Author: Victor Choi

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…

Volkswagen Anhui has filed the ID. UNYX 09 all-electric sedan with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), completing a key regulatory step before the model can be introduced to the Chinese market. The model appeared in the latest batch of new vehicle filings released by the ministry on July 10. Volkswagen Anhui said on its social media channels that the ID. UNYX 09 is its first B-segment intelligent all-electric sedan and is scheduled to go on sale in the second half of the year. Two Variants Listed in Regulatory Filing The filing includes two versions of the ID.…

Li Auto has unveiled the Li i9, its first family-oriented all-electric flagship sport utility vehicle (SUV), with the model scheduled to launch in September as the newest addition to the company’s flagship 9-series lineup. Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Li Xiang introduced the vehicle in a post on Weibo, confirming its launch timeline. “Our first family-oriented all-electric flagship SUV, a second Home. Li i9, see you in September.” Largest SUV in Li Auto’s Portfolio The Li i9 will feature a special “Home” badge on the rear and will be offered in a Home edition, becoming the company’s second model…

BYD has produced its 17 millionth new energy vehicle (NEV), reaching another manufacturing milestone as the Chinese automaker continues to expand production and refresh its vehicle lineup. The milestone vehicle is the Seal 08, the flagship sedan in BYD’s Ocean series, the company announced through its official channels on Wednesday. The achievement comes 82 days after BYD produced its 16 millionth NEV on April 17, 2026. That milestone was marked by the production of the second-generation Denza D9 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). By comparison, the company required 120 days to increase production from 15 million to 16 million vehicles. The shorter…

Premium electric vehicle maker Zeekr has opened pre-sales for the five-seat version of its flagship Zeekr 9X sport utility vehicle (SUV), adding a new configuration to broaden the model’s appeal in China’s luxury vehicle market. The company announced the launch through its official social media channels, saying customers who place reservations during the pre-sales period will be eligible for incentives valued at up to 90,000 yuan (about $13,230). The package includes a complimentary Naim sound system and electric running boards. Customers can also place a 5,000 yuan deposit that will be credited as a 10,000 yuan discount toward the vehicle’s…

GWM has opened pre-sales for the next-generation Tank 300, introducing a significantly updated version of one of the flagship models in its premium off-road vehicle lineup. The company began accepting pre-orders on Monday, with the official market launch scheduled for July 19. Plug-In Hybrid Models Lead Launch Pre-sales are currently available for two plug-in hybrid variants. The Tank 300L Hi4-T is priced at 259,800 yuan (approximately $38,320), while the Hi4-Z version is available for 269,800 yuan. GWM has also opened reservations for an internal combustion engine version of the SUV, although pricing for that model has yet to be announced.…

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has identified lithium mining—not mineral refining—as the biggest long-term constraint facing the electric vehicle (EV) battery industry, signaling a strategic shift toward securing upstream raw material supplies. Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg, CATL Vice President Jiang Li said the company believes the industry’s future growth will depend more on expanding mineral extraction than increasing processing capacity, where China already holds a dominant position. “Processing is not the bottleneck, but mining is,” Li said, adding that CATL intends to strengthen its competitive advantage by investing further upstream in the battery supply chain. Mining Becomes Strategic Priority…

Xpeng is expanding its reach beyond retail vehicle sales after delivering 1,300 electric vehicles to Chinese rental platform Car Inc, strengthening a partnership aimed at accelerating the adoption of smart electric mobility across the country. The latest delivery forms part of Car Inc’s fleet modernization strategy and provides Xpeng with another channel to showcase its intelligent driving technologies to a broader customer base. Expanding Presence in Vehicle Rentals The vehicles were officially handed over during a ceremony in Beijing attended by Xpeng Chairman and Chief Executive Officer He Xiaopeng and Car Inc Chairman Yu Hongfei. The delivery includes the Mona…