Author: Jackson Han

China will intensify efforts to curb excessive and disorderly competition in its battery industry, extending regulatory action already under way in the electric vehicle sector, the country’s industry ministry said on Friday. The measures will cover both power batteries and energy storage batteries as authorities seek to address risks linked to rapid capacity expansion and price volatility across the supply chain. See also: EU Industry Chief Warns of Rising Chinese EV Threat, Calls for Flexibility on 2035 Engine Ban Li Lecheng, Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), said China would strengthen capacity monitoring, early warning mechanisms…

Avatr Technology, the premium electric vehicle subsidiary of Changan Automobile, has filed for an initial public offering in Hong Kong, positioning itself to become another Chinese EV maker to seek a listing outside the mainland, according to a stock exchange filing. The Hong Kong listing is being sponsored jointly by CITIC Securities and China International Capital Corp (CICC). Avatr, which was established by Changan together with technology partners Huawei and CATL, has not disclosed the size or timing of the offering. Earlier local media reports said the company was targeting completion of its Hong Kong listing in the second quarter…

China’s Great Wall Motor (GWM) is planning its first vehicle manufacturing facility in Europe with the goal of reaching annual production capacity of up to 300,000 vehicles by 2029, as the automaker accelerates its push into overseas markets, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing a senior company executive. Parker Shi, president of GWM International, said the company is actively evaluating potential locations in several European countries, including Spain and Hungary, in what would be a major step in localising its production footprint outside Asia. See also: Great Wall Motor Posts Record Q3 Results as NEV and Overseas Sales Surge The update…

Li Auto returned to a quarterly loss in the third quarter as a sharp decline in vehicle deliveries and costs linked to the recall of its Li Mega multi-purpose vehicle weighed on earnings, the company said in an unaudited earnings report released on Wednesday. The automaker posted a net loss of RMB 624 million ($87.7 million) for the quarter, compared with a net profit of RMB 2.8 billion a year earlier and RMB 1.1 billion in the previous quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, Li Auto reported an adjusted net loss of RMB 360 million, reversing a non-GAAP profit of RMB…

BYD recorded another month of strong sales momentum in Europe in October, while Tesla  continued to see declining registrations, according to data released  by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). BYD registered 17,470 new vehicles across Europe — defined as the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom (EU + EFTA + UK). This marked a 206.8 percent year-on-year increase from 5,695 units in October 2024. Tesla logged 6,964 registrations, down 48.5 percent from 13,519 units a year earlier. See also: EU BEV Registrations Hit 16.4% Share by October Despite Sluggish Overall Market Within the EU,…

A senior Tesla executive in China said on Wednesday that the U.S. electric vehicle maker does not exclude suppliers based on their country of origin, underscoring the role of Chinese companies in Tesla’s global supply chain. The comments came after a media report this month said Tesla had asked suppliers to avoid China-made components for vehicles produced in the United States. “Whether in the United States, China or Europe, Tesla applies the same strict and objective standards for selecting suppliers across its global production facilities,” said Grace Tao, Tesla’s vice president in charge of government affairs and public relations in…

Nio has entered into a partnership with Thailand’s Thonburi Group to introduce its Onvo and Firefly sub-brands to the Thai market, according to a report by Yiche. Thonburi owns Thonburi Automotive Assembly Plant Co Ltd, one of the region’s major Mercedes-Benz assembly operations. Firefly, Nio’s newest sub-brand, said on November 21 that the collaboration will leverage Thonburi’s industrial capabilities and commercial ecosystem. The Thai company, established in 1941, is known for its automotive and mobility services network. Further details of the partnership were not disclosed. The expansion comes as Nio accelerates its push into right-hand-drive (RHD) markets. Firefly president Daniel…

Zeekr has initiated a crowdfunding campaign in China to allow owners of older 2024 Zeekr 001 and 009 vehicles to upgrade their driver-assistance systems, Autohome reported. The initiative targets vehicles currently equipped with the Mobileye EyeQ5H platform, which delivers 48 TOPS of computing power, and offers an upgrade to Zeekr’s in-house G-Pilot H7 system built on Nvidia’s Drive Thor-U architecture, capable of up to 700 TOPS. The campaign runs from November 24 to December 24, 2025, and aims to reach more than 70,000 eligible vehicles. The upgrade is priced at 13,500 yuan (approximately 1,900 USD) for the 001, requiring at…

Nio sharply narrowed its net loss in the third quarter of 2025 as the electric vehicle maker intensified its cost-control measures ahead of a planned push to achieve its first quarterly non-GAAP profit in the fourth quarter. The company reported a net loss of RMB 3.48 billion ($490 million), its lowest since the third quarter of 2022, according to unaudited results released on Tuesday. The quarterly net loss was 31.2 percent lower than a year earlier and 30.3 percent below the second quarter of 2025. Adjusted net loss (non-GAAP) fell to RMB 2.74 billion, down 38.0 percent year-on-year and 33.7…

Deepal, the new energy vehicle (NEV) brand under Changan Automobile, has acquired a former Hyundai plant in China, marking another instance of domestic manufacturers taking over idle joint-venture capacity, according to a report from The Economic Observer. The Chongqing factory, previously operated by Beijing Hyundai, has been rebranded under Deepal and is expected to support future production expansion, though operations have not yet resumed. See also: Changan Sets 2030 Target for 50 New NEVs and Expands Global Sales Ambitions The Chongqing facility was Hyundai’s fifth plant in China and began operations in 2017 following an investment of RMB 7.7 billion…

AUDI, the new brand jointly created by Audi and SAIC, unveiled its E SUV Concept on the opening day of the 2025 Guangzhou Auto Show, marking the brand’s second model after the E5 Sportback. The production version of the concept is scheduled for release in 2026, following the same timeline as the E5 Sportback. The E SUV Concept carries forward the design language of the E5 Sportback, including a distinctive front face, while introducing features such as a roof-mounted LiDAR sensor and digital rearview mirrors. “The AUDI E SUV Concept embodies simplicity to master complexity, outlining the dynamic posture of…

GAC Toyota, the joint venture between Toyota and GAC Group, opened pre-orders for its bZ7 electric sedan on Friday as the 2025 Guangzhou auto show began. While the company did not disclose the pre-sales price, it said the model is positioned in the RMB 200,000 (USD 28,120) segment. The bZ7 is developed primarily by Toyota’s China engineering team and is the second model to follow this approach after the bZ3X. The sedan incorporates Huawei’s HarmonySpace cockpit system and connects with Xiaomi’s smart ecosystem. It also includes Momenta’s advanced driver assistance technology, which supports Navigation on Autopilot for both urban and…

Stelato, the automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group), unveiled an updated version of its S9 sedan on Thursday, retaining the starting price of RMB 309,800 ($43,540) while adding upgraded configurations. The company said the model’s refreshed design and expanded feature set aim to strengthen its position in China’s premium sedan market. The latest S9 maintains the launch price of its predecessor and reflects an RMB 8,200 reduction from the pre-sales price announced in early November. The model competes with high-end sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Audi A6L. “This update…

Firefly, the premium compact EV brand under Nio Inc, has started mass production of its right-hand drive variant, marking a key step in the company’s overseas expansion strategy. Nio said the first batch of the right-hand drive Firefly EVs, produced on November 18, will be shipped to Singapore. Nio launched the Firefly brand at Nio Day 2024 and introduced the Firefly EV in China on April 19 after initially planning a European debut. The change in strategy followed the introduction of higher EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. Firefly deliveries in Europe began on August 14 in Norway and the…

Yangwang, the ultra-luxury sub-brand of BYD, will display its U9 Xtreme electric supercar at the 2025 Guangzhou auto show, according to several domestic automotive media reports published on Monday. The auto show, held annually since 2003, will take place at the Canton Fair Complex from November 21 to 30, with the first day reserved for media. Yangwang introduced the U9 Xtreme on September 20 and began taking reservations for a global limited run of 30 units. See also: Yangwang U9X Sets Nürburgring Record for Fastest Electric Production Car The company said the U9 Xtreme achieved a certified top speed of…

Svolt Energy plans to start volume deliveries of its first-generation semi-solid-state batteries in 2026, marking its entry into a segment that several Chinese manufacturers are now preparing to commercialise. Chairman and CEO Yang Hongxin announced the timeline at the 2025 World Power Battery Conference on 12 November, saying the new cells will move into C-sample batch trial production soon following completion of development. See also: Sunwoda Unveils New Generation Solid-State Battery With 400 Wh/kg Energy Density The first-generation square cells feature an energy density of 270 Wh/kg and have already secured orders from a major European EV brand, according to…

Li Auto said it will publish its unaudited third-quarter 2025 financial results before U.S. markets open on November 26, with company executives scheduled to hold an earnings call at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time the same day, or 8:00 p.m. in Beijing. The automaker delivered 93,211 vehicles during the quarter, in line with its guidance of 90,000 to 95,000 units. However, shipments fell 39% from a year earlier and declined 16% from the second quarter, extending what has been a weak sales trajectory throughout 2025. Li Auto previously forecast third-quarter revenue of RMB 24.8 billion to RMB 26.2 billion, indicating a…

IM Motors, the electric vehicle subsidiary of SAIC Motor, has officially launched the IM LS9, a large six-seat extended-range SUV (EREV), further expanding its lineup of hybrid models designed for China’s growing high-end EV market. The IM LS9 is available in two versions — 52 Ultra and 66 Ultra — priced at RMB 322,800 ($45,360) and RMB 352,800, respectively, both lowered by RMB 14,000 from their pre-sale prices. Deliveries for the new model will begin later this month, with the automaker planning to introduce a high-performance IM LS9 Hyper variant in the first quarter of 2026. The six-seat SUV measures…

Hesai Technology raised its full-year net profit forecast to between RMB 350 million and RMB 450 million ($49 million–$63 million) after reporting record third-quarter earnings and achieving GAAP profitability one quarter ahead of schedule. The lidar manufacturer reported unaudited third-quarter revenue of RMB 800 million ($110 million), up 47.5% year-on-year, marking its sixth consecutive quarter of growth. Gross margin remained steady at 42%, while operating expenses fell 23% from a year earlier. Net profit for the quarter reached RMB 260 million ($36 million), pushing cumulative profits for the first three quarters to RMB 280 million ($40 million). See also: Hesai…

Hesai Technology has entered into an exclusive agreement to supply lidar systems for Li Auto’s next-generation advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) platform. The collaboration will cover all vehicle series, including the L Series, i Series, and MEGA models, making Hesai the sole lidar supplier for Li Auto’s upcoming intelligent driving systems. The agreement builds on a four-year partnership between the two companies, which began in 2021 to develop and deploy automotive-grade lidar solutions for mass production. Li Auto, which had delivered over 1.46 million vehicles as of October 2025, began including lidar as standard equipment across all new models starting in…