Author: Jackson Han

China FAW Group Corporation (FAW) is set to join the Nio-led battery swap alliance, becoming the seventh member to do so, according to a report by local media outlet Cailian. The battery swap alliance, which already includes GAC Group, Changan Automobile, Geely Holding, Chery, JAC, and Lotus, will now see FAW as its newest addition. Nio’s founder, chairman, and CEO, William Li, had previously indicated that more brands were expected to join the alliance in the future. Li views the battery swap business as akin to a cloud service and has started to consider its future beyond just the premium…

Nio has officially launched its latest offering, the Onvo L60 SUV, directly targeting Tesla’s popular Model Y but at a more affordable price point. The Onvo L60, built on a 900 V high-voltage architecture, boasts higher energy efficiency, with an impressive CLTC energy efficiency of 92.3 percent and the lowest wind resistance of any production SUV at 0.229 Cd, resulting in an energy consumption of just 12.1 kWh per 100 km. The Onvo L60 is believed to be the first production vehicle based on Nio’s next-generation vehicle platform, NT 3.0, although Nio is downplaying the vehicle platform narrative. The SUV…

Baidu’s smart driving arm, Apollo, has unveiled its latest generation of robotaxis, marking a significant cost reduction and aiming to drive profitability for the business. The sixth-generation robotaxi, launched at Apollo Day 2024 in Wuhan, Hubei province, is priced at 200,000 yuan ($27,670), representing a 60 percent reduction compared to its predecessor. These vehicles are set to join the robotaxi fleet on Apollo Go, Baidu’s self-driving ride-hailing platform, with plans to deploy 1,000 sixth-generation robotaxis in Wuhan by the end of 2024. Baidu anticipates that the establishment of a fully autonomous robotaxi operation network will reduce operating costs by 30…

In a rare display of camaraderie between automotive rivals, William Li, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Nio, purchased an Xpeng X9 MPV, a vehicle from a competing brand. The Xpeng X9 was personally delivered to Li by He Xiaopeng, Xpeng’s chairman and CEO, in Hefei, Anhui province, on May 11, marking Li’s first purchase of a vehicle from another brand in eight years. The Xpeng X9, launched on January 1, is the flagship model under Xpeng’s SEPA (Smart Electric Platform Architecture) 2.0. Priced starting at RMB 359,800 ($49,800), it is Xpeng’s highest-priced vehicle to date, with deliveries commencing on…

China has recently initiated its inaugural large-scale sodium-ion battery storage station, signaling the onset of this new, potentially more cost-effective battery technology for broader utilization in the energy sector. The 10-megawatt-hour (MWh) station began operations on May 11 in Nanning, Guangxi, southwestern China, according to China Southern Power Grid Energy Storage, the energy storage arm of Chinese grid operator China Southern Power Grid. This station marks the initial phase of a larger 100-MWh project. Upon completion, the full project is projected to generate 73 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean power annually, catering to the electricity needs of 35,000 households and…

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has emphasized the seriousness of the Biden administration’s investigation into the security threat posed by Chinese connected vehicles, stating that a ban on these cars in the United States is a real possibility. Raimondo highlighted that such extreme action could be taken if the probe, initiated in February, concludes that Chinese connected vehicles pose a national security risk. She also mentioned the potential for allowing Chinese cars into the U.S. market but with restrictions in place. However, Raimondo noted that there is still much evaluation and analysis to be done before a decision is made regarding…

BYD’s ultra-luxury brand, Yangwang, will unveil its electric supercar, the U9, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024, marking the vehicle’s debut in an overseas market. The U9 will be showcased at the prestigious motorsports festival, held in Goodwood, England, from July 11-14. Two U9s departed for the UK on May 7, beginning their journey to the event, according to Hu Xiaoqing, general manager of Yangwang sales division, who shared the news on Weibo. “We are very much looking forward to meeting supercar enthusiasts around the world at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July,” Hu stated. The Goodwood Festival…

Nio  is set to officially unveil its sub-brand, Onvo (known as Ledao in China), on May 15, with its inaugural model poised to compete directly with Tesla’s (NASDAQ: TSLA) Model Y. Onvo’s first offering, the Onvo L60, will enter the market targeting the smart, family-centric pure-play EV segment in the RMB 250,000 ($34,600) class, Nio announced. The company aims to redefine the standard for family cars with the Onvo L60, setting a new benchmark for the segment. The Model Y, a popular SUV in China, currently enjoys robust sales of tens of thousands of units monthly, with a starting price…

BMW’s CEO, Oliver Zipse, cautioned on Wednesday against imposing EU import duties on electric vehicles (EVs) from Chinese automakers, citing potential risks to the bloc’s Green Deal industrial plan and German automakers that rely on imports from China. The European Commission, responsible for trade policy in the EU, initiated an investigation in October into whether fully-electric cars manufactured in China were benefiting from distortive subsidies and warranted additional tariffs. Zipse expressed concerns, stating, “You could very quickly shoot yourself in the foot.” He emphasized that BMW, like its German competitors Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, imports Chinese-made vehicles into Europe and that…

Shenzhen, the renowned hub of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD, has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the first city in China to surpass the number of supercharging plugs compared to traditional gas pumps. With direct government subsidies of “at least” $3.7 billion, as reported by Electrek in April, BYD has aggressively expanded its EV business, offering competitively priced vehicles that now require efficient fast-charging solutions. In response, Shenzhen, BYD’s hometown, has embraced the challenge, aiming to have as many supercharging stations as gas stations by 2025. In June 2023, Shenzhen unveiled its first fully liquid-cooled supercharging prototype station, a…

The Tesla Model 3 Highland has emerged as the leader in electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging capabilities, according to recent analysis by independent automotive research firm AMCI Testing. The analysis, known as “MP6,” aims to determine which EV models can add the most range within a six-minute window, equivalent to the duration of a typical gas station stop. AMCI Testing noted that the Model 3 Highland significantly outperformed previous top performers, particularly the Toyota bZ4X, which had previously held the top spot. The Tesla Model 3 Highland’s performance was attributed to its native Supercharger network, which delivered a maximum rate of…

The mass-market sub-brand of Nio, Onvo (known as Ledao in China), has launched its official website, offering a glimpse into its upcoming offerings. The website, onvo.cn, currently features minimal content, with a message in the center stating, “First model L60, stay tuned.” Apart from this, the site displays Onvo’s name in both English and Chinese, a logo, and a website filing number, providing limited information about the brand’s upcoming plans. This move comes after a previously leaked page hinted at more detailed content, which has since been reduced on the live site. Nio had briefly displayed similar information on its…

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been awarded the Top Safety Pick+ status for 2024 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), highlighting its strong safety performance. The model excelled in rear-passenger protection during the revised moderate overlap front test. In comparison, Hyundai’s Santa Fe and Sonata secured the Top Safety Pick award, with slightly lower performance in the same evaluation. According to IIHS reports, the Ioniq 5 showed superior rear-passenger safety measures, with the dummy’s head maintaining a safe distance from the front seatback, indicating a low risk of head, neck, or chest injuries. In contrast, the Santa Fe…

FreeWire Technologies has announced plans to close its corporate headquarters in Newark, California, and lay off nearly all of its employees. The company, known for its innovative battery-based DC fast charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), had garnered significant attention recently for its technology and partnerships. FreeWire’s unique approach involves using batteries to store energy, allowing for fast charging without the need for expensive utility buildouts. This method has enabled them to provide a 200 kW DC fast charging experience at a fraction of the cost of traditional infrastructure, garnering praise from the Biden-Harris Administration and securing deals with major…

At the recent Paris Intermat show, German equipment manufacturer Kramer showcased its latest environmentally friendly offerings – the 5065e electric wheel loader and 1445e electric telehandler. Designed for noise-sensitive areas like city centers, cemeteries, golf courses, hotels, and suburban parks, Kramer’s electric wheel loader and telehandler operate quietly and emit zero harmful diesel particulate matter and other forms of air pollution. Christian Stryffeler, Kramer’s Managing Director, emphasized the company’s commitment to promoting its new electric vehicles (EVs) in the French market. “That’s why Intermat is an important platform for us,” Stryffeler stated. “We are also looking forward to showcasing our…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng has introduced its latest model, the G6 electric SUV, to the European market, marking its third offering in the region. The G6 is now available for order in the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, offering a compelling alternative to other electric SUVs, including the Tesla Model Y, at a more affordable price point. In the Netherlands, the Xpeng G6 starts at 42,990 euros, making it a more cost-effective option compared to the Tesla Model Y, which starts at 45,990 euros for the rear-wheel-drive version with a small battery. The price difference extends to other variants…

Tesla has disclosed that the Cybertruck’s front trunk, or ‘frunk,’ incorporates a ‘learning algorithm,’ shedding light on the reasons behind some of the inconsistent results observed in finger-pinching tests. Concerns have been raised regarding the sharp corners of the Cybertruck posing a potential hazard for users and pedestrians. The Cybertruck has garnered attention through numerous videos showing individuals using the frunk to cut vegetables and fruits. In a recent update, Tesla has improved the frunk’s object detection system. According to the automaker’s release notes: “The powered frunk can better detect obstructions just before it finishes closing.” Cybertruck owners who received…

Bank of America has highlighted the potential impact of Tesla’s Full Self Driving (FSD) technology on the company’s earnings in China, suggesting that it could boost earnings by $2.3 billion by 2030 if widely adopted among the company’s Chinese customers. Elon Musk’s recent unannounced trip to China has sparked speculation that Tesla is laying the groundwork for the release of FSD in the country. This aligns with Tesla’s partnership with internet giant Baidu for navigation and mapping data, as well as clearance of data security and processing requirements by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. While FSD (Supervised) has been…

Following Tesla’s recent announcement of bringing forward the introduction of more affordable electric cars, industry experts anticipate that these vehicles will not be entirely new models. Instead, they are likely to be toned-down versions of the popular Model 3 and Model Y, according to Reuters, citing Tesla investors and analysts. Tesla’s decision to accelerate the launch of these “more affordable models” comes after the company reported declining sales and business figures in its Q1 annual report. Tesla aims to counteract this decline with an early model offensive, utilizing aspects of the next-generation platform and the current platforms. These new models…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD  has initiated a recall of some of its electric vehicles in China due to a software issue, marking the first such recall in recent years. According to an announcement on China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) website today, BYD will recall 16,666 Seagull EVs manufactured between April 7, 2023, and May 31, 2023, with the recall set to begin on May 20. The recall is related to a software issue with the camera driver in the multimedia display assembly, which may cause some vehicles to experience a problem where the reverse screen cannot…