Author: Michael Zhang
Michael Zhang
Michael Zhang follows China’s electric vehicle market with a focus on emerging manufacturers, new model launches, and industry data. His reporting highlights how domestic automakers and technology suppliers are adapting to a rapidly evolving competitive landscape.
Li Auto has completed a new round of organizational restructuring as the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer continues efforts to expand its artificial intelligence capabilities and develop embodied AI technologies. According to a report by Chinese media outlet LatePost, the company implemented the changes on May 29, creating three new second-tier departments focused on embodied engineering, embodied interaction and embodied behavior. The move forms part of Li Auto’s broader strategy to expand beyond automotive manufacturing and strengthen its position in AI-related technologies. New Embodied AI Structure Under the latest restructuring, the newly established embodied AI departments will operate alongside an independent…
Xiaomi has introduced a new flagship performance version of its Xiaomi YU7 GT electric SUV, with the company claiming the model set a new SUV lap record at the Nürburgring circuit. According to Xiaomi, the YU7 GT completed the Nürburgring lap in 7 minutes and 22.755 seconds, surpassing the previous SUV benchmark reportedly held by the Audi RSQ8 by around 14 seconds. The company said the model was developed with significant input from engineers at Xiaomi EV’s European research and development centre in Munich, where the vehicle reportedly underwent two years of chassis and performance tuning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zdPCUCaMlI The YU7 GT…
Nio sub-brand Onvo launched its new L80 electric SUV in China on Friday, expanding the company’s range of family-oriented battery electric vehicles. The five-seat sport utility vehicle was unveiled at an event in Hefei, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin on Saturday as the automaker continues to accelerate product rollouts in the competitive Chinese EV market. The Onvo L80 starts at 242,800 yuan ($35,650) with an 85-kWh battery pack included, slightly below its earlier pre-sale price. Buyers opting for Nio’s battery-as-a-service (BaaS) model can purchase the vehicle from 156,800 yuan, while paying a separate monthly battery subscription fee. William Li,…
Geely Auto reported a modest increase in vehicle sales in April as record overseas exports helped counter continued weakness in the domestic Chinese market. The company sold 235,164 vehicles during the month, up 0.45% from a year earlier and 0.92% higher than March, according to data released Friday. Exports remained the company’s strongest growth driver. Overseas sales surged 244.70% year-on-year to a record 83,186 vehicles in April. Domestic sales, however, declined sharply. Geely sold 151,978 vehicles in China during the month, down 27.62% from a year earlier, although slightly higher than March levels. Sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) remained…
BYD remained China’s top seller of new energy passenger vehicles in March, while Tesla slipped to fourth place in the monthly retail rankings, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association on Friday. BYD sold 194,131 passenger new energy vehicles in China in March, up 118.9% from February but down 33.1% from a year earlier, CPCA data showed. The automaker held a 22.8% share of China’s passenger NEV retail market in March, up from 19.1% in February. Geely Auto ranked second with NEV retail sales of 96,842 units, giving it an 11.4% market share, while Changan Automobile placed…
Chinese electric vehicle maker Avatr Technology on Wednesday launched an updated version of its Avatr 12 sedan and opened pre-sales for the new Avatr 06T wagon, as the company broadens its product lineup ahead of a planned Hong Kong listing. Backed by Changan Automobile, CATL and Huawei, Avatr said the updated Avatr 12 is available in five battery-electric variants and two extended-range electric variants. Battery-electric versions of the Avatr 12 are priced between 303,900 yuan ($44,450) and 433,900 yuan, while the two extended-range variants start at 293,900 yuan and 313,900 yuan. The company said the sedan comes standard with Huawei’s…
GAC Aion has launched a new electric sedan, the RT Super, built on CATL’s Choco-SEB battery swap platform, as automakers and suppliers push to accelerate adoption of battery swapping in China. The mid-size sedan starts at 88,800 yuan ($13,000) under a battery rental scheme, separating ownership of the vehicle body from the battery to reduce the initial purchase cost. Unlike offerings from Nio Inc, the RT Super is not available for full purchase with a battery included. The model supports CATL’s Choco battery swap network, enabling drivers to replace a depleted battery in as little as 99 seconds. It is…
Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturer BYD reported March sales of 300,222 vehicles, marking a 57.85% increase from February, as the company saw a rebound in deliveries following a seasonal slowdown. Despite the monthly recovery, sales declined 20.45% compared with the same period last year, extending a streak of seven consecutive months of year-on-year declines and reflecting a broader slowdown in China’s electric vehicle market after years of rapid expansion. Passenger vehicle sales reached 295,693 units in March, up 57.47% from the previous month but down 20.39% year-on-year. Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) contributed nearly equally…
Li Auto said it will launch its first automated charging station in the second quarter, as the Chinese electric vehicle maker seeks to simplify the charging experience and enhance user convenience. The company said on Thursday that the system will reduce manual steps for drivers, from locating a station to parking and initiating charging, offering what it described as a more “relaxed and reassuring” travel experience. The planned rollout comes as Li Auto continues to expand its charging infrastructure. The company has built more than 4,000 supercharging stations across China, equipped with over 22,000 charging points covering more than 280…
Leapmotor has outlined an aggressive product rollout plan for 2026, announcing four new models during an earnings call as it seeks to sustain rapid growth and meet a target of one million vehicle deliveries. The Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturer, backed by Stellantis, said its all-new A10 compact SUV will officially launch on March 26, earlier than previously planned. The model’s top variant is expected to be priced below 100,000 yuan ($14,530) and will integrate Alibaba’s Qwen artificial intelligence models to enhance in-car interaction. See also: Leapmotor Posts First Annual Profit on Record Deliveries in 2025 The company will…
Nio said on Thursday it has produced its two millionth electric drive unit, marking a new manufacturing milestone for the Chinese electric vehicle maker as it expands in-house production of key components. The 2 millionth electric drive rolled off the production line on March 5 at Nio’s second electric drive manufacturing plant in Hefei, Anhui province. The unit will be installed in the company’s flagship sport utility vehicle, the all-new ES8, Nio said. See also: Nio to Establish New Battery R&D Base in Shanghai’s Jiading District The milestone comes just 23 months after the company produced its first million electric…
Xiaomi has unveiled its Vision GT two-door electric supercar concept ahead of the 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, underscoring the Chinese technology group’s expanding ambitions in the global electric vehicle market. The all-electric Vision GT debuted on Feb. 28 and marks Xiaomi’s participation in the Gran Turismo project, a virtual racing initiative that has traditionally featured European luxury brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Ferrari. The concept will be displayed at MWC, scheduled for March 2–5 at the Fira Gran Via exhibition center in Barcelona. Built on Xiaomi’s 900-volt silicon carbide platform, the Vision GT features a low-slung,…