Author: Jackson Han

BYD has officially entered the Omani automotive market, marking a significant move in its Gulf region expansion. The Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer recently held a brand launch event in Muscat, the capital of Oman, and inaugurated three local showrooms. The five models launched in Oman include the Han, Yuan Plus, Seal, Song Plus DM-i, and Qin Plus DM-i. According to AD Huang, general manager of BYD Middle East & Africa, the company’s focus on green mobility aligns with Oman’s Vision 2040 for sustainable development. BYD’s three flagship showrooms are located in Wattayah, Al Mouj, and the Mall of…

Tesla’s long-rumored compact model, which was initially speculated to be called the Model 2, might now be released as the Model Q in 2025. According to a report from GlobalChinaEV, this vehicle could start at $25,000 in the U.S. after subsidies, with a debut expected in the first half of 2025. Previously, Tesla’s primary focus for next year was thought to be the “Juniper” facelift of the Model Y, alongside updates to the Model 3, which has seen improvements in comfort and quality through the “Highland” revision. However, new reports suggest that a completely different model may be launched: a…

Xiaomi EV, the electric vehicle arm of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi, has revealed its second model, the YU7, ahead of its official launch slated for June or July next year. The SUV’s core specifications have been unveiled through a regulatory filing with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), bringing the YU7 closer to its anticipated market entry. The YU7, identified by the model number XMA6500LBEVA1 in the MIIT catalog, will be produced at Xiaomi EV’s factory in Yizhuang, Beijing. The vehicle spans 4,999 mm in length, 1,996 mm in width, and stands 1,600 mm high, with a wheelbase…

Caterham, the British sports car maker, is advancing its electrification plans, announcing a collaboration with Taiwan-based Xing Mobility for an innovative battery system in its first all-electric sports car. This follows the earlier confirmation of an electric motor supplied by Yamaha for the upcoming model. The Xing Mobility battery pack employs immersion cooling technology, with cells submerged in a dielectric liquid to enhance heat dissipation. According to Caterham, this design provides a significant performance edge over conventional liquid-cooled systems. With an energy density of 200 Wh/kg, the battery aims to deliver competitive range and efficiency for the lightweight sports car.…

China’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, BYD, is set to report further gains in market share as November sales figures are released, positioning the company to surpass its annual target and outpace global automotive giants Ford and Honda in 2024 sales. BYD delivered 3.76 million vehicles in the first 11 months of 2024, including 506,804 units sold in November. With robust domestic demand and an expanding international footprint, the company is on track to exceed its 4-million-unit target for the year. Strong sales of its innovative plug-in hybrid and fully electric models have enabled BYD to capture 16.2% of the…

Tesla saw a rebound in its China-made vehicle sales in November, following a decline in October. The company sold 78,856 vehicles in November, which includes both domestic sales and exports, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). This represents a 15.49 percent increase from October’s 68,280 units, but a 4.34 percent decrease compared to 82,432 units sold in November 2023. Tesla China’s October sales marked the lowest level since April, dropping 22.69 percent from September’s 88,321 units. The company’s Shanghai factory produces the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, which are sold locally in China…

Baidu’s autonomous vehicle service, Apollo Go, has received approval to conduct robotaxi trials in Hong Kong, marking a significant expansion outside mainland China. The Hong Kong Transport Department issued the first pilot license for an autonomous vehicle on December 8, 2024, allowing Apollo Go to operate 10 robotaxis on North Lantau Island. Although the statement did not directly name Baidu, the license was granted to Baidu Apollo International Ltd., the operator of the Apollo Go platform. The license, valid until December 8, 2029, permits the operation of one autonomous private vehicle at a time on designated roads. During the trial…

BYD has launched its new car carrier, the BYD Changzhou, marking an important step in expanding its transportation capabilities for the export of new energy vehicles (NEVs). The vessel, which is BYD’s second ro-ro ship, began operations after its delivery, as announced by Wang Junbao, general manager of BYD Corporate Division, on Weibo. The BYD Changzhou, which departed from the ports of Lianyungang and Taicang in Jiangsu province, is on its way to Europe, carrying nearly 5,000 BYD NEVs. Wang highlighted the environmental benefits of the vessel, stating that it would contribute to cooling the planet by 1°C, though no…

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) and BYD maintained their positions as the world’s largest EV battery manufacturers during the January-October 2024 period, as global electric vehicle battery installations surged by 25% year-on-year to 686.7 GWh, according to data released by South Korean market research firm SNE Research. CATL, the industry leader, reported a remarkable 28.3% increase in battery installations, reaching 252.8 GWh during the period. This solidified its dominance with a 36.8% global market share, up from 35.9% in the same period last year. The Chinese battery giant remains the only supplier to hold more than 30% of the…

Tesla has ramped up its marketing efforts in China as it aims to capitalize on the year-end car-buying season. Vice President of External Affairs, Grace Tao, has made multiple public statements highlighting the safety features of Tesla vehicles, with an assertive tone that reflects the company’s focus on building consumer confidence in its products. In a recent Weibo post, Tao emphasized that the Model 3 had received the highest 5-star ratings for both the China Electric Vehicle Fire Safety Index and the automotive fire safety certification. She pointed out that Tesla has never issued a global recall due to fire…

Nio is set to launch its Banyan 3.1.0 system in January 2025, introducing new smart driving features powered by an end-to-end artificial intelligence (AI) large model architecture. According to a report by local media outlet AutoPix, the upcoming system will mark a significant step forward for the Chinese automaker, which currently offers eight models in China—ranging from the ES8 to the ET5 Touring—all based on the NT 2.0 technology platform. The Banyan 3.1.0 system follows the earlier launch of Banyan 3.0.0, which focused on enhancing the smart cockpit, smart chassis, and incorporating AI technologies. “Nio’s smart driving team is expediting…

Polestar has expanded the Polestar 3 lineup with the introduction of a new entry-level Long Range Single Motor variant, which is now being produced at the company’s Charleston, South Carolina facility. Starting at $67,500 before the $1,400 destination fee, this new version offers a more affordable option compared to the dual-motor all-wheel drive model, which is priced $5,900 higher. The Polestar 3 Long Range Single Motor offers an impressive EPA-estimated range of up to 350 miles (563 km), surpassing the dual-motor variant by 35 miles (56 km). However, the tradeoff comes with a rear-mounted motor delivering 295 hp (220 kW…