Author: Jackson Han

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…

China’s electric vehicle (EV) market is booming, with sales surging and job growth accelerating, particularly in the private sector. BYD, China’s EV leader, has seen its workforce expand rapidly, adding nearly 500,000 employees since 2019 and now employing over 700,000 people. This growth has positioned BYD’s workforce roughly double that of Toyota’s, reflecting China’s dominance in the EV market. According to filings, China’s total workforce reached about 30.57 million employees by the end of 2023, a 13% increase from 2019. Private companies, particularly in the EV industry, accounted for 81% of this growth, adding 2.85 million jobs. China’s EV market…

Nio Power, the power unit of Nio, has received a significant strategic investment of RMB 1.5 billion ($207 million), marking its first external funding to support its ongoing infrastructure development efforts. The investment, led by Wuhan Guangchuang Emerging Technology Venture Capital Fund Phase I, was announced by Nio on May 31. According to Nio, the funding will be utilized to advance research and development, manufacturing, and operational capabilities in key areas such as charging, battery swapping, energy storage, battery services, and the energy internet. See also: Nio Forges Ahead with European Expansion, Opens Amsterdam Showroom Amid Tariff Uncertainty In addition to…

BYD has launched its latest plug-in hybrid technology, marking a significant advancement in fuel efficiency and cost savings. The new technology, unveiled by BYD’s chairman Wang Chuanfu, achieves a record low fuel consumption of 2.9 liters per 100 kilometers (62.1 miles) on depleted batteries. With a fully charged battery and a full gasoline tank, the fifth-generation hybrid technology offers a driving range of 2,100 kilometers, Wang announced at an event in Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province and the location of BYD’s first automaking factory. See also: BYD Leads Week-Over-Week Surge in EV Sales in China, Sets New Record BYD has…

The premium electric car brand HiPhi, part of Chinese manufacturer Human Horizons, is poised for a significant restructuring following a potential financial infusion of up to one billion US dollars. While details remain somewhat unclear, recent developments suggest a path forward for the struggling brand. A recent official announcement indicates that HiPhi may receive a capital injection from the iAuto Group, an automotive platform registered in the U.S. state of Delaware. The iAuto Group is described as “focused on enhancing the value of promising automotive firms.” This injection is expected to enable HiPhi to resume production. See also: HiPhi Reportedly…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) has entered into a 10-year strategic partnership agreement with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) startup Neta Auto. The agreement, signed on May 24 in Shanghai, where Neta is headquartered, was attended by key figures including Robin Zeng, chairman and CEO of CATL; Fang Yunzhou, founder and chairman of Neta; and Zhang Yong, co-founder and CEO of Neta, according to press releases from both companies. This partnership, effective from 2025 to 2034, designates CATL as Neta’s preferred partner for vehicle power batteries. CATL will supply Neta with competitive power battery products and services, solidifying their collaboration…

The Citroën ë-C3, an electric vehicle tailored for the Indian market, is encountering a lukewarm response from retail customers but gaining ground among fleet buyers, underscoring the evolving dynamics of India’s electric vehicle (EV) landscape. Manufactured locally with cost-saving modifications, the India-specific Citroën ë-C3 debuted in February 2023 but has struggled to capture the attention of individual buyers. In a bid to boost its presence, Citroën secured a deal to supply 4,000 units to BluSmart Mobility, a leading EV service provider, and has initiated delivery with an initial batch of 125 units. Following this, a similar agreement was reached with…

The anticipation for Kia’s entry into the electric pickup truck market is heating up as the first sightings of its electric pickup testing in the US have surfaced, suggesting that a rival to the Ford F-150 Lightning might be on the horizon. Kia has already announced its intention to launch an electric truck in the US as part of its broader electric vehicle (EV) strategy. During its investor day in 2022, Kia unveiled plans to introduce two electric pickup trucks: one designed specifically as an EV pickup and another strategically aimed at emerging markets. These electric trucks are key components…