Author: Victor Choi

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…

Nio’s sub-brand Onvo has launched the L80, a five-seat electric SUV priced from 245,800 yuan ($36,020), positioning it below the Tesla Model Y in China’s highly competitive EV market. The L80 is available for pre-order immediately, with first customer deliveries scheduled to begin on May 15, adding another contender in the fast-growing mid-size electric SUV segment. The model is based on the same platform as the larger Onvo L90, sharing Nio NT 3.0 platform and a 900-volt electrical system. Unlike the three-row L90, the L80 adopts a two-row, five-seat layout aimed at buyers seeking more cargo space and a lower…

Mercedes-Benz has introduced the GLC L EV, a long-wheelbase version of its electric GLC, at Auto China in Beijing, as part of its strategy to tailor electric vehicles to Chinese customer preferences. The GLC L EV follows a long-standing practice among European automakers of offering extended-wheelbase models in China to enhance rear-seat comfort. The vehicle measures 4.95 metres in length—104 millimetres longer than the standard version—while the wheelbase increases by 55 millimetres to 3.03 metres. Width and height remain unchanged. Mercedes-Benz said the additional space is primarily intended to improve rear legroom and passenger comfort, a key requirement in the…

BYD’s premium brand Denza began pre-sales on Friday for the N8L flash-charging edition in China, expanding its lineup of vehicles equipped with the automaker’s latest ultra-fast charging technology. The N8L flash-charging edition is priced between 350,000 yuan ($51,210) and 400,000 yuan during the pre-sales period, with buyers receiving up to 18 months of complimentary flash-charging access, the company said. The six-seat sport utility vehicle comes equipped with BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery and charging technology capable of supporting up to 1,500 kilowatts of power. BYD said the vehicle can charge from 10% to 97% in nine minutes, while charging from 10%…

China’s largest new energy vehicle maker BYD introduced its latest ultra-fast charging technology to the European market on Wednesday as its premium brand Denza launched new models in the region during an event in Paris. At a launch event held at the Palais Garnier, Denza unveiled the Z9GT shooting brake and D9 multi-purpose vehicle to European customers, marking a further step in the brand’s expansion outside China. The Denza Z9GT, the marque’s flagship shooting brake, has a pre-sales price of about 115,000 euros ($134,160) across seven European markets including France and Germany, the company said. Built on BYD’s e3 platform,…

BYD’s premium marque Denza has opened pre-sales for the N9 flash charging edition, as it looks to strengthen its position in China’s large luxury SUV market. The new variant is priced between 450,000 yuan ($65,620) and 500,000 yuan during the pre-sales phase, above the standard N9’s range of 389,800 yuan to 449,800 yuan. Final retail pricing is expected to be lower when the model officially launches, in line with common practice in the Chinese market. The updated N9 introduces BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery and a new fast-charging system, which the company says significantly improves energy replenishment performance. According to Denza,…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng has launched the updated 2026 Mona M03 sedan with enhanced configurations while keeping its starting price unchanged, as it aims to strengthen the appeal of its highest-volume model. The company introduced the model at an event on Thursday, pricing it between 119,800 yuan ($17,380) and 151,800 yuan. The sedan is offered in six configurations, with the top-end Ultra SE variant scheduled to begin deliveries in August 2026, while other versions will be delivered earlier. Most variants of the updated Mona M03 are equipped with Xpeng’s in-house developed Turing AI chip, marking the company’s first deployment…

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…