Author: Victor Choi

Chinese technology company Xiaomi reported higher revenue from its electric vehicle business in the first quarter of 2026, although the division returned to an operating loss after achieving profitability in the second half of last year. Xiaomi delivered 80,856 electric vehicles during the January-March period, up 6.6% from a year earlier. The company currently sells two models, the Xiaomi SU7 sedan and the Xiaomi YU7 sport utility vehicle, which was introduced in mid-2025. The latest deliveries brought Xiaomi’s cumulative EV sales to nearly 500,000 units since the launch of its automotive business two years ago. By the end of 2025,…

Northern Irish bus manufacturer Wrightbus has secured an order from Hong Kong public transport operator Citybus for 20 battery-electric 6×2 StreetDeck Electroliner double-deck buses. The order marks the first international contract for Wrightbus’s new triple-axle StreetDeck Electroliner model, the company said. The 12-metre buses will be manufactured at Wrightbus’s facility in Malaysia and are scheduled for delivery in 2027 as part of the company’s expansion strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. According to Wrightbus, the contract was awarded following an open tender process in which Citybus evaluated both technical performance and commercial value. The agreement is valued at approximately £7 million.…

Nio said its boutique compact EV brand Firefly has delivered its 60,000th vehicle, marking a new milestone for the urban-focused electric vehicle brand. The achievement comes less than two months after Firefly reached the 50,000-delivery milestone on March 29 and about 13 months after the launch of its first and currently only model, the Firefly EV. Firefly is positioned as a premium compact electric vehicle brand targeting urban commuting consumers in China’s competitive EV market. The delivery milestone comes shortly after Firefly released a major over-the-air software update, identified as the Aster 1.5.0 system version. According to the company, the…

CATL is reportedly planning to invest in DeepSeek as the battery giant seeks to expand into AI infrastructure and energy supply systems for data centres. According to a report by The Information, CATL intends to participate in DeepSeek’s ongoing initial funding round, citing two people familiar with the matter. The report said the financing round is targeting approximately 50 billion yuan ($7.36 billion) and could close as early as June. If completed, DeepSeek’s valuation could exceed 350 billion yuan, according to the report. The potential investment comes as CATL expands beyond its core electric vehicle battery business into sectors tied…

Voyah Automotive, the premium brand of Dongfeng Motor, has launched the Voyah Taishan X8 in China, featuring multiple technologies supplied by Huawei. The Taishan X8 officially went on sale on Friday with a starting price of 292,900 yuan ($43,110), approximately 10,000 yuan below the pre-sale price announced in April. Voyah is offering the SUV in five variants, including three plug-in hybrid electric vehicle models and two battery-electric versions. The PHEV lineup is priced between 292,900 yuan and 359,900 yuan, while the BEV variants are priced at 339,900 yuan and 379,900 yuan. The SUV measures 5,200 millimeters in length with a…

BYD has introduced the third-generation version of its BYD Atto 3 in China, where the model is sold under the Yuan Plus name, featuring upgraded charging technology and a revised electric vehicle platform. The updated model starts at 119,900 yuan ($16,500), equivalent to around 15,200 euros, with prices ranging up to 149,900 yuan across four variants. BYD first introduced the revised vehicle at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2026 before officially unveiling the production model this week. The company said the new Atto 3 transitions from BYD’s earlier e-Platform 3.0 architecture to the upgraded e-Platform 3.0 Evo platform. The…

GWM has officially launched the Wey V9X, a new flagship luxury SUV positioned as an AI-powered six-seat model for China’s increasingly competitive premium vehicle market. The vehicle was introduced on Monday under GWM’s Wey brand and is initially available in three plug-in hybrid variants starting at 349,800 yuan ($51,370). All launch versions are equipped with GWM’s Hi4 hybrid powertrain system. According to the company, the Wey V9X is the first production model built on GWM’s new Global One S platform, which incorporates AI-native architecture and standardized hardware systems intended to support flexible vehicle functionality. GWM said additional hybrid-electric and fully…

Xiaomi has established a new subsidiary focused on electric vehicle components, as the company moves to deepen control over key parts of its EV supply chain, according to Chinese media reports. The new company, Beijing Xiaomi Jingxu Technology, was officially registered on April 30 with capital of 10 million yuan ($1.4 million), several Chinese media outlets reported, citing business information platform Tianyancha. The subsidiary’s business scope includes electric vehicle batteries, motors and electronic control systems. Ownership records cited in the reports show the company is indirectly wholly owned by Xiaomi Intelligent Technology. Xiaomi has so far relied on external battery…

China sold 1.344 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) in April, marking renewed growth in the country’s electric vehicle sector as exports continued to offset softer domestic demand, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. The April total, which includes battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles, rose 9.7% from the same month a year earlier and increased 7.4% from March 2026 levels. It was the first month this year in which China’s NEV sales exceeded year-earlier volumes, reflecting a recovery after several months of weaker growth. NEVs accounted for 53.2% of all vehicle sales in China…

Leapmotor reported record monthly deliveries in April as strong demand for newly launched models and increased production capacity drove rapid growth. The company delivered 71,387 vehicles in April, up 73.95% from a year earlier and 42.69% higher than March levels, according to data released on Friday. During the first four months of 2026, Leapmotor delivered 181,542 vehicles, representing a year-on-year increase of 41.18%. Cumulative deliveries reached 1,377,645 vehicles. See also: Leapmotor and Stellantis Introduce B05 Electric Sedan in Europe Starting at €26,900 The company said its latest delivery record was supported by strong market demand for new product launches. Leapmotor…

Audi has announced a series of coordinated leadership changes affecting key roles within the company and its international partnerships, including its joint venture with SAIC Motor and the Chinese sub-brand AUDI. Fermín Soneira, currently overseeing Audi’s collaboration with SAIC and leading the AUDI sub-brand, will transition to Automobili Lamborghini as Chief Technical Officer (CTO) from July 1, 2026. Soneira, who was appointed to his China role in early 2024, will relocate to Italy in the coming months to prepare for the position. See also: Audi Unveils Updated Q4 E-Tron With MEB+ Platform and Enhanced Features He will succeed Rouven Mohr,…

Nio is deepening its strategic partnership with U.S.-based semiconductor supplier onsemi to support the transition of its electric vehicles from 400-volt to 900-volt architectures. The companies said the collaboration, which has been in place for several years, is being expanded to support Nio’s next-generation EV platforms. The shift to higher-voltage systems is expected to improve driving range, charging speed, and overall vehicle performance. See also: Onsemi Announces $2 Billion Investment in Czech Republic for Silicon Carbide Production At the center of the partnership is onsemi’s EliteSiC M3e technology, a silicon carbide (SiC)-based MOSFET platform designed to reduce energy losses and…