Author: Victor Choi

Geely Auto said it plans to begin production of solid-state battery packs later this year, marking a further step by Chinese automakers toward next-generation battery technologies as competition intensifies in the electric vehicle market. The company disclosed the target on Thursday during Geely Holding Group’s five-year strategy briefing, saying it will complete production of its first in-house developed all-solid-state battery pack in 2026 and proceed with vehicle installation and verification. See also: Geely Holding Targets 6.5 Million Global Vehicle Sales by 2030, With NEVs at 75% Geely Auto also said it will roll out a newly developed lithium manganese iron…

Onvo, the mass-market electric vehicle sub-brand of Nio Inc, has launched a native application for Huawei’s HarmonyOS, extending its digital services to one of the world’s largest mobile operating systems. Onvo president Shen Fei said in a post on Weibo on Wednesday that the HarmonyOS version of the Onvo app is now available through Huawei’s App Gallery, adding that the release responds directly to user demand on Huawei devices. See also: Nio’s Onvo Launches Lunar New Year Special Edition of L60 SUV The move follows earlier steps by Nio to adapt its main-brand mobile application for HarmonyOS. That app has…

Li Auto has begun offering Chinese consumers financing plans of up to seven years with reduced interest rates across its model range, joining rivals Tesla and Xiaomi in using credit incentives to stimulate demand. Li Auto said on Tuesday that the programme applies to its full lineup, including the Li L6, Li L7, Li L8, and Li L9 extended-range sport utility vehicles, as well as the all-electric Li i6 and Li i8 SUVs and the Li Mega multi-purpose vehicle. Buyers are required to make a minimum down payment of 15%. Under the offer, minimum monthly payments start from 2,578 yuan…

The chairman of Chinese battery maker Svolt Energy has cast doubt on claims by Finnish startup Donut Lab that it has developed a production-ready solid-state battery, saying the specifications described are not technically feasible. Speaking to local media on Jan. 14, Yang Hongxin, chairman and chief executive of Svolt, said the battery presented by Donut Lab “doesn’t exist in the world,” according to a report by Xuanyuan Business Review. See also: Dongfeng Tests Solid-State Battery Prototypes in Extreme Cold Ahead of Planned 2026 Production “All the parameters are contradictory,” Yang was quoted as saying. “Any technician with basic knowledge would…

The Dongfeng Nissan joint venture has unveiled the NX8, a new mid-sized sport utility vehicle that will be offered in China as both a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV), as the automaker broadens its electrified lineup in the world’s largest car market. The NX8 is positioned as a sister model to the N7 electric sedan introduced last year and shares its wheelbase of 2.92 metres. Measuring 4.87 metres in length, 1.92 metres in width and 1.68 metres in height, the five-seat SUV adopts a design language tailored to Chinese consumers and distinct from Nissan’s global models.…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng has completed its first ET1 humanoid robot prototype developed to automotive-grade standards, marking a step toward mass production of advanced robots, its chief executive said on Monday. “Today, the first unit of our ET1 robot, developed to automotive-grade standards, has successfully rolled off the production line,” He Xiaopeng said in a post on X. “This marks a critical step toward the large-scale mass production of advanced humanoid robots this year.” See also: Xpeng to Begin Public Road Tests of Robotaxis Using VLA 2.0 Software https://twitter.com/xiaopenghexpeng/status/2013197566067032205 Xpeng has been expanding beyond electric vehicles into artificial intelligence…

Zeekr said it will launch updated versions of its Zeekr 007 and Zeekr 007 GT models in China in the second quarter, featuring upgraded smart driving hardware and a new high-voltage electrical system. The premium electric vehicle maker, a unit of Geely Auto, said on Friday that selected versions of both models will be equipped with Nvidia’s next-generation Drive Thor-U assisted driving chip and a 900-volt high-voltage architecture. Interior designs will remain largely unchanged, the company said. See also: Everthing You Should Know About Zeekr 7GT Specifications During the transition period, Zeekr is offering limited-time incentives for the Zeekr 007…

BYD on Friday previewed two new flagship models, the Seal 08 sedan and Sealion 08 sport utility vehicle, as it steps up its push into the premium new energy vehicle (NEV) segment ahead of planned launches in 2026. The company released its first teaser images of the models, which will serve as the flagship vehicles of BYD’s Ocean lineup, following the appearance of spy photos earlier in the week. The camouflaged vehicles carry “Ocean 8” markings, underscoring their positioning at the top of the range. See also: BYD Seal 08 Flagship Spotted Ahead of Expected First-Quarter Debut BYD did not…

BYD’s personalised vehicle sub-brand Fang Cheng Bao has surpassed cumulative sales of 300,000 units, underscoring rapid growth driven by strong demand for its Tai series of SUVs. Fang Cheng Bao announced the milestone on Thursday via the social media platform Weibo, just 70 days after reporting cumulative sales of 200,000 units. The brand was launched by BYD in August 2023 as a higher-margin, design- and lifestyle-focused offering. See also: Fang Cheng Bao Expands Bao SUV Lineup with New Long-Range and Five-Seat Variants The Tai 7 hybrid SUV has reached cumulative sales of 100,000 units, Fang Cheng Bao said, accounting for…

China will step up efforts to achieve breakthroughs in all-solid-state batteries and high-level autonomous driving while expanding automotive consumption, the country’s industry ministry said following a high-level policy meeting on the development of the new energy vehicle sector. The plans were outlined after a Jan. 13 inter-ministerial work meeting in Beijing focused on energy conservation and the NEV industry, chaired by Li Lecheng, Party Secretary and Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, according to a report by Sina. See also: China Opens Public Consultation on National Solid-State Battery Standard Officials described 2026 as the opening year of…

Luxeed, the automotive brand jointly developed by Huawei and Chery Automobile, plans to launch a new large sport utility vehicle in 2026 alongside its previously announced V9 multi-purpose vehicle, while also updating its existing models, the brand’s newly appointed executive leadership said. Zhao Changjiang, Luxeed’s executive director and executive vice president, outlined the plans in an interview with Chinese automotive outlet Sina Auto, according to a transcript released on Tuesday. Zhao, who previously headed sales for BYD’s premium Denza brand, officially joined Luxeed this week. See also: Huawei-Backed Luxeed Releases Official Images of V9 MPV as Regulatory Approval Nears The…

Buick, the General Motors brand, plans to debut its Electra E7 plug-in hybrid SUV in China in the first quarter of this year, as part of its broader push to expand electrified offerings in the world’s largest automotive market. The automaker announced the plan on Tuesday via a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo, adding that the Electra E7 is expected to officially go on sale in China later this year. See also: SAIC-GM Releases Official Images of Buick Electra E7 Plug-In Hybrid SUV The Electra E7 is a five-seat mid-size SUV built on Buick’s Xiao Yao Super Architecture,…

The Maextro S800 electric sedan, jointly developed by Huawei and state-owned automaker JAC, became China’s best-selling luxury sedan priced above 700,000 yuan ($100,000) in December, outselling established foreign rivals including Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Maybach, according to industry data. Sales figures from market tracker Haidaxing ECC showed that the Maextro S800 recorded 4,376 deliveries in December, up 104% from the previous month. That performance made it the top-selling model in China’s ultra-luxury sedan segment, ahead of the Porsche Panamera, which ranked second with 1,593 units sold during the same period. See also: Maextro Rolls Out 10,000th S800 Sedan Less Than Seven…

Mobility technology company ECARX said it has entered into a share subscription agreement with Geely Investment Holding Ltd., reinforcing strategic and capital links between the two companies as they deepen cooperation in intelligent vehicle technologies. The agreement, signed on Jan. 8, 2026, provides for Geely Holding to subscribe to about 27.3 million newly issued Class A ordinary shares of ECARX through a private placement at $1.67 per share, representing a total investment of roughly $45.6 million, ECARX said on Jan. 12. See also: ECARX Expands Partnership with Volkswagen Group to Supply Intelligent Cockpit Systems for Latin America The newly issued…

SAIC-GM has released official images of the Buick Electra E7, a new five-seat plug-in hybrid SUV scheduled to enter the Chinese market later this year, as the automaker expands its electrified lineup under the Electra nameplate. The Electra E7 is built on Buick’s “Xiaoyao” fusion architecture and adopts the brand’s “True Dragon Plug-in Hybrid Pro” technology. The model reflects Buick’s latest design direction, drawing inspiration from the Electra SUV concept with what the company calls a “wing element” design language. The exterior features sharp body lines, a split headlight layout and a front fascia described by Buick as resembling a…

BMW has rolled out sweeping price cuts across 31 of its models in China, including sharp reductions on several electric vehicles, underscoring the growing pressure facing both foreign and domestic automakers in the world’s largest car market. The most significant reduction in absolute terms applies to the BMW i7 M70L, the high-performance flagship of the all-electric 7-Series lineup. The dual-motor sedan, which produces 659 horsepower and 1,100 Nm of torque, has seen its list price reduced by 301,000 yuan, equivalent to about $42,000. The move brings the model closer to prevailing transaction prices in a market where discounts have become…

The AUDI E5 Sportback has been named 2026 China Car of the Year, according to the award’s organisers, marking the first time a newly established automotive brand has received the title within a year of its market debut. The all-electric fastback is the first production model from AUDI, Audi’s China-exclusive sister brand launched in November 2024 to target the country’s premium electric vehicle segment. The China Car of the Year award is decided by a panel of automotive journalists and industry media in China. See also: AUDI E5 Sportback Specifications: Everything You Should Know The E5 Sportback is built on…

Chinese electric vehicle maker Leapmotor has taken a key regulatory step toward launching its new D19 large SUV after the model appeared in a vehicle catalog released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), clearing the final major hurdle before sales approval in China. The D19 was included in MIIT’s latest disclosure published on Thursday, with public feedback open from Jan. 9 to Jan. 15. The filing lists two variants under product codes FZ6530BEVWD19A and FZ6530REEVWD19C, representing the battery electric vehicle (BEV) and extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) versions, respectively. See also: Leapmotor Secures $530 Million Investment From China’s…

Nio Inc has taken a key regulatory step toward launching its new flagship electric SUV, the ES9, after the model appeared in a public catalog released by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), clearing the final major hurdle before sales approval in the country. The ES9 was listed in MIIT’s latest regulatory disclosure, which is open for public feedback from Jan. 9 to Jan. 15. The model, registered under the designation NAL6543BSEVD1, will be produced at Nio’s F2 factory in NeoPark, located in Hefei, Anhui province, according to the filing. See also: Nio Launches Limited-Edition ET9 to Mark…

BYD has refreshed two plug-in hybrid models in its Qin series, extending their battery-only driving range as the Chinese automaker moves to keep the vehicles eligible for the country’s revised new energy vehicle (NEV) tax incentives. The company launched the 2026 Qin Plus DM-i on Thursday and added new variants to the Qin L DM-i, with both models now offering up to 210 km of electric-only range under China’s CLTC testing standard. The upgrades come as China this year introduced a 5% purchase tax on NEVs, half the standard vehicle tax rate, while tightening qualification rules. See also: BYD Removes…