Author: Jackson Han

Chinese automaker BYD is taking an assertive approach to expanding its market share in Australia with the launch of its hybrid Shark 6 utility vehicle (ute). The vehicle is part of BYD’s broader strategy to establish its presence in Australia, a market known for its consumer loyalty to traditional brands in the ute segment. David Smitherman, CEO of EVDirect, BYD’s importer in Australia, emphasized the company’s long-term commitment to the Australian market, stating, “We’re not here for a holiday; we’re here to aggressively grow the market share. We know this segment is a really big segment.” BYD is focusing on…

Leapmotor, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has achieved a significant milestone with the production of its 500,000th vehicle. The company reached this landmark just over three months after rolling out its 400,000th vehicle, reflecting rapid growth in its production capacity and market presence. Leapmotor has reported strong sales performance in recent months, with over 30,000 units sold in both August and September. The company’s 500,000th vehicle, a C16 model, which was launched in June, quickly gained popularity, receiving more than 10,000 orders in its first month. The C16 is available in both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle…

The United Kingdom has confirmed it will not introduce tariffs on electric vehicle (EV) imports from China, distinguishing itself from the European Union, Canada, and the United States. According to UK Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds, there have been no formal complaints from British businesses to the country’s Trade Remedies Authority (TRA) regarding Chinese-made EVs. Reynolds, speaking at the UK’s International Investment Summit, emphasized the importance of keeping export markets open for British producers. “I do have the power as the Secretary of State to make that referral… We keep it under close analysis, but I think it’s important our industry…

Changan Automobile has filed for a battery-swap-enabled electric sedan, raising speculation about its alignment with Nio’s battery swap alliance, despite their existing partnership. The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released a new catalog of models under review for sale, including Changan’s Oshan 520 electric sedan. The Oshan 520, a budget-friendly model, features a single 105 kW motor and supports battery swapping technology. While Changan partnered with Nio in 2023 on battery swapping, the Oshan 520 will use batteries from a joint venture between CATL and SAIC, diverging from Nio’s typical battery supply chain. Public feedback on the…

Several Chinese automakers are exploring plans to establish manufacturing and assembly facilities in Europe, aiming to challenge European carmakers by offering more affordable vehicles. This push comes as demand slows in China, the world’s largest auto market, and European producers fear being priced out by lower-cost imports of Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs). The European Union has imposed tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, claiming that they benefit from substantial state subsidies. These tariffs are prompting Chinese carmakers to consider setting up local factories to mitigate the impact of higher costs on their European sales. “We need to localize to remain competitive,” said…

The European Union’s ongoing negotiations with China on setting minimum import prices for electric vehicles (EVs) face significant hurdles, according to a senior EU official. The talks aim to avert the imposition of tariffs on China-built EVs following the EU’s anti-subsidy investigation, which is due to conclude at the end of October. “I won’t exclude it, but it seems very, very difficult to reach an agreement by the end of October due to the complexity of the issues,” the official stated on Monday. Cars, being multifaceted products with varying sales channels, complicate discussions compared to previous cases involving homogenous commodities.…

Tesla’s Shanghai factory has achieved a significant milestone, rolling out its 3 millionth vehicle today, less than five years after the plant began operations. The announcement was made via Tesla’s official Weibo account, highlighting the rapid production growth at its largest factory worldwide. The facility produced its first 1 million vehicles in just 32 months, while the subsequent million vehicles were completed in a remarkably swift 13 months, indicating a doubling in growth rate. Tesla noted that Giga Shanghai is the company’s most efficient manufacturing site, with an average vehicle assembly time of over 30 seconds per unit. In addition…

Denza, the premium new energy vehicle (NEV) brand under BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY), has made a significant entry into the Singapore auto market, enhancing its global presence. At an event held yesterday, Denza introduced the right-hand drive version of its D9 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), offering two variants with starting prices set at S$296,888 ($227,356) and S$341,888, respectively. The D9 marks the first model released under the refreshed Denza brand, which went on sale in China in August 2022, with deliveries commencing in October of the same year. In March 2024, Denza launched the latest iteration of the D9 MPV…

Polestar, the Sino-Swedish electric vehicle startup, is facing increasing challenges as its Polestar 3 and 4 models, along with a new active sales strategy, failed to significantly boost sales in the third quarter of 2024. The company delivered approximately 11,900 vehicles in Q3, marking the fourth consecutive quarter of year-on-year declines. Total deliveries for the first nine months of 2024 reached just over 32,000 units, down from nearly 42,000 in the same period last year. Polestar acknowledged that while some markets have shown positive results under the new sales model, sales growth overall has been slower than expected. “The first…

Oilstainlab, a California-based sports car manufacturer, has revealed its first vehicle, the HF-11, a high-performance supercar that will be available in both combustion and electric versions. Priced at $2.35 million for the battery-electric model, the car’s production will be limited to 25 units, with deliveries expected in 2026. Founded in 2019 by brothers Nikita and Iliya Bridan, Oilstainlab is based in Signal Hill, California. The HF-11 is derived from the company’s earlier Half-11 concept, drawing design inspiration from 1960s Le Mans racing cars. The vehicle, which measures 4.34 meters in length and weighs just 907 kg due to its carbon…

SK on has announced the successful development of an anode for sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries capable of operating at room temperature. This achievement, announced on October 9, results from a collaboration with Professor Kim Dong-won’s research team at Hanyang University, with the findings published in the respected journal “ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.” Traditionally, sulfide-based lithium metal batteries require operation at elevated temperatures to facilitate uniform lithium movement. Maintaining these high temperatures necessitates additional temperature control systems, which can increase production costs and reduce energy density. Furthermore, temperatures exceeding 65 degrees Celsius may lead to material degradation and a shortened battery…

China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sales experienced significant growth last month as the market entered its peak season. The China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) reported that wholesale sales of passenger NEVs in September are expected to reach 1.228 million units, marking a 48 percent increase year-on-year and a 17 percent rise from August. In August, manufacturers with wholesale sales exceeding 10,000 passenger NEVs accounted for 90.8 percent of total NEV wholesale sales, according to the CPCA. The estimated sales for these manufacturers in September are projected at approximately 1.11 million units. Based on the sales structure from the previous month,…