Author: Victor Choi

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…

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…