Author: Jackson Han

Chinese autonomous driving technology firm DeepRoute.ai has raised $100 million from a domestic automaker to support wider adoption of its assisted driving systems in China. The Shenzhen-based company expects nearly 200,000 vehicles equipped with its technology on Chinese roads by the end of 2025, up from the current 20,000, CEO Maxwell Zhou told Reuters. “Our system is designed to navigate the complexities of Chinese urban traffic,” Zhou said, noting that DeepRoute.ai’s technology performs in settings with high volumes of pedestrians and scooters. The system aims to compete with Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology, which Tesla plans to launch in China.…

Nio has dismissed recent speculation that its upcoming third brand, codenamed Firefly, will include a hybrid model. Co-founder and president Lihong Qin confirmed that the Firefly line will adhere to Nio’s “chargeable, swappable, and upgradable” all-electric approach, setting a launch for Nio Day 2024. Qin’s statement follows a report from Yicai, which, citing unnamed sources, suggested Firefly would employ an extended-range hybrid system aimed for a 2026 launch. The report pointed to a Nio job posting for engineers skilled in NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) development for air intake and exhaust, raising questions about potential hybrid designs. The report also highlighted…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Zeekr  set a new monthly delivery record in October, fueled by strong demand for its latest model, the Zeekr X. The company reported 25,049 vehicle deliveries for the month, up from the previous record of 21,333 units in September, reflecting a 91.55% year-on-year increase and a 17.42% jump from the prior month. From January to October, Zeekr delivered a total of 167,922 vehicles, an 82.32% increase compared to the same period last year. The automaker is targeting around 230,000 deliveries for the full year, meaning it will need to average approximately 31,000 vehicles per month in…

Leapmotor, the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer backed by Stellantis NV, recorded a significant milestone in October with the delivery of 38,177 vehicles. This marks a remarkable year-on-year increase of 109.74 percent and a 13.06 percent rise compared to September, as the company continues to see robust order growth. October’s results represent the fifth consecutive month of record deliveries for Leapmotor, with three consecutive months surpassing 30,000 units. Year-to-date figures reveal that from January to October, Leapmotor delivered a total of 211,038 vehicles, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 97.18 percent. Cumulatively, the company has delivered 516,862 vehicles since its…

Li Auto announced its 1,000th charging station milestone in China, unveiling its highest-altitude facility on Mount Everest. This marks significant progress in Li Auto’s charging network expansion, yet achieving its 2024 goal of 2,000 stations will require a rapid acceleration in installations. Currently, Li Auto operates charging stations in 175 cities across 31 provinces, providing 4,888 chargers. The company launched its own supercharging network in early 2023, with the first trial stations opening in April last year. In March 2024, Li Auto set an ambitious target to reach 2,000 supercharging stations by year-end, a goal that will demand an average…

Li Auto has established a first-tier division dedicated to overseas market expansion, signaling a renewed commitment to its international growth strategy, as reported by 36kr. This new division, led by Wang Jin, who has been with the company for over a year, operates under Zou Liangjun, the senior vice president of sales and service. Wang, who previously worked with Huawei and oversaw sales and services in Chile, will be pivotal in steering Li Auto’s international initiatives. Currently, the division has a small team and has yet to make significant moves in the overseas market. Initially, Li Auto planned to expand…

The Smart #5 has officially entered the Chinese market after its launch in August, with prices starting at 239,900 yuan (approximately $33,700). This new lineup includes four mid-size electric SUVs: the Long Range Adventure Standard, Long Range Adventure Deluxe, and Jungle Realm Limited, with prices ranging from 239,900 to 368,000 yuan (around $33,700 to $51,700). Available in both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations, three of the four trims come equipped with RWD drivetrains, while only the Jungle Realm Limited features an AWD option. The Smart #5 measures 4,705 mm in length, 1,920 mm in width, and 1,705…

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD reported an 11.5% increase in net profit for the third quarter on Wednesday, reaching 11.6 billion yuan ($1.63 billion), as strong sales were bolstered by national trade-in incentives and regional subsidies supporting EV adoption. The company’s revenue for July-September rose 24% year-on-year to 201.1 billion yuan ($28.24 billion), exceeding Tesla’s revenue for the same period at $25.2 billion, according to BYD’s stock exchange filing. A significant portion of BYD’s sales growth was driven by the company’s latest plug-in hybrid models, with sales jumping 75.6% year-on-year to 685,830 units in the third quarter. Pure electric…

BYD’s premium sub-brand Yangwang is set to introduce its next-generation blade battery in the upcoming U7 sedan, according to Wu Ying, editor-in-chief of local automotive news site Xchuxing. This advanced battery will provide faster charging and enhanced power output capabilities. The second-generation blade battery will offer a charging multiplier exceeding 5.5 C and a discharging multiplier surpassing 14 C, Wu revealed in a post on Weibo. “Yangwang’s friend told me that I can get ready to experience the Yangwang U7,” he wrote, though he did not disclose additional details. The 5.5 C rating indicates that the U7 battery could fully…

BYD, China’s largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, is eyeing Australia as the next market for its budget-friendly Seagull EV. The Seagull, which retails for under $10,000 (69,800 yuan) in China, has become a best-seller, topping monthly EV sales charts in China since March and recently surpassing 400,000 units sold. BYD’s expansion efforts are clear as it introduces the compact Seagull, branded overseas as the Dolphin Mini, in markets such as Mexico and Brazil, where it remains one of the most affordable EVs with starting prices around $20,000. David Smith, CEO of BYD’s Australian importer, EVDirect, recently confirmed that the company…

China’s Geely Automobile Holdings introduced its latest hybrid technology on Wednesday, touting fuel efficiency and driving range metrics that surpass those of rival BYD, the leading player in China’s plug-in hybrid segment. Named Leishen EM-i, Geely’s new system reportedly achieves fuel consumption of 2.62 litres per 100 km (62.1 miles) and a combined gasoline-electric range of 2,390.5 km, based on media test results. Geely’s hybrid system will first feature in the Galaxy Starship 7 crossover, which Geely claims can attain fuel consumption of three litres per 100 km in real-world driving conditions. The company stated that Leishen technology will also…

Xiaomi launched a high-end version of its SU7 electric sports car on Tuesday, setting the price at 814,900 yuan ($114,000) and aiming to position the vehicle as China’s fastest mass-produced four-door car. The move places Xiaomi in direct competition with established electric vehicle (EV) brands like Tesla (TSLA.O) and Porsche. Xiaomi, traditionally known for its smartphones and household appliances, entered China’s growing EV market earlier this year with the SU7, an entry model that mirrors the Porsche aesthetic with a starting price under $30,000. CEO Lei Jun presented the SU7 Ultra, a performance-focused model, at a three-hour, live-streamed product launch.…