Author: Victor Choi

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…

Mercedes-Benz will recall 19,481 electric vehicles in China due to potential battery safety issues, according to a notice published by the country’s top market regulator, marking another large-scale recall linked to EV battery reliability. The recall affects locally produced EQA and EQB electric SUVs manufactured between April 1, 2021, and March 12, 2024, and will begin on June 25, 2026. The vehicles were built by Beijing Benz, the German automaker’s joint venture with Chinese partner BAIC, and the campaign is being conducted under a defect investigation by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). Regulators said variations in the high-voltage…

BYD has released the first official exterior images of the Song Ultra EV, signaling an acceleration in marketing activities for the upcoming electric sport utility vehicle. The Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker shared two images of the model on its official Weibo account on Tuesday, highlighting the vehicle’s size and positioning within its Dynasty lineup. The Song Ultra EV is described as the brand’s first B-segment pure-electric SUV under the Dynasty series and the latest addition to the Song family. See also: BYD Sues U.S. Government Over Trump-Era Tariffs, Seeks Refund of Levies Paid According to a vehicle purchase…

BMW has appointed Christian Ach as President and Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group Region China, effective April 1, as the German premium carmaker seeks to stabilise its performance in its most important global market. Ach, who has led BMW’s home market in Germany since March 2024, will relocate to China at a time when foreign premium brands are under growing pressure from domestic automakers and a rapidly expanding local electric vehicle sector. China remains BMW’s largest single market by volume, despite a sharp decline in recent years. See also: BMW Launches 2026 iX1 Electric SUV In China With Equipment…

Xiaomi has filed a new ultra-high-performance variant of its YU7 sport utility vehicle, signalling a further push into the premium electric performance segment, according to a regulatory catalogue released by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The filing reveals a YU7 GT pure-electric SUV with a combined power output of 738 kilowatts, or about 990 horsepower, exceeding the 508 kW output of the most powerful YU7 variant currently on record. The YU7 GT uses a dual-motor setup, with a 288 kW motor at the front and a 450 kW motor at the rear. See also: Xiaomi YU7 GT Electric…