Author: Victor Choi

Tesla China recorded higher wholesale volumes in March, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), as the company continued its recovery in the world’s largest auto market. Tesla China’s wholesale volume reached 85,670 vehicles in March, including domestic sales and exports, the CPCA said. The figure represents an increase of 8.68% from 78,828 units in the same month a year earlier. On a monthly basis, volumes rose 46.20% from 58,599 vehicles in February, reflecting a rebound following the seasonal slowdown typically seen at the start of the year. Detailed breakdowns of Tesla’s domestic deliveries and export volumes…

Stellantis NV is exploring an early-stage plan with its Chinese partner Leapmotor to produce electric vehicles at an idled assembly plant in Canada, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. The discussions are focused on Stellantis’ facility in Brampton, Ontario, which has been idle for several years and where thousands of workers were previously laid off, according to the report. The project, if realized, would mark a significant Chinese-linked investment in Canada’s auto sector following recent policy adjustments on imports of Chinese-made EVs. In January, Canada agreed to exempt up to 49,000 Chinese-made EVs annually from a 100% tariff under a bilateral arrangement,…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xpeng reported deliveries of 27,415 vehicles in March, marking a 79.70% increase from February, according to data released on Wednesday. Despite the monthly rebound, deliveries declined 17.44% compared with the same period a year earlier, extending the company’s streak of year-on-year declines to three consecutive months. In the first quarter, Xpeng delivered a total of 62,682 vehicles, down 33.32% year-on-year and 46.08% lower than the fourth quarter of 2025. The result was within the company’s previously issued guidance range of 61,000 to 66,000 vehicles. To support demand, Xpeng plans to launch an updated version of its…

Chery has launched its QQ3 EV compact electric car in China at a lower-than-expected price, intensifying competition in the country’s fast-growing budget electric vehicle segment. The QQ3 EV went on sale on Monday with a limited-time starting price of 58,900 yuan ($8,530), below both its earlier pre-sale price and the 65,800 yuan entry price of the A10 model from Leapmotor. Chery said orders for the new model reached 56,879 units within about two hours of the launch event, though it did not specify whether the figure included pre-orders. The vehicle is available in four variants, with the top-tier version priced…

BYD has secured a 2.6 GWh energy storage order for a solar-plus-storage project in Chile, as the company continues to expand its global energy storage business. The Shenzhen-based group is partnering with Grenergy to supply 468 MC Cube-T energy storage systems for the Central Oasis project in central Chile, according to a company statement issued on March 27. The project, which spans four power stations—Gran Teno, Tamango, Planchón and Monte Águila—forms part of a broader regional energy network. It has a total storage capacity of 4 GWh and a photovoltaic installed capacity of 1.1 GW, with an estimated investment of…

Nio said its compact EV marque Firefly has delivered 50,000 vehicles within 11 months of launch, underscoring strong early traction in China’s competitive small-car segment. The company announced on March 29 that deliveries began in late April 2025, shortly after the model went on sale, and have since accelerated as production scaled and market acceptance improved. Firefly was introduced in late 2024 as part of Nio’s broader multi-brand strategy aimed at expanding beyond its traditional premium lineup. The debut model entered the market at a starting price just under 120,000 yuan, positioning it as the most affordable offering in Nio’s…

MG Motor has opened a new engineering centre in Frankfurt and introduced a semi-solid-state battery technology called “SolidCore,” which is planned for use in its European electric vehicles from late 2026. The new facility forms part of MG’s “In Europe, for Europe” strategy, aimed at developing vehicles tailored to regional requirements such as climate, road conditions and driving behaviour. The move reflects a broader shift among Chinese automakers toward deeper localisation in Europe, beyond traditional functions such as design or chassis tuning. Owned by SAIC Motor, MG already operates engineering activities in Longbridge in the UK and a design centre…

SAIC-GM-Wuling has launched the fifth-generation Hongguang Mini EV, aiming to reinforce its position in China’s highly competitive entry-level electric vehicle market. The updated Hongguang Mini EV is priced between 42,800 yuan ($6,190) and 51,800 yuan after trade-in subsidies, as the company seeks to maintain its dominance against rivals including Geely Panda and Changan Lumin. The new model retains its four-door, four-seat layout and compact dimensions, measuring 3,268 mm in length with a 2,190 mm wheelbase. It is powered by a 30 kW electric motor, delivering a top speed of 100 km/h, suitable for urban commuting. The vehicle is equipped with…

BYD has launched the Song Ultra EV, equipping the mid-size electric SUV with its second-generation Blade Battery and high-speed flash charging technology as standard across all variants. The BYD Song Ultra EV starts at 151,900 yuan ($21,980), below its earlier presale price of 155,000 yuan, as the company intensifies competition in China’s crowded EV market. See also: BYD Plans Overseas Rollout of 1,500 kW Flash-Charging Network The model measures 4,850 mm in length with a 2,840 mm wheelbase and is offered with two driving range options of 605 km and 710 km under CLTC conditions. It is powered by a…

Mercedes-Benz is partnering with Chinese artificial intelligence firm Zhipu to introduce advanced AI capabilities into its luxury vehicles, as automakers compete to enhance digital experiences for high-end customers in China. The next-generation Mercedes-Maybach S-Class will feature a rear-seat entertainment system powered by a multimodal large language model co-developed by Mercedes, Tsinghua University and Zhipu. The system will debut in the 2027 version of the model. Zhipu said the integration marks the first time a multimodal AI model has been applied to a rear-seat entertainment system in the automotive industry. The technology combines natural language processing with visual and audio understanding,…

Luxeed, backed by Huawei and Chery Automobile, has launched updated versions of its R7 coupe SUV and S7 sedan, continuing a rapid product update cycle to remain competitive in China’s electric vehicle market. The refreshed Luxeed S7 is priced from 239,800 yuan ($34,800), while the Luxeed R7 starts at 259,800 yuan, both reflecting a 10,000 yuan increase from previous versions. The models were unveiled at Huawei’s spring product event, which also featured vehicles from other brands within its ecosystem. Both updated models come equipped with a new-generation 896-channel image-grade LiDAR system as standard, alongside Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 4 assisted driving…

Xpeng reported its first net profit since inception, marking a significant financial milestone as the company narrowed losses and improved margins in the final quarter of 2025. The company posted a GAAP net profit of 380 million yuan ($50 million) in the fourth quarter, compared with a net loss of 1.33 billion yuan in the same period a year earlier, according to its latest financial results. On a non-GAAP basis, net profit reached 510 million yuan, versus a loss of 1.39 billion yuan in the fourth quarter of 2024. Revenue for the quarter rose 38.2% year-on-year to 22.25 billion yuan,…

Eve Energy has produced two new all-solid-state batteries at its Chengdu facility, marking progress in the Chinese company’s efforts to commercialise next-generation battery technologies. The batteries, named Longquan No. 3 and Longquan No. 4, were rolled off the production line on March 17 during a ceremony at the company’s manufacturing base in Sichuan province, according to a company statement released on Wednesday. The Longquan No. 3 battery is designed primarily for consumer electronics and operates under low-pressure conditions below 2 megapascals (MPa), while offering high volumetric energy density. In contrast, the Longquan No. 4 battery targets electric vehicle applications, with…

Chery Automobile has unveiled a new all-solid-state battery capable of delivering a driving range exceeding 1,500 kilometres, as the Chinese automaker accelerates development of next-generation battery technologies. The announcement was made at the company’s 2026 “Battery Night” event, where Chery introduced its Rhino Battery series. The new solid-state battery is expected to debut in vehicle testing on the Exeed ES8 model next year, with broader validation targeted for 2027. Chery said its pilot production line has already developed solid-state cells across multiple energy density levels, which are currently undergoing extensive testing. “As the countdown to mass production begins, all-solid-state batteries…

Geely’s premium electric vehicle brand Zeekr has launched pre-sales for its new hybrid SUV, the Zeekr 8X, as it seeks to strengthen its position in China’s competitive high-end automotive market. The Zeekr 8X starts at 376,800 yuan ($54,640) and is offered in four variants—Max, Ultra, Ultra+, and a special Yaoying edition—priced up to 516,800 yuan. The model follows the launch of the larger Zeekr 9X and represents the brand’s second hybrid SUV. Built on Geely’s SEA-S super electric hybrid architecture, the Zeekr 8X features a 900-volt high-voltage system and combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine with either dual-motor or tri-motor electric…

Li Auto narrowly returned to profitability in the fourth quarter of 2025, as declining sales and challenges in its transition toward pure electric vehicles continued to pressure its financial performance. The company reported fourth-quarter revenue of 28.8 billion yuan ($4.1 billion), down 35.0% from the same period a year earlier, though still within its previously issued guidance range of 26.5 billion yuan to 29.2 billion yuan. Net income came in at 20.2 million yuan, a sharp drop from 3.5 billion yuan in the fourth quarter of 2024, following a net loss in the preceding quarter. See also: Li Auto CEO…

Chinese electric truck startup Zeron has secured more than 1.2 billion yuan ($about €151 million) in fresh funding from investors including Nio, CATL, and Momenta, as the company seeks to accelerate development of battery-electric and autonomous heavy-duty trucks. The latest investment round, led by CATL’s Puquan Capital alongside Momenta and Nio Capital, more than doubles the 500 million yuan (around €63 million) financing Zeron secured in July 2025. The participation of major players in batteries, autonomous driving and electric vehicles highlights growing industry interest in electrified freight transport. Founded in April 2022, Zeron was established by former executives from autonomous…

Lotus Technology, the luxury electric vehicle unit majority owned by Geely Holding, has begun pre-sales of its new hybrid SUV, the Lotus For Me, in China. The model is available in two variants with pre-sale prices set at 528,000 yuan ($76,780) and 588,000 yuan. The vehicle is currently displayed at Lotus retail stores across China, with the official market launch and customer deliveries expected by the end of March. The For Me represents the company’s first hybrid vehicle and is built on the 900-volt X-Hybrid architecture. In overseas markets, the same model will be marketed as the Lotus Eletre X.…

Lang Xianpeng, the former head of smart driving at Chinese electric vehicle maker Li Auto, has reportedly launched a new startup focused on embodied artificial intelligence, according to a report by local media outlet Red Probe. The venture marks Lang’s entry into the fast-growing embodied AI sector, which aims to integrate artificial intelligence into physical systems such as robots so they can perceive their surroundings, learn from experience and interact dynamically with real-world environments. According to the report, Lang has partnered with a senior executive from Alibaba to develop the new company. The move comes amid increasing investor interest in…

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has unveiled two new electric models — the Seal 07 EV sedan and the 2026 Sealion 06 EV SUV — equipped with its second-generation blade battery and new flash-charging technology. The Seal 07 EV is offered in two variants with starting prices of 169,900 yuan ($24,600) and 189,900 yuan. The mid-to-large electric sedan is powered by a 69-kWh battery pack and delivers a driving range of up to 705 kilometres. See also: BYD Debuts Seal 08 Sedan With 1,000 km Range and Megawatt Charging The model uses a rear-mounted single electric motor producing 240 kW…