Author: Victor Choi

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…

BYD unveiled its new Seal 08 sedan on Thursday, introducing a mid-to-large-size electric vehicle equipped with the company’s latest battery and charging technologies as it expands its Ocean product lineup. The Seal 08 is expected to officially launch in China in the second quarter of the year. The model is positioned as a core product within BYD’s Ocean series and forms part of the company’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the premium electric vehicle segment. Built on an 800-volt high-voltage architecture, the Seal 08 is equipped with BYD’s second-generation Blade Battery and is expected to deliver a driving range…

Alan Ai, the former president of the Onvo electric vehicle sub-brand under Nio, has joined Chinese hospitality company H World Group as chief growth officer, according to an internal appointment announcement. Ai will report directly to H World chief executive Jin Hui and will be responsible for overseeing the company’s long-term growth planning and the execution of its expansion strategy, according to a screenshot of the internal notice shared on Tuesday by automotive blogger @德卤爱开车. Before moving to H World, Ai held several senior management roles at Nio, including senior vice president and president of its Onvo brand. He announced…

Arcfox, the electric vehicle brand under Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC Group), has begun pre-sales of its updated Alpha S5 sedan, introducing extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants alongside battery-electric versions as it seeks to regain momentum in China’s competitive market. The model carries an official pre-sale starting price of 117,800 yuan ($17,180), with a limited-time subsidized price of 112,800 yuan. Customers placing deposits are offered purchase benefits valued at 25,888 yuan, while all variants receive a temporary 5,000 yuan subsidy. The revised Alpha S5 lineup includes six variants — four battery-electric (BEV) models and two EREV versions. BEV pre-sale prices range…

BYD’s premium brand Denza has previewed an updated version of its Z9GT, highlighting a battery-electric range of up to 1,036 kilometres under China’s CLTC test cycle, as competition intensifies in the high-end EV segment. The company said the revised Z9GT will offer battery pack options of 102.326 kWh and 122.496 kWh, supporting CLTC ranges between 820 km and 1,036 km. A recent regulatory filing showed that the related Z9 sedan, using the same battery configurations, will provide CLTC ranges of 905 km to 1,068 km. See also: BYD Offers Seven-Year Low-Interest Auto Loans in China Sales Push Denza said the…

Xpeng said it will begin construction of a large-scale humanoid robot production base in Guangzhou this quarter, as the Chinese electric vehicle maker expands its artificial intelligence strategy into robotics. The planned facility, located in the Tianhe district’s Guangtang Sci-Tech Innovation City, will cover about 110,000 square metres and is intended to support the mass production of advanced humanoid robots by the end of 2026. Xpeng described the project as the industry’s first “full-chain” manufacturing base for such machines. See also: Volkswagen to Use Xpeng VLA 2.0 as Smart Driving Solution Phase one of the development will include factory buildings,…

Li Auto said it delivered 26,421 vehicles in February, a slight increase from a year earlier that ends a run of year-on-year declines, even as deliveries fell compared with the previous month. The Chinese electric vehicle maker reported a 0.6% rise from February last year but a 4.5% drop from January, attributing the monthly decline in part to the Spring Festival holiday, which ran from Feb. 15 to Feb. 23 this year and disrupted production and deliveries. See also: Li Auto Autonomous Driving Executive Lang Xianpeng To Depart Robotics Unit The February result breaks eight consecutive months of year-on-year delivery…

Chinese materials and battery supplier Ganfeng Lithium has started production of a semi-solid-state battery with an energy density of 650 watt-hours per kilogram, while also initiating pilot production of full solid-state battery packs, according to Chinese media reports. Ganfeng, one of the world’s largest lithium processors and a supplier to automakers including Hyundai and Changan, has been expanding into battery manufacturing in recent years. The company is now focusing on next-generation chemistries aimed at higher performance and improved safety compared with conventional lithium-ion cells. The semi-solid-state batteries reportedly use a lithium-alloy, stress-free anode paired with a sulphur cathode and exhibit…

Chinese battery manufacturer Svolt has introduced a redesigned safety architecture in its Dragon Armor 3.0 battery, separating electrical connections from pressure relief channels to better protect passengers in the event of a battery fire, according to a report by CarNewsChina. Battery fires typically result from thermal runaway, a self-accelerating chain reaction inside a cell in which rising temperatures trigger further chemical reactions and heat generation. Once a critical threshold is reached, the process can lead to ignition and the spread of fire to adjacent cells. While prevention remains a priority, Svolt said its latest design focuses on mitigating risks should…

Chinese automaker JETOUR has outlined a comprehensive strategy for hybrid off-road vehicles, combining plug-in hybrid technology with an intelligent four-wheel-drive system across its expanding lineup. The approach centers on three models—the JETOUR T1 PHEV, JETOUR T2 PHEV, and flagship JETOUR G700—all built on a shared technical foundation designed to serve mainstream through premium segments. At the core is the company’s GAIA architecture, which integrates a 2.0-litre turbocharged hybrid engine with a dual DHT transmission and a 210-kW P3 electric motor. In the G700’s “Super Hybrid” configuration, the system delivers a combined output of up to 665 kW with a power…