Author: Jackson Han

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.…

Tesla will continue offering its five-year, zero-interest financing option in China next month, extending the purchase incentive for select Model 3 and Model Y variants. Originally introduced in April as a limited-time offer, the financing plan now allows Chinese customers who buy certain Tesla vehicles before November 30 to secure a 0 percent interest rate on their loans, as detailed on the company’s Chinese website. The incentive is available for the entry-level and long-range all-wheel-drive versions of both the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, both of which are manufactured at Tesla’s Shanghai facility. The locally produced Model 3…

The Zeekr Mix, the latest offering from Geely’s premium electric vehicle brand Zeekr, has entered the Chinese market, priced from 279,900 yuan (approximately $39,250). This high-end electric MPV blends innovative concept-car aesthetics with advanced safety features, extensive cabin space, and practical design touches that position it as an attractive choice for families. As the sixth model in Zeekr’s growing lineup, the Mix sets itself apart with a stylish exterior and features aimed at meeting the needs of the modern driver. One of the Mix’s standout aspects is its design, built on Geely’s SEA-M modular architecture, which prioritizes space and versatility.…

Tesla’s Megafactory in Shanghai is on track to begin shipments by the first quarter of 2025, advancing Tesla’s expansion in energy storage manufacturing. Local media outlet IT Home reported last month that the factory, currently over 60% complete, has passed the halfway mark in construction—a milestone reached just five months after Tesla broke ground on May 23, 2024. The facility, located on a 49.4-acre site in Shanghai’s Lingang area near Giga Shanghai, will eventually have an annual production capacity of 10,000 Megapack batteries, equivalent to roughly 40 GWh of energy storage. During its Q3 earnings call, Tesla projected an initial…

German automotive supplier ZF Friedrichshafen has appointed Mathias Miedreich, former CEO of Umicore, as the new head of its Electrified Powertrain Technologies division, effective January 1, 2025. Miedreich, 49, will succeed Stephan von Schuckmann, who resigned for personal reasons earlier this year. ZF’s CEO, Holger Klein, has overseen the division on an interim basis, guiding it through a period of restructuring and operational adjustments. While the Electrified Powertrain Technologies division includes ZF’s electric, hybrid, and combustion engine drive systems, the bulk of its sales, totaling €11.5 billion, currently come from traditional combustion and plug-in hybrid systems. The shift toward battery-electric…

The European Union and China have agreed to pursue additional technical negotiations in an effort to find alternatives to the tariffs due to be imposed on China-manufactured electric vehicles (EVs) next week. The European Commission and China’s Ministry of Commerce confirmed the upcoming discussions, which may consider options such as minimum price commitments or increased Chinese investments within Europe. “The principals agreed that further technical negotiations would take place shortly,” the European Commission stated, following a video call between EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao. With the investigation set to conclude, the EU is…

Japan, a former leader in electric vehicle technology, now trails behind China, which has taken the lead in the global EV market. In an effort to understand the advancements driving this shift, Japan’s Central Economic and Trade Bureau recently held a seminar to examine the technology in popular Chinese EVs, focusing on the BYD Atto 3. Known as the Yuan Plus in China, the Atto 3 impressed Japanese attendees for its affordability and capabilities. In China, this compact electric SUV starts at under $20,000 and offers a 201-horsepower motor paired with a 50-kilowatt-hour battery, providing up to 267 miles (430…