Author: Jackson Han

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Li Auto said on Tuesday it will release its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 on March 14, ahead of U.S. market hours. The company will hold an earnings call at 8:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern time (8:00 p.m. Beijing time) the same day to discuss the results and provide an update on its outlook, it said in a statement. See also: Li Auto Unveils Li i8, Its First All-Electric SUV, with Official Images Released Li Auto delivered 158,696 vehicles in the fourth quarter, falling short of its earlier guidance of…

China’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery industry is witnessing a rebound as demand picks up and major manufacturers secure new orders, following a period of price declines that impacted profitability. Several LFP producers have reported an increase in capacity utilization, with some running at full production to meet rising market demand, according to a report from Securities Times. “Mainstream LFP makers are now generally seeing an increase in capacity utilization, especially with strong demand for high-end products,” the publication quoted a lithium battery materials industry insider as saying. See also: China Dominates Global EV Battery Supply Chain, Study Finds In…

Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker BYD is set to introduce an advanced on-vehicle drone system in partnership with drone manufacturer DJI, as it moves to incorporate drone technology into more of its models. BYD announced on its Weibo account on Saturday that it would collaborate with DJI on March 2 for the launch of a smart in-vehicle drone system. “With eyes that can think, frame every moment of the excitement of traveling,” the company wrote, suggesting the system is designed to allow drones to track vehicles in motion. The automaker previously integrated a drone system into one of its…

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has placed an order for 58 Enviro400EV electric double-decker buses from British manufacturer Alexander Dennis, with delivery scheduled before the end of the year, the company announced. The Enviro400EV was developed to meet Transport for London (TfL) specifications and comes with a standard 472 kWh battery, accommodating up to 87 passengers. See also: Liverpool Allocates £26 Million for New Electric Double-Decker Buses as Part of Green Transport Initiative A smaller 354 kWh variant can transport up to 96 passengers, though Alexander Dennis has not disclosed which version Liverpool has ordered. The manufacturer highlighted the…

Tesla is utilizing publicly available videos of Chinese roads and traffic signs to train its Full Self-Driving (FSD) algorithm, as the company navigates data restrictions in China, CEO Elon Musk said. Musk made the statement on X, the social media platform he owns, in response to a discussion about the performance of Tesla’s smart driving features in China. See also: Tesla Deploys U.S. Engineers to China for FSD Development, Advances Local Algorithm Optimization Tesla began rolling out software update version 2024.45.32.12 to eligible vehicles in China, introducing advanced driver-assistance capabilities similar to FSD in the United States. However, the update…

Xiaomi EV, the electric vehicle unit of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi, announced on Monday that it will officially launch the SU7 Ultra, the high-performance variant of its debut electric sedan, on February 27 at 7 p.m. Beijing time. The SU7 Ultra was first unveiled on October 29, 2023, and entered pre-sales at a price of RMB 814,900 ($112,420). Xiaomi previously reported that the model received 3,680 pre-orders within the first 10 minutes of pre-sales. See also: Xiaomi SU7 Ultra Gets a Sleek Cosmic Silver Makeover The SU7 Ultra is positioned as a flagship offering, priced nearly four times higher than…

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…