Author: Victor Choi

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…

Nio said on Thursday it expects to post its first-ever quarterly profit in the fourth quarter of 2025, under both non-GAAP and GAAP accounting standards, marking a potential turning point for the Chinese electric vehicle maker after years of losses. In a profit alert issued before market open, the company forecast non-GAAP adjusted operating profit of between 700 million yuan ($100 million) and 1.2 billion yuan ($172 million) for the quarter. That would compare with a non-GAAP adjusted operating loss of 5.54 billion yuan recorded in the same period of 2024. See also: Nio Launches Seven-Year Financing Plan as China…

Tesla recorded year-on-year growth in China-made vehicle sales in January, even as deliveries declined from the previous month amid a broader seasonal slowdown in the country’s auto market, industry data showed. Wholesale sales of China-produced Tesla vehicles totaled 69,129 units in January, including domestic sales and exports, according to figures released on Tuesday by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The figure marked a 9.32% increase from 63,238 units a year earlier but represented a 28.86% drop from December’s 97,171 units. See also: Tesla Beats Q4 Earnings Expectations as Margins Improve and Energy Business Sets Records Monthly sales declines are…

Geely Auto sub-brand Geely Galaxy has previewed a new plug-in hybrid sport utility vehicle, the M7, as it looks to sustain strong growth in the PHEV segment, the company said. Geely Galaxy released the first images of the M7 on Weibo on Monday, describing the vehicle as a mid-size SUV. The model will be equipped with Geely’s Golden Battery, offering a battery-only range of 225 kilometres. With a full fuel tank and fully charged battery, the company said the M7 will deliver a combined driving range of more than 1,730 kilometres. The M7 will be the second model in Geely…

Nio Inc said it has delivered its 60,000th third-generation ES8 sport utility vehicle, marking a rapid acceleration in deliveries for the model just weeks after surpassing the 50,000-unit milestone. The Chinese electric vehicle maker confirmed the latest delivery on Sunday via a social media post by Yang Bo, head of user operations, who said the vehicle was handed over in Guangzhou. The company is expected to publish its full January delivery figures later on Sunday. See also: Nio Rolls Out Updated NWM Driver Assistance Software in China Nio launched the third-generation ES8 at its annual Nio Day event on Sept.…

Aito, the automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and Seres Group, has released the first official images of its upcoming M6 sport utility vehicle, signalling an expansion of its lineup in China’s highly competitive SUV market. Aito and Huawei’s Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) shared multiple exterior images and a short preview video of the M6 on Weibo on Tuesday, offering an early look at the model’s design ahead of its official debut. The M6 adopts Aito’s established family styling, though its front-end design is closer to the entry-level M5 rather than the full-width headlight signature used on higher-end models…

Nio reported a sharp year-on-year increase in vehicle deliveries in January, supported by strong demand for its core brand and flagship ES8 sport utility vehicle, even as sales declined significantly from the previous month amid seasonal and policy-related pressures. The Chinese electric vehicle maker delivered 27,182 vehicles in January, representing a 96.08% increase from a year earlier but a 43.53% decline from December, according to company data. The drop reflects typical seasonal weakness at the start of the year following a year-end sales peak in China’s auto market. The January performance also came as China began scaling back supportive policies…

Chery Group’s new energy vehicle brand iCAUR will hold the global launch of its V27 mid-to-large hybrid sport utility vehicle in Dubai on Feb. 8, marking the brand’s official entry into the Middle East market, the company said. The iCAUR V27 is built around a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) powertrain designed to deliver more than 150 kilometres of pure electric driving and a combined range exceeding 1,000 kilometres. The model is positioned to cover urban commuting as well as long-distance travel, Chery said, as competition intensifies among automakers offering electrified SUVs in global markets. See also: Chery’s LEPAS Brand Unveils…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng has begun pre-sales in China for the battery-electric version of its X9 multi-purpose vehicle, expanding the model range two months after introducing an extended-range electric variant. The company said on Thursday that it is accepting consumer reservations for the 2026 seven-seat X9 BEV, offering five variants: 665 Max, 650 Ultra SE, 650 Ultra, 750 Ultra and 710 AWD Ultra. Xpeng has not disclosed pre-sale pricing but said customers can place an order with a 2,000 yuan ($290) deposit, which will be applied as a 7,000 yuan discount toward the final purchase price. See also: Xpeng…

Nio has taken part in a large-scale vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot in eastern China, using its battery swap stations to supply electricity back to the power grid as part of efforts to integrate electric vehicles into energy management systems. Six of Nio’s fourth-generation battery swap stations were involved in the trial on Jan. 22 in Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu, according to a social media post by GCL Energy Technology. The stations were upgraded with V2G capabilities by GCL and Nio ahead of the test. See also: Nio and CATL Sign Five-Year Deal to Deepen Battery and Swap Network Cooperation During…

China’s electric vehicle industry is entering a period of heightened strain as rising raw material and semiconductor costs converge with the withdrawal of policy support and the reintroduction of purchase taxes, according to a recent research note from UBS. UBS said early 2026 represents a critical inflection point for the sector, with manufacturers simultaneously absorbing the impact of commodity price inflation, surging memory chip costs and a 5% EV purchase tax that took effect in January. The research team led by Paul Gong estimates that production costs for a typical mid-sized smart EV could rise by between 4,000 yuan ($575)…

Yijing Auto, a premium intelligent vehicle brand jointly developed by Dongfeng Motor and Huawei, has released initial teaser images of its first production model, a large six-seat SUV, the company said. The images, published on the brand’s official WeChat account on Jan. 23, show a camouflaged vehicle undergoing cold-weather performance testing. The tests follow the rollout of the first tooling prototype on Dec. 22, 2025, indicating that the programme has moved into a vehicle validation phase. See also: Dongfeng–Huawei Brand Yijing Rolls Out First Pre-Production SUV Prototype The vehicle is positioned as a flagship family-oriented SUV and will feature Huawei’s…