showcased its Denza Z9 GT’s remarkable abilities, including the ability to crab-walk around obstacles and parallel-park in tight spaces, as the electric shooting brake nears its global release in Europe and other regions. This new feature highlights BYD’s innovation in advanced steering technology, particularly its 20-degree rear wheel steering system. The Denza Z9 GT, which is available in both electric and plug-in hybrid variants, boasts rear steering motors on each rear wheel, offering impressive maneuverability. See also: BYD’s Denza Z9 GT Sets Record as Fastest Luxury NEV to Reach 10,000 Deliveries https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgnmQAyNN9s With a turning radius of just…

BYD has secured mining rights for two plots of land in Brazil’s lithium-rich Jequitinhonha Valley, marking the company’s entry into the mining sector in its largest market outside China. The acquisition, made through its subsidiary Exploracao Mineral do Brasil, occurred in late 2023, according to a report by Reuters. The two plots span 852 hectares (8.5 square kilometers) in the town of Coronel Murta, located in the state of Minas Gerais, commonly referred to as Brazil’s Lithium Valley. This move is part of BYD’s broader efforts to expand its footprint in Brazil, a key market for the company as it…

A new automotive partnership between Chinese tech giant Huawei and SAIC Motor has been finalized, aiming to create a new brand under Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) business. The partnership was reported by local media outlet 36kr, which cited industry sources familiar with the development. The new brand, tentatively named Shangjie (尚界) in Chinese, will be the fifth under Huawei’s HIMA initiative. Huawei has developed three approaches to partnering with automakers, with the creation of a new brand being the most involved approach. The brand, which was initially called Zhixuan before being rebranded to HIMA in November 2023, allows…

Austrian automotive supplier Magna and Mercedes-Benz have deepened their long-standing partnership, with Magna confirming that production of the electric drive system for the all-electric G-Class has been underway in Lannach, Austria, since last year. The electric G-Class, officially named the G 580 with EQ Technology, is produced at Magna’s Graz facility, where combustion engine versions have been built since 1979. The battery-powered model, introduced in 2024, retains the ladder-frame design and off-road characteristics of its fuel-powered counterpart but incorporates an advanced four-motor electric drive system developed by Magna. See also: Chinese Automakers in Talks with Magna Steyr for Local EV…

The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has achieved a milestone by setting a lap time of 1:26.741 seconds at the Chengdu Tianfu Circuit in China, making it the fastest four-door production car on the track. This record surpasses the 1:34.905 lap time set by a BMW M3, although the specific modifications made to the M3 remain unclear. Equipped with a powerful triple-motor all-wheel-drive system generating 1,548 horsepower, the SU7 Ultra delivers impressive acceleration, reaching 0 to 100 km/h in just 1.98 seconds and completing a quarter-mile in 9.23 seconds. The vehicle’s top speed exceeds 350 km/h, and it boasts a 5.2C maximum…

Tesla’s retail sales in China declined in January, impacted by seasonal factors similar to other electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) released on Friday. The U.S. automaker sold 63,238 vehicles from its Shanghai plant last month, including 29,535 units for export. Domestic sales totaled 33,703 vehicles, down 15.49% from 39,881 a year earlier and 59.36% lower than the 82,927 units sold in December. See also: Tesla’s Shanghai Megafactory Begins Production of Energy Storage Products The decline in sales was partially attributed to the Chinese New Year holiday, which ran from January 28…

Nio’s battery swap network in Shanghai is nearing profitability as the trend in the battery swap business gains momentum, the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker’s founder and CEO William Li said. Li made the remarks in a Weibo post on Friday, sharing a clip from a February 8 livestream on Douyin, a short-form video platform. He emphasized that 2024 would be a significant year for expanding Nio’s battery swap infrastructure, aiming to make the service as convenient as refueling a gasoline vehicle for users of Nio, Onvo, and partner brands. See also: Nio Reports Record 136,720 Battery Swaps in a…

Shares in Chinese automakers Xpeng and Geely experienced significant drops on Tuesday amid concerns that they may struggle to compete with BYD’s latest move. BYD announced it would provide its “God’s Eye” advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) at no extra charge across 21 models, including its budget-friendly Seagull, which is priced at $9,555. This decision marks a shift in the competitive landscape as BYD offers features akin to Tesla’s smart driving capabilities without additional costs. See also: BYD to Roll Out ‘God’s Eye’ Autonomous Features to More Affordable EVs Xpeng’s shares fell by 5.9%, their largest drop in two months, while…