Author: Jackson Han

The European Union has slightly revised its proposed tariffs on electric vehicles (EVs) imported from China following consultations with affected companies, Bloomberg reported on June 26, citing sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, SAIC Motor Corp will now face additional tariffs of 37.6 percent, down from the initially proposed 38.1 percent. Similarly, Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd will see tariffs at 19.9 percent, slightly lower than the previous 20 percent. Meanwhile, BYD’s tariff remains unchanged at 17.4 percent. See also: China’s EV Production to Surpass 10 Million Units in 2024 The new provisional rates are set to be imposed…

CATL has reported progress in its electric manned aircraft partnership project, targeting a range of about 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers by 2027-2028, according to Chairman Robin Zeng. Zeng disclosed this information at the 15th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions, also known as the Summer Davos Forum, in Dalian, China. This marks the first time the company has revealed details about the range of its electric aircraft. See also: Rolls-Royce and CATL Collaborate on Energy Storage Solution for European Market CATL has successfully test-flown a 4-ton civil electric aircraft and plans to introduce an 8-ton civil electric aircraft…

Hyundai Motor Group has introduced autonomous park and charge robots, showcasing a glimpse of the future of parking technology. The South Korean automaker recently released a video demonstrating the capabilities of these innovative robots. Describing the robots, Hyundai Motor Group stated, “No more parking stress—leave it to the robots. These parking robots lift the wheels of the vehicle and can maneuver in any direction to park your car with precision.” See also: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Sets New Pikes Peak Records in Electric Modified and Production SUV/Crossover Classes The autonomous parking robots are capable of carrying vehicles weighing up to 2.2…

China’s BYD Co. has launched its third electric vehicle in Japan, the Seal electric sedan, in an effort to gain traction in a market largely dominated by hybrids and domestic brands. The Seal electric sedan went on sale for ¥5.28 million ($33,100) with a battery capacity of 82 kilowatt hours, with an all-wheel drive model priced at ¥6.05 million. See also: BYD Finalizes Plans to Enter South Korean Passenger EV Market with Three Models BYD has faced challenges in the Japanese passenger vehicle market, where hybrids remain popular and loyalty to domestic brands like Toyota Motor Corp. is strong. In 2023,…

BYD Insurance, the property insurance subsidiary of Chinese automaker BYD, has announced the expansion of its car insurance offerings in 7 major provinces in China, marking a strategic move to diversify its business and leverage its expertise in the industry. The expansion comes as BYD aims to strengthen its position in the insurance market, following in the footsteps of other new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturers such as Tesla, Xpeng, Nio, and Li Auto, which have ventured into the car insurance market in recent years. See also: BYD Finalizes Plans to Enter South Korean Passenger EV Market with Three Models Through its…

South Korean radar solutions company bitSensing announced on Wednesday that it has successfully secured KRW 35 billion (USD 25 million) in Series B funding. The funding round was led by HL Mando, an existing investor, with participation from new investors including Korea Development Bank, IBK Industrial Bank of Korea, Woori Financial Capital, Life Asset Management, and Samchully Investment. This latest investment brings bitSensing’s cumulative funding to KRW 63 billion. Established in 2018 by a team of automotive radar experts, bitSensing has experienced rapid growth, expanding from its initial three employees to a current team of 86, with 70% dedicated to…

Canada is on the brink of imposing tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs), following in the footsteps of the US and Europe, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move comes as Canadian regulators announced plans last month to mirror the increased taxes on vehicle imports from China seen in other major markets. See also: EU to Impose Tariffs on Chinese EVs, Excluding Tesla, in Anti-Subsidy Move The surge in Chinese EV imports to Canada has been dramatic, jumping from CAD $100 million in 2022 to CAD $2.2 billion this year, with passenger vehicles arriving at the Vancouver port from…

China’s burgeoning electric vehicle (EV) sedan segment welcomed the ArcFox αS5, the latest offering from ArcFox, a dedicated EV brand under BAIC, which debuted over the weekend. Measuring 4,820 mm in length, 1,930 mm in width, and 1,480 mm in height, with a 2,900 mm wheelbase, the ArcFox αS5 boasts a sleek and aerodynamic exterior, achieving an exceptionally low drag coefficient of 0.1925 Cd. Positioned as a mid-size electric car, it competes directly with the BYD Seal and is available in three trims: 560Max, 708Max, and 650Ultra. In its 560Max configuration, the ArcFox αS5 is equipped with a basic 65…

The Fraunhofer Research Centre for Battery Cell Production FFB and engineering service provider PEM Motion have joined forces to drive technological advancements in battery cell production through collaborative research and development efforts. The agreement aims to facilitate technology transfer between academia and industry, fostering innovation and enhancing the competitiveness of the battery industry, particularly in Germany and Europe. By pooling their expertise, the partners seek to tackle the challenges associated with planning and establishing battery factories in Europe. PEM Motion will contribute consulting and engineering services in electromobility, covering everything from product design to business development. Christoph Deutskens, Managing Director…

Tesla has started deliveries of the updated Model 3 Performance in China, ahead of the third quarter as expected when the model was unveiled in the country two months ago. The US electric vehicle (EV) maker announced the commencement of Model 3 Performance deliveries in a post on its WeChat account today, emphasizing the model’s 3.1-second 0-100 kilometer-per-hour sprint and 261 km/h top speed. Tesla began pre-sales of the new Model 3, or Model 3 Highland, in China on September 1, 2023, offering an entry-level rear-wheel-drive version and a long-range all-wheel-drive version. Both variants of the new Model 3 commenced…

Montgomery County, Maryland, in partnership with AlphaStruxure, has commenced construction on what will be the largest renewable energy-powered bus depot in the United States. This innovative project will also mark the East Coast’s first transit depot microgrid to produce green hydrogen onsite. The 5.65-megawatt (MW) microgrid project, facilitated through Energy as a Service provider AlphaStruxure with zero upfront costs, will integrate electric bus charging and onsite green hydrogen production. These operations will be powered by solar energy and battery storage, enabling the depot to function independently in “island mode.” Located at the David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance and Transit Operations…

Huawei and Chery have joined forces to develop the Luxeed R7, the latest addition to the Luxeed brand and the first coupe SUV under Huawei’s HIMA (Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance) business. Richard Yu, Huawei’s managing director and chairman of the intelligent vehicle solutions business unit, made the announcement on Weibo, highlighting the Luxeed R7 as a significant step for HIMA. “The Luxeed R7 embodies our commitment to innovation and revolution in the automotive industry,” said Yu. “Its sleek design and advanced features, coupled with Huawei’s smart technologies, set a new standard for luxury and excellence in the era of smart…

Zeekr announced major strides in its global expansion efforts with the signing of cooperation agreements in Indonesia and Malaysia, marking its official entry into these markets. The agreements were inked with Indonesia’s PT Premium Auto Prima in Jakarta and Malaysia’s Sentinel Automotive Sdn. Bhd. in Kuala Lumpur. The move will see Zeekr establishing its initial store in Jakarta, Indonesia, with plans for subsequent outlets in key cities such as Surabaya and Bandung already in motion. In Malaysia, the first Zeekr store is set to open in Kuala Lumpur, with future outlets planned for major cities like Selangor and Penang later…

Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle (EV) subsidiary of Geely Holding Group, has initiated mass production of the right-hand drive variant of its Zeekr X SUV, marking a significant step towards its expansion into overseas markets. The company announced that deliveries of the first right-hand drive Zeekr X city SUVs are scheduled to commence in the third quarter of this year. In a recent Weibo post, Zeekr stated, “Zeekr will fully enter the right-hand drive market as globalization continues to accelerate,” highlighting the strategic importance of this move. See also: Zeekr 001 and Zeekr X Achieve 5-Star Safety Ratings from Euro NCAP…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng has announced the appointment of JuanMa Lopez, a seasoned design veteran with extensive experience at prestigious car companies, as its vice president of design center. Lopez, who previously served as the head of Genesis Design Europe and held key design roles at Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Audi Group, brings 24 years of industrial design experience to Xpeng. He will play a crucial role in driving design innovation and business transformation at the company. According to Xpeng, Lopez’s appointment comes at a strategic time as the company prepares to launch a strong product cycle in the…

Ola Kaellenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, has indicated that a decision from the European Union regarding import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles is imminent. Speaking at the CAR Symposium 2024, Kaellenius expressed his expectation for a resolution on the matter. “The decision is imminent,” Kaellenius stated at the industry conference. Originally expected this week, the decision was postponed until after the upcoming election in the bloc. The European Commission initiated an investigation in October to determine if fully-electric cars manufactured in China were benefitting from distortive subsidies, potentially warranting additional tariffs. Kaellenius reiterated his opposition to restrictions but acknowledged that some…

Tesla reported a rebound in China-made vehicle sales last month, but the figures remained below the levels seen a year earlier, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) on Thursday. The electric vehicle maker’s China sales reached 72,573 vehicles in May, including both domestic sales and exports, representing a 16.74% increase from April’s 62,167 units. However, this figure marked a 6.59% decline from the 77,695 units sold in May last year. In the January-May period, Tesla China sold a total of 355,616 vehicles, down 7.12% from the 382,859 units sold in the same period last year.…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Nio (NYSE: NIO) marked a significant milestone in May with record deliveries, despite not introducing any all-new models so far this year, except for minor facelifts. According to data released by the company, Nio delivered a record 20,544 vehicles in May, surpassing the previous high of 20,462 vehicles delivered in July 2023. See also: Nio Power Secures $207 Million Investment to Boost Infrastructure Expansion This represents a substantial increase of 233.78 percent from the 6,155 vehicles delivered in May last year, and a notable 31.52 percent rise from the 15,620 deliveries in April. Nio’s SUV lineup…

Li Auto, one of China’s major extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) manufacturers, rebounded from a dip in April to achieve a new delivery high for the year in May. The company announced that it delivered 35,020 vehicles in May, marking a 35.8 percent increase from April and a 23.85 percent increase year-on-year. While May’s deliveries represent the highest for a single month so far in 2024, they remain below the record set in December 2023, when Li Auto delivered 50,353 vehicles. The company’s cumulative deliveries since inception now stand at 774,571 vehicles. See also: Li Auto Reportedly Implements Significant Layoffs Amid Sales…

Chinese automaker XPeng has set an ambitious goal to achieve Level 4 autonomous driving in China by next year, as outlined at an AI Day event on May 20 and reiterated during an earnings call the following day. Level 4 automation, defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers, allows vehicles to drive themselves in specific locations and circumstances without human intervention. See also: Xpeng CEO Welcomes Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Tech to China XPeng is confident in reaching this milestone, citing the rapid rollout of its XNGP (Navigation Guided Pilot) driver-assistance technology, which currently operates in nearly 250 cities in China. The…