Author: Victor Choi

Deepal, the electric vehicle brand owned by Changan Automobile, has launched an updated S05 electric SUV in China, with limited-time prices starting at 115,900 yuan ($17,070) as the automaker seeks to maintain momentum in one of its key volume models. The refreshed S05 is offered in five variants with official prices ranging from 119,900 yuan ($17,660) to 151,900 yuan. Limited-time discounts of between 4,000 yuan and 7,000 yuan reduce the effective prices to between 115,900 yuan and 144,900 yuan. The model is divided into 520 and 620 versions based on their respective CLTC driving ranges. Five Variants Offer 520 Km…

Smart, the joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely Auto, has launched a redesigned #1 electric SUV in China as it seeks to strengthen its position in the increasingly crowded small battery-electric vehicle market. The new-generation model is offered in 535 Max and 535 Ultra versions, priced at 152,900 yuan and 172,900 yuan respectively. Promotional pricing brings the figures down to 149,900 yuan ($22,080) and 169,900 yuan for a limited period. Smart said the latest #1 incorporates more than 200 upgrades over the previous model, covering its electric powertrain, charging system, driver-assistance technology and interior. 800-Volt Platform Brings Faster Charging The…

Huawei-backed automotive brand Stelato has opened pre-sales for the G9, its first luxury off-road sport utility vehicle (SUV), as the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) expands into the premium rugged vehicle segment. The G9 was unveiled during the same event where fellow HIMA brand Maextro launched its V680 and V800 premium multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs). Official sales are scheduled to begin in the third quarter. The Stelato G9 starts at 439,800 yuan ($64,780). Designed Around Level 3 Autonomous Driving Huawei describes the Stelato G9 as the industry’s first luxury off-road SUV developed on a native Level 3 autonomous driving architecture. The…

BYD’s premium vehicle brand Denza has opened pre-sales for the all-electric Z9S sedan in China, introducing a new flagship model that offers up to 1,100 kilometres of driving range under the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC). The Z9S enters the premium electric sedan segment with a starting pre-sales price of 319,800 yuan (approximately $47,100). Three Variants Offered The Denza Z9S is available in three variants. The Flash Charging Premium version is priced at 319,800 yuan, the Flash Charging Flagship at 349,800 yuan, and the Flash Charging Performance version featuring BYD’s e3 technology at 389,800 yuan. All three models are…

BYD sold 419,211 new energy vehicles (NEVs) in July, marking its strongest monthly performance of 2026 as record overseas demand helped accelerate sales growth. The July total increased 21.76% from a year earlier and rose 3.90% from June, according to figures released by the company. July Sales Reach 2026 High The result marked BYD’s third consecutive month of year-on-year sales growth and represented a significant improvement from June’s 5.46% increase. Although July was the company’s highest monthly total this year, deliveries remained slightly below the record 420,398 vehicles sold in December 2025. Passenger NEV sales reached 411,072 units, up 20.54%…

Chery Group exported 202,533 vehicles in July, becoming the first Chinese automaker to ship more than 200,000 vehicles overseas in a single month. The July export total increased 70.1% from a year earlier and marked the fifth consecutive monthly export record for a Chinese automaker. Overseas Sales Reach New High Chery said a vehicle was exported approximately every 16 seconds during the month. Total group sales reached a record 276,820 vehicles in July, up 23.3% year on year. New energy vehicle (NEV) sales totaled 129,067 units, rising 97.5% from a year earlier and remaining above the 100,000-unit mark for the…

Li Auto delivered 30,468 vehicles in July, a decline of 0.86% from the same month last year, as the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker continued refreshing its product lineup and expanding its international presence. The July figure was down 1.38% from 30,895 deliveries in June, according to data released by the company. Delivery Decline Narrows July marked Li Auto’s third consecutive month of year-on-year delivery declines, although the pace of the decline slowed significantly compared with June’s 14.84% drop. During the first seven months of 2026, the company delivered 223,940 vehicles, down 4.57% from the same period a year earlier.…

Tesla has begun rolling out a new infotainment software update in China that introduces ByteDance’s Doubao large language model to its in-car voice assistant, marking the company’s first integration of a third-party AI model in locally sold vehicles. The 2026.14.13 software update started rolling out in batches on July 31 and is available for Tesla’s Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X vehicles in China. Doubao AI Enhances Voice Interaction The update integrates ByteDance’s Doubao AI model to power Tesla’s voice assistant, enabling more natural conversations and expanded interactive capabilities. According to Tesla, the assistant can provide real-time…

China FAW Group’s Hongqi brand has unveiled an ultra-fast charging battery that completed charging from 10% to 70% state of charge in 3 minutes and 41 seconds during internal testing, highlighting the company’s latest advances in electric vehicle battery technology. The battery was developed jointly by Hongqi and China Automotive New Energy Battery Technology (CNET). According to the company, recent charging tests conducted at 25 degrees Celsius demonstrated charging performance that exceeds current commercially available technologies. New Battery Targets Faster Charging Performance Hongqi said the battery reached 70% state of charge from 10% in 3 minutes and 41 seconds, while…

GAC Aion has unveiled the Ray series, a new line of electric vehicles designed to attract younger buyers, with the Ray 7 becoming the first model to carry the company’s updated brand identity. The new series was introduced as GAC Aion seeks to refresh its image in China’s increasingly competitive new energy vehicle market. The Ray 7 is positioned as a mid-to-large electric sedan aimed at becoming an entry point for younger consumers entering the electric vehicle segment. Ray 7 Debuts With New Brand Identity According to GAC Aion, the Ray 7 is the first vehicle to feature the company’s…

Leapmotor has opened pre-orders in China for its new A05 electric vehicle, bringing the compact model a step closer to its official market launch as the Chinese automaker expands its A-series lineup. The Stellantis-backed EV manufacturer said customers can reserve the vehicle with a 99 yuan deposit during a “blind reservation” period that runs until the official launch event. Buyers who place an early reservation will receive promotional pre-order benefits, although the company has not yet disclosed pricing or a launch date. https://evmagz.com/leapmotor-reaffirms-2026-delivery-target-of-1-million-vehicles/ Display vehicles have already begun arriving at Leapmotor dealerships across China, allowing prospective customers to experience the…

Chery Group has surpassed 20 million cumulative global vehicle sales, marking another milestone for China’s automotive industry as the company continues to expand its international footprint through record exports and overseas manufacturing. Chery Reaches 20 Million Sales Milestone The company said its 20 millionth vehicle is the Fulwin A9, an all-electric sedan launched on Saturday. The model shares its name with Chery’s first vehicle, introduced in 1997, which also became the company’s first export model for overseas markets. https://evmagz.com/chery-joins-new-venture-to-target-japans-kei-ev-market-with-emta-brand/ Founded in 1997, Chery became the first Chinese automotive brand to exceed one million cumulative vehicle sales in 2007. Today, the…

Xpeng has begun delivering its new Mona L03 sport utility vehicle to customers in China, as the electric vehicle manufacturer accelerates production to meet strong demand following the model’s market launch earlier this month. The company said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer He Xiaopeng personally handed over keys to some of the first customers, while production facilities are operating at full capacity to increase output. Deliveries Begin After Strong Launch Demand The Mona L03 was introduced in China on July 16 with a starting price of 123,800 yuan ($18,200). The model is offered in both battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range…

Volkswagen has expanded its partnership with Horizon Robotics to accelerate the development of Level 3 automated driving technology in China, with series production targeted for the second half of 2027. According to Handelsblatt, the expanded collaboration is intended to strengthen the capabilities of the companies’ joint venture, Carizon, and accelerate the rollout of highly automated driving systems for the Chinese market. Expanded Partnership Volkswagen said Carizon will gain access to Horizon Robotics’ AI foundation model to support development of its own automated driving software stack. The joint venture is majority owned by Volkswagen through its software subsidiary Cariad, which holds…

Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) has produced its 30 millionth vehicle, marking the milestone with a ceremony at its manufacturing facility in Guangzhou while simultaneously highlighting production activities at its overseas plants in Thailand, Indonesia and Austria. The milestone vehicle was a right-hand-drive GAC M8 plug-in hybrid electric SUV, which was presented to Thai customer Tony Jaa during the event. The model is marketed internationally under the name GN8. Overseas Plants Mark Production Milestones The ceremony was linked to several of GAC’s overseas manufacturing facilities. https://evmagz.com/gac-huawei-aistaland-files-gx7-extended-range-suv-ahead-of-market-launch/ The company’s plant in Thailand produced its 10,000th vehicle, while a new model entered production…

BYD’s premium vehicle brand Denza has previewed the Z9S, a new battery-electric sedan that will expand the company’s Z-series lineup as it continues to introduce new models in the premium electric vehicle segment. Denza released the first official images of the Z9S on Chinese social media, showcasing the vehicle in a new “Morning Glow Purple” exterior finish. The company described the Z9S as a technology-focused luxury intelligent sedan, with the preview indicating the model is moving closer to its official market launch. New Electric Sedan Joins Z Series The Z9S adopts a fastback coupe-inspired design featuring slim headlights, frameless doors,…

CATL has signed its first European agreement for the deployment of its sodium-ion battery energy storage system, less than one month after the product’s global debut. The world’s largest battery manufacturer said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Dutch renewable energy integrator Alfen NV to deploy 5 GWh of its Tener Sodium energy storage systems across the Netherlands and other Western European markets beginning in 2027. The agreement marks the first planned deployment of CATL’s sodium-ion energy storage technology in Europe. Partnership Targets European Grid Applications Under the agreement, CATL and Alfen will work together to introduce the…

Global pre-orders for the Denza Z have exceeded 1,000 units within 24 hours of the model entering pre-sales in China, providing an early indication of market interest in BYD’s latest premium electric supercar. Denza announced on Weibo that combined domestic and overseas pre-orders surpassed the 1,000-unit milestone after pre-sales opened on Monday. While the figure does not necessarily reflect future deliveries, it suggests the model has attracted attention from buyers in the high-performance electric vehicle segment. Premium Performance Strategy The Denza Z is available in three variants during the pre-sales period. The Coupe hardtop starts at 680,000 yuan (US$100,300), the…

Volkswagen plans to launch the ID. UNYX 09 electric sedan in China during the second half of 2026, marking the second vehicle jointly developed with Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng under the companies’ strategic partnership. The confirmation came from Robert Cisek, chief executive officer of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand China, after the model appeared in China’s latest vehicle approval catalog, a key regulatory step before commercial sales. Second Model From Volkswagen-Xpeng Partnership In a post on Weibo, Cisek said the ID. UNYX 09 is the second vehicle jointly developed by Volkswagen and Xpeng within 24 months. He said the model…

Aistaland, the premium new energy vehicle (NEV) brand jointly developed by GAC Group and Huawei, has submitted regulatory filings for its second production model, the GX7, moving the extended-range sport utility vehicle (SUV) closer to its planned market launch later this year. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) included the GX7 in its latest vehicle approval catalog released on July 10. The filing covers three variants of the extended-range electric SUV. Large SUV Offered With Multiple Battery Options The GX7, which made its public debut during the GT7 launch event in late June, is positioned as a large…