https://www.scmp.com/rss/312135/feed The latest news, analysis and opinion on Tesla. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Xinlu Liang Xinlu Liang Tech billionaire Elon Musk is once again using his massive social media megaphone to trumpet Chinese infrastructure to an international audience. On Monday, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla reposted on X, which he owns, a nearly six-minute video of Chongqing East Railway Station in southwestern China, drawing millions of views within hours. It is unclear whether Musk is currently in Chongqing, China’s “mountain city” known for its spicy hotpot and one of the country’s most popular tourist... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3354066/why-elon-musks-post-spotlighting-chinese-infrastructure-has-reignited-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3354066/why-elon-musks-post-spotlighting-chinese-infrastructure-has-reignited-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 09:00:07 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng has begun mass production of autonomous cabs powered by its own chips, likely to mount yet another challenge on Tesla as both companies pursue a leading position in self-driving. Robotaxis have become the latest area where the two firms could go head-to-head, after smart EVs and humanoid robots, as the booming development of physical artificial intelligence technologies intensifies. Guangzhou-based Xpeng said its robotaxis would have level 4 (L4)... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3354034/chinese-firm-xpeng-builds-driverless-cabs-likely-challenge-teslas-fsd-software-ai-race?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3354034/chinese-firm-xpeng-builds-driverless-cabs-likely-challenge-teslas-fsd-software-ai-race?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 May 2026 02:08:20 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren The financial and commercial hub of mainland China is pinning its economic hopes on emerging industries such as autonomous driving and solid-state electric vehicle (EV) batteries to sustain growth following a robust start to 2026. Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng said the city remained confident about achieving a 5 per cent economic expansion this year, buoyed by a strategy to attract foreign businesses and bolster local tech innovations. “We will double efforts to enlarge investment in key projects,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353992/chinas-old-motown-shanghai-bets-robotaxis-better-batteries-gdp-bump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353992/chinas-old-motown-shanghai-bets-robotaxis-better-batteries-gdp-bump?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 23:30:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The world might be in for another China shock: affordable AI-enabled robots. Chinese-made humanoid robots are already significantly cheaper than many Western rivals. Now, with state policy support, mainland companies are working fast to combine artificial intelligence (AI) with robotics. Is the world ready? This month, Unitree Robotics unveiled a manned “mecha” capable of transitioning between bipedal-walking and four-legged modes. A high-strength alloy machine designed for civilian transport,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353651/chinas-ai-enabled-robots-set-transform-global-playing-field?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353651/chinas-ai-enabled-robots-set-transform-global-playing-field?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 22:45:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage on the second day of Xi and Trump’s meeting in Beijing. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘We’ll be back’: the latest takeaways from the Xi-Trump talks Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump chat as they stroll through the grounds of Zhongnanhai, with Trump again dangling the idea of a “G2”. 2. Meet Zhou Qunfei: the woman seated between Cook and Musk at China state banquet Zhou... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353778/xi-trump-summit-all-you-need-know-final-day-meeting-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353778/xi-trump-summit-all-you-need-know-final-day-meeting-beijing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 19:08:45 +0000 Josephine Ma Josephine Ma In the past, the last day of state visits to China has typically featured a deal-signing ceremony presided over by leaders from both sides. However, the last day of US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing was marked by discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a more intimate setting and an assurance that both would continue to meet this year. The two men strolled the gardens of the secluded Zhongnanhai compound, where Communist Party leaders live and work, a rare backdrop for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353774/xi-trump-summit-over-what-comes-next-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353774/xi-trump-summit-over-what-comes-next-us-china-rivalry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 16:16:03 +0000 Ann Cao Ann Cao US President Donald Trump invested millions of dollars in Apple and Nvidia in the first quarter, according to financial disclosures released as he was wrapping up his first state visit to China since 2017. According to a filing disclosed by the US Office of Government Ethics on Thursday, Trump increased investment in Apple and Nvidia, whose CEOs were part of the president’s high-profile business delegation to Beijing this week, during the first three months of 2026. In the first quarter, the US... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3353752/trump-poured-millions-nvidia-apple-first-quarter-ethics-filing-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3353752/trump-poured-millions-nvidia-apple-first-quarter-ethics-filing-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 12:30:57 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li Shortly after US President Donald Trump departed Beijing, China’s ruling Communist Party has called for strengthening the real economy – particularly manufacturing – to gain a competitive edge in the global economy. An article in Qiushi, set to be published on Saturday, curated selections from past speeches by President Xi Jinping to reiterate “our economy was built on the real economy and it must continue to rely on it for the future,” state-run news agency Xinhua reported on Friday. “At... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353732/after-trump-visit-chinas-top-party-journal-doubles-down-manufacturing-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353732/after-trump-visit-chinas-top-party-journal-doubles-down-manufacturing-push?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 10:59:50 +0000 Wency Chen Wency Chen Zhou Qunfei, the woman at the helm of manufacturing giant Lens Technology, found herself seated in a favourable position at the state banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping for US President Donald Trump on Thursday night, placed between two of her most important clients, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Tesla founder Elon Musk. Several Chinese business leaders attended the banquet alongside US executives and officials, including Hisense chairman Jia Shaoqian, Wanxiang Group chairman Lu Weiding,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3353657/meet-zhou-qunfei-woman-seated-between-tim-cook-and-elon-musk-china-state-banquet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3353657/meet-zhou-qunfei-woman-seated-between-tim-cook-and-elon-musk-china-state-banquet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 05:09:31 +0000 Josephine Ma,Cao Jiaxuan Josephine Ma,Cao Jiaxuan The meeting may have been delayed but when the summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump took place on Thursday, it yielded a forward-looking agreement. Sitting down for talks at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing, the two leaders agreed to make stability a key goal of relations over the next three years – and beyond, according to state media. Trump also invited Xi and first lady Peng Liyuan to visit the White House, setting the date for... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353608/xi-and-trump-set-sights-stability-china-and-us-note-caution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353608/xi-and-trump-set-sights-stability-china-and-us-note-caution?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 16:02:44 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Surging oil prices are prompting Chinese buyers to shift to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), which dominated April sales rankings by taking nine out of the top 10 spots – a new high in China’s electrification drive. Only one petrol car model was among the bestsellers across all power trains, with Geely’s Binyue in eighth place on sales of 14,923 units, according to data from automotive platform Dongchedi. The rest were BEVs, which produce zero tailpipe emissions. It marked a sharp retreat in... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3353525/geely-xiaomi-lead-pack-battery-evs-top-china-sales-rising-oil-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3353525/geely-xiaomi-lead-pack-battery-evs-top-china-sales-rising-oil-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 07:30:05 +0000 Nayan Seth Nayan Seth Even before US President Donald Trump touched down in Beijing on Wednesday, the first act of the China-US summit was playing out in the skies above the Chinese capital. Hundreds of professional photographers and residents lined up across various points near Beijing Capital International Airport to capture one of the most recognisable symbols of the American presidency – Air Force One. Within minutes of its appearance, Chinese social media was flooded with videos and photos of the aircraft’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353494/flying-white-house-trumps-air-force-one-fuels-fascination-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353494/flying-white-house-trumps-air-force-one-fuels-fascination-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 03:22:38 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu The business executives accompanying US President Donald Trump on his state visit to Beijing this week are the wealthiest such delegation to visit China – holding a combined personal net worth of over US$1 trillion – an indication of continued interest in the country’s lucrative market despite strained bilateral ties. With Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s last-minute addition to the delegation, 17 executives from the technology, finance, aerospace and semiconductor sectors have joined Trump, who landed... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353490/trumps-trillion-dollar-business-delegation-looking-make-deals-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353490/trumps-trillion-dollar-business-delegation-looking-make-deals-china?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 01:57:44 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Tesla China has launched a new financing scheme to attract more budget-conscious buyers after its sales in the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) market fell behind its domestic rivals. The US carmaker said on Wednesday that the down payment for a Shanghai-made Model 3 vehicle – priced at 235,500 yuan (US$34,672) – would be slashed to 55,900 yuan from 79,900 yuan if the buyer chose a five-year car loan offered by Tesla. “Our strong products, combined with attractive incentives for car... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3353446/tesla-lures-budget-conscious-chinese-buyers-cheap-loans-ahead-state-visit-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3353446/tesla-lures-budget-conscious-chinese-buyers-cheap-loans-ahead-state-visit-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 10:44:52 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Yulu Ao Xinyi Wu,Yulu Ao Senior officials from China and the United States concluded their latest round of trade talks in Seoul after less than four hours on Wednesday, the briefest session since the two countries began holding talks last year. The seventh round of negotiations – led by Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent – wrapped up just hours ahead of US President Donald Trump’s scheduled arrival in Beijing. The officials ended the session without speaking to the media, a departure... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353424/leaving-so-soon-us-china-hold-briefest-trade-talks-yet-leaders-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353424/leaving-so-soon-us-china-hold-briefest-trade-talks-yet-leaders-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 09:09:29 +0000 Coco Feng,Karen Tian Coco Feng,Karen Tian China’s tech-heavy ChiNext Index surged to an all-time high on Wednesday, closing past the 4,000-point mark as investor optimism rose ahead of US President Donald Trump’s trip to Beijing. The index, which tracks tech firms listed on Shenzhen’s Nasdaq-style ChiNext board, reached 4,038.33 by market close, its highest finish on record. Other Chinese stock indexes also made strong gains, with the Shanghai Composite Index rising to its highest level since 2015. China’s stock markets have been on an... https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3353390/chinese-tech-index-surges-11-year-high-investors-await-trump-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/markets/article/3353390/chinese-tech-index-surges-11-year-high-investors-await-trump-xi-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 06:17:02 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Chinese and US trade delegations meeting in South Korea today are expected to focus on locking in deliverables for this week’s summit in Beijing rather than engaging in substantive negotiations, analysts said, as both sides race through talks hours before US President Donald Trump’s planned arrival in China. The two teams, led by Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, will meet in Seoul for one day, a departure from previous rounds that stretched over two days across... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353377/china-and-us-teams-race-find-easy-summit-deliverables-meeting-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3353377/china-and-us-teams-race-find-easy-summit-deliverables-meeting-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 04:59:47 +0000 Xinyi Wu,Yulu Ao Xinyi Wu,Yulu Ao Senior officials from China and the United States have started a new round of trade talks in Seoul, South Korea, hours ahead of US President Donald Trump’s scheduled arrival in Beijing. The delegations – led by Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent – arrived at Terminal 1 of Incheon Airport around noon on Wednesday Seoul time. The two officials had both paid courtesy calls to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in the morning. This is the seventh round of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353224/china-us-trade-talks-kick-seoul-ahead-high-profile-leaders-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353224/china-us-trade-talks-kick-seoul-ahead-high-profile-leaders-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 03:34:15 +0000 Teresa Elena Frontado Teresa Elena Frontado China aimed to cooperate with Washington in the spirit of “equality, respect and mutual benefit”, Beijing said on Wednesday ahead of US President Donald Trump’s state visit and a pivotal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the two leaders would hold “in-depth exchanges of views on major issues concerning China-US relations as well as world peace and development”. “China stands ready to work with the United States in the spirit of equality,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353332/trump-heads-beijing-seeking-stability-high-stakes-xi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353332/trump-heads-beijing-seeking-stability-high-stakes-xi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 18:49:54 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Driven by global appetite for artificial intelligence, China’s computing hardware exports have emerged as a pivotal new engine for growth, providing Beijing with strategic leverage as US tech titans accompany President Donald Trump on a high-stakes visit to the Chinese capital this week, according to analysts. Chinese trade received another significant boost from the technology sector in April, as integrated circuit (IC) export value doubled year on year to US$31.09 billion, according to data... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3353300/ai-engine-chinas-booming-tech-exports-give-beijing-wind-its-sails-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3353300/ai-engine-chinas-booming-tech-exports-give-beijing-wind-its-sails-trump-summit?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 15:30:05 +0000 Kandy Wong,Ji Siqi,Ralph Jennings Kandy Wong,Ji Siqi,Ralph Jennings Beyond high-profile names like Apple’s Tim Cook, a number of lesser-known CEOs joining US President Donald Trump on his trip to China this week represent industries caught in the crossfire of the trade war, analysts said, and are expected to push for deeper engagement rather than risk becoming a “geopolitical football”. Seventeen American CEOs have been invited in total, according to a list released by the White House on Monday – a smaller business delegation than in 2017, when 27 high-profile... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353312/trumps-cadre-ceos-hunts-wins-china-soybeans-semiconductors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353312/trumps-cadre-ceos-hunts-wins-china-soybeans-semiconductors?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 13:34:22 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Ann Cao Sylvia Ma,Ann Cao When US President Donald Trump’s delegation touches down in Beijing on Wednesday night, he looks to be flanked by a cadre of corporate executives, headlined by a man seen by much of the Chinese public as the most familiar American entrepreneur of his generation: Elon Musk. The Tesla and SpaceX chief’s presence alongside Trump for meetings with President Xi Jinping adds a distinctive commercial and personal layer to a diplomatically delicate trip. “Musk’s inclusion in Trump’s China delegation has... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353293/elon-musk-joins-trumps-beijing-delegation-natural-bridge-trade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3353293/elon-musk-joins-trumps-beijing-delegation-natural-bridge-trade?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 13:30:07 +0000 Nayan Seth,William Zheng Nayan Seth,William Zheng Brett Ratner, director of the documentary Melania and the Rush Hour franchise, is travelling to China as part of US President Donald Trump’s delegation, sources familiar with the filmmaker’s plans have told the South China Morning Post. During the three-day trip, which begins on Wednesday, Ratner intends to advance preparations for the action-comedy franchise’s latest sequel, Rush Hour 4, including meetings with crew members, actors and potential Chinese film distribution partners. He is also... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353296/melania-rush-hour-director-returns-china-trumps-delegation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353296/melania-rush-hour-director-returns-china-trumps-delegation?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 11:30:04 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng US business leaders accompanying President Donald Trump on his state visit to Beijing will be given the opportunity to mingle with their Chinese counterparts at an exclusive international business club, according to sources. On Monday, the White House released a list naming dozens of business chiefs accompanying Trump, including high-profile figures such as Tesla chief executive Elon Musk and Apple’s Tim Cook. Two sources familiar with the arrangement said the Capital Club Beijing had been... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353283/trump-visit-opens-door-casual-networking-between-us-and-chinese-business-chiefs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3353283/trump-visit-opens-door-casual-networking-between-us-and-chinese-business-chiefs?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 10:02:46 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang Bridging the gap between science fiction and reality, a Chinese robotics firm on Tuesday unveiled a manned “mecha” capable of transitioning between bipedal walking and four-legged mode. Developed by Unitree Robotics, the GD01 – resembling an Autobot from a Transformers movie – is a high-strength alloy machine designed for civilian transport. It weighs 500kg with a pilot on board – roughly the weight of a grand piano – and carries a starting price of 3.9 million yuan (US$573,674), according to... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3353262/real-life-transformers-chinas-unitree-debuts-mecha-robot-shifts-2-legs-4?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3353262/real-life-transformers-chinas-unitree-debuts-mecha-robot-shifts-2-legs-4?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 08:54:13 +0000 Lucy Quaggin Lucy Quaggin US President Donald Trump is expected to be accompanied by more than a dozen business leaders, including Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk and Tim Cook of Apple, during his trip to China this week. The White House on Monday released the list of executives set to travel to China alongside Musk and Cook, including Larry Fink of BlackRock, Kelly Ortberg of Boeing, Dina Powell McCormick of Meta and Ryan McInerney of Visa. The delegation spans key industries, including aviation, technology, banking and... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3353199/trump-heads-china-musk-cook-and-top-ceos-xi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3353199/trump-heads-china-musk-cook-and-top-ceos-xi-talks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 21:49:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Elon Musk has launched a tirade against French judicial authorities currently investigating possible abuses on his X social network. France opened an inquiry in January 2025 into allegations that X, formerly known as Twitter, was used to interfere in French politics. The investigation has since widened to cover allegations of Holocaust denial, distribution of sexual deepfakes and most recently possible complicity in the distribution of images of child sexual abuse. Responding to a post on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352982/musk-uses-slurs-mock-french-prosecutors-investigating-x?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3352982/musk-uses-slurs-mock-french-prosecutors-investigating-x?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 May 2026 07:20:00 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Tesla’s Shanghai factory reported a big year-on-year rise in deliveries last month as it benefited from local governments’ subsidies and increasing interest in electric vehicles (EVs) amid the global energy shock. The US carmaker said in a statement that the so-called Gigafactory delivered 74,478 units in April, up 36 per cent from the same period in 2025. The number comprises sales in mainland China and exports to overseas markets. However, on a month-to-month basis the factory’s sales in April... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3352856/tesla-china-posts-36-sales-rise-local-rivals-new-models-nip-heels?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3352856/tesla-china-posts-36-sales-rise-local-rivals-new-models-nip-heels?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 May 2026 06:34:44 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings US technology companies should stay in China, despite persistent political pressure for their exit, to capitalise on revenue potential and stifle local competition while monitoring consumer trends, according to a Washington-based policy think tank. Sales generated by American firms within China can be reinvested in research and development back in the United States, thereby helping “sustain US innovation leadership”, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) said in a new... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352371/us-tech-can-use-china-listening-post-global-edge-washington-think-tank-explains?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3352371/us-tech-can-use-china-listening-post-global-edge-washington-think-tank-explains?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 13:00:13 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse R&B singer D4vd used chainsaws he bought from Amazon to cut up the body of the teenage girl he murdered and left to rot in the trunk of his Tesla, prosecution documents claimed on Wednesday. The internet breakout star killed Celeste Rivas Hernandez because she threatened to reveal their long-standing and illegal sexual relationship, which began when she was just 13, charging papers allege. He then hacked up her corpse, using a plastic paddling pool to contain the blood, and stuffed it into bags... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351933/chainsaws-and-paddling-pool-gruesome-details-alleged-d4vd-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351933/chainsaws-and-paddling-pool-gruesome-details-alleged-d4vd-case?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:24:19 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. China’s EV and battery makers race to cut charging times to under 10 minutes Battery makers and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers have seized on the Beijing Auto Show to showcase technologies promising shorter charging times in a race triggered by BYD and Contemporary Amperex... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3351815/chinas-ev-makers-cut-charging-times-tesla-rival-li-autos-expansion-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3351815/chinas-ev-makers-cut-charging-times-tesla-rival-li-autos-expansion-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:30:08 +0000 Ben Jiang Ben Jiang Chinese robotaxi firms from Pony AI to WeRide are accelerating global roll-outs of commercial fleets, leveraging cost competitiveness from the country’s world-leading new energy vehicle (NEV) supply chain and improved operational efficiency, company executives have said. China’s NEV supply chain had helped reduce the total cost of Pony AI’s upgraded seventh-generation robotaxi – including the base vehicle, battery and autonomous driving kit – to below 230,000 yuan (US$33,700), making it cheaper... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351581/chinese-robotaxi-firms-accelerate-global-roll-outs-cost-edge-drives-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3351581/chinese-robotaxi-firms-accelerate-global-roll-outs-cost-edge-drives-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:30:09 +0000 Yeon Woo Lee Yeon Woo Lee Electric vehicles (EVs) made in China now account for one in every three new registrations in South Korea, as Tesla’s Shanghai-built models power the surge and Chinese carmakers start to gain traction. The country’s auto manufacturers have further room to expand, analysts said, supported by higher fuel prices linked to the US-Israeli war in Iran and looser restrictions than traditional target markets. Still, tightening subsidy regimes could slow the pace of expansion, they cautioned. Sales of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351401/chinese-evs-make-inroads-south-korea-one-worlds-most-competitive-auto-markets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3351401/chinese-evs-make-inroads-south-korea-one-worlds-most-competitive-auto-markets?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:00:24 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Li Auto, one of Tesla’s major rivals in mainland China, has set its sights on the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, with its premium intelligent models poised to take on petrol car brands such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The Beijing-based electric vehicle (EV) maker, which is actively building a sales network abroad, expected overseas deliveries to account for 30 per cent of its total by 2030, according to president Ma Donghui. “It is inevitable that we will compete against BMW, Benz and Audi, which... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351481/chinas-li-auto-targets-bmw-and-mercedes-premium-suvs-middle-east-asia-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351481/chinas-li-auto-targets-bmw-and-mercedes-premium-suvs-middle-east-asia-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 11:10:02 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Xpeng, the Chinese electric vehicle start-up often cast as a key rival to Tesla, has set an ambitious goal to surpass the US carmaker’s self-driving capabilities in China by August, according to co-founder, chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng. The target highlights an intensifying technology race in the world’s largest car market, where manufacturers are increasingly leaning on advanced software to drive growth as government subsidies are phased out. Although Tesla’s full version of its Full... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3351400/xpeng-sets-august-goal-overtake-teslas-self-driving-tech-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3351400/xpeng-sets-august-goal-overtake-teslas-self-driving-tech-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:42:03 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Adamant about retaining its runaway lead in supplying smart driving systems in China, Huawei Technologies plans to invest as much as 80 billion yuan (US$11.7 billion) over the next five years to boost computing power essential for training and testing semi-autonomous cars. The massive capital expenditure would enhance the reliability of cars fitted with the Huawei Qiankun ADS autopilot system, as the Shenzhen-based tech giant looked to expand its customer base, said Jin Yuzhi, CEO of Huawei’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351242/huawei-doubles-down-autonomous-driving-earmarking-us117b-autopilot-training?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351242/huawei-doubles-down-autonomous-driving-earmarking-us117b-autopilot-training?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 03:39:33 +0000 Daniel Ren,Themis Qi Daniel Ren,Themis Qi Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers and supply-chain vendors, from Tesla rivals Xpeng to Nio and lidar sensor producer Hesai Group, will display their technological advances on a new front – in-car chips – at the Auto China show in Beijing as the country’s automotive industry makes rapid progress. Carmakers and vendors are designing and developing chips to power autonomous driving and in-car entertainment systems. These chips boast computing power on par with blockbuster products made by chip... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351186/chinese-ev-makers-bet-house-chips-make-cars-smarter-and-more-autonomous?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351186/chinese-ev-makers-bet-house-chips-make-cars-smarter-and-more-autonomous?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:30:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Few people have heard of Huangyan, a booming industrial district of Taizhou, a city in eastern China’s Zhejiang province. Yet without it, many cars would likely be heavier, more expensive and less energy efficient, while everyday household goods would probably cost more. The town specialises in plastic components and moulding equipment – unassuming products that rarely make the news, but sit at the heart of modern manufacturing. For years, Huangyan’s producers have dominated this supply chain,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351027/inside-teslas-hidden-supply-chain-how-chinese-town-shapes-modern-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3351027/inside-teslas-hidden-supply-chain-how-chinese-town-shapes-modern-world?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:00:10 +0000 Reuters Reuters David Burke, a 21-year-old musician known professionally as D4vd, pleaded not guilty on Monday to first-degree murder and other charges in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, months after her dismembered body was found inside ‌the boot of his Tesla in Hollywood. D4vd was charged with murder with special circumstances of lying in wait, committing a crime for financial gain, and murdering a witness in an investigation. He faces a maximum prison sentence of life without parole. Los... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3350786/singer-d4vd-charged-murder-teenage-girl-found-decomposed-his-car?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3350786/singer-d4vd-charged-murder-teenage-girl-found-decomposed-his-car?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:37:59 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have arrested a 16-year-old garage worker for allegedly driving without a licence after he lost control of a Tesla car and crashed into a parked vehicle, pushing the latter through a property agency’s storefront and leaving an employee injured. The force said on Monday that the teenager was believed to have been trying to drive the electric car out of the garage on Luk Mei Tsuen Road when he lost control and struck a seven-seater parked nearby. The boy had reportedly only... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350778/teen-driving-tesla-arrested-after-knocking-second-vehicle-through-storefront?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350778/teen-driving-tesla-arrested-after-knocking-second-vehicle-through-storefront?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:01:16 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Ganfeng Lithium, the world’s largest producer of lithium metal, has issued a strong profit forecast for the first quarter of this year as soaring demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage system (ESS) batteries lifted earnings. The company, based in China’s central Jiangxi province, said in an exchange filing on Thursday that increasing orders had driven up prices of lithium – a key material for EV and ESS batteries – helping it post an estimated profit of 1.6 billion yuan (US$234... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350364/chinas-lithium-giant-ganfeng-sees-profit-jump-demand-evs-and-ess-batteries-soars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3350364/chinas-lithium-giant-ganfeng-sees-profit-jump-demand-evs-and-ess-batteries-soars?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:40:24 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese suppliers of parts for Tesla’s electric vehicles (EVs) and robots saw their stock prices gain on Thursday morning as the US tech giant announced that its AI5 artificial intelligence inference chip was 45 days ahead of schedule. After a nearly 7.7 per cent jump in Tesla’s Nasdaq-listed stock on Wednesday, shares of the company’s Chinese suppliers were up by as much as 4.6 per cent on Thursday. Shanghai-listed Ningbo Tuopu Group and Shenzhen-listed Zhejiang Sanhua Intelligent Controls,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3350279/chinese-investors-cheer-teslas-ai-chip-progress-pushing-shares-local-suppliers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3350279/chinese-investors-cheer-teslas-ai-chip-progress-pushing-shares-local-suppliers?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:00:36 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Tesla outraces China’s BYD in pure electric car sales to regain world’s top spot Tesla has regained the global pure electric vehicle (EV) crown for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2024, after its deliveries rose 6.5 per cent year on year in the three months ending March. 2.... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3350112/brazil-blacklists-chinas-byd-how-batteries-might-get-quality-upgrade-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3350112/brazil-blacklists-chinas-byd-how-batteries-might-get-quality-upgrade-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:30:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory, its largest production base, has the potential to build humanoid robots in future, the company’s China president says, with its manufacturing efficiency and innovative capability seen as potential drivers of CEO Elon Musk’s hopes of commercialising the technology swiftly. Allan Wang Hao said in a media briefing on Tuesday that the Shanghai Gigafactory could provide a “golden key” to the mass production of robots designed to resemble and move like humans. “Like other... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350076/shanghai-gigafactory-has-potential-construct-humanoid-robots-tesla-china-president?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3350076/shanghai-gigafactory-has-potential-construct-humanoid-robots-tesla-china-president?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:02:53 +0000 Minxiao Chang Minxiao Chang China’s world models are benefiting from early integration with the country’s strong industrial base, which gives the domestic ecosystem greater momentum than that of the US, according to an executive at a leading Chinese world model start-up. World models simulate 3D environments and physical dynamics, and are expected to help train the next generation of physical artificial intelligence applications, including robots and autonomous vehicles. Wang Xiaofeng, an algorithm partner at GigaAI, said... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350062/chinas-edge-over-us-ai-world-models-abundant-data-faster-deployment-executive-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3350062/chinas-edge-over-us-ai-world-models-abundant-data-faster-deployment-executive-says?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:00:10 +0000 Peggy Ye Peggy Ye Chinese carmakers are rapidly gaining ground in Europe, squeezing out Asian rivals such as Japan and South Korea as exports to the region surge past 1 million units for the first time, according to an industry report. Imports of Chinese-made cars into the European Union in 2025 jumped 30.7 per cent from a year earlier to 1.006 million vehicles, according to the report published by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, known as the ACEA, on April 2. The value of those imports,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3349794/chinese-carmakers-squeeze-out-asian-rivals-europe-exports-top-1-million-units?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3349794/chinese-carmakers-squeeze-out-asian-rivals-europe-exports-top-1-million-units?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Apr 2026 23:00:20 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Unitree Robotics, one of China’s largest robot makers, will debut the R1, its cheapest humanoid model, on the international market via Alibaba Group Holding’s AliExpress marketplace next week, according to two sources familiar with the matter on Thursday. The launch would cover major overseas markets including North America, Europe, Japan and Singapore, one of the sources said. The product would later be available on other channels, the second person said. The R1, launched in mainland China last... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3349489/chinas-unitree-debut-cheapest-humanoid-robot-globally-alibaba-site-sources?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3349489/chinas-unitree-debut-cheapest-humanoid-robot-globally-alibaba-site-sources?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:30:11 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren A number of underperforming international car brands are likely to either exit the mainland Chinese market or scale down operations, as losses mount due to falling sales and shrinking market share. Carmakers delivering fewer than 1,000 units a month already faced a do-or-die situation in the world’s largest automotive market because the weak sales were not enough to cover their manufacturing and operating costs, according to analysts. Some carmakers are likely to follow Skoda, Volkswagen’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349083/more-foreign-marques-face-do-or-die-moment-chinese-buyers-shun-petrol-cars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349083/more-foreign-marques-face-do-or-die-moment-chinese-buyers-shun-petrol-cars?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Australian comedian Jenny Tian set off a wave of deep laughter across an Adelaide audience at a recent comedy festival by saying she had tired of democracy at home. So, Tian explained, she moved to the US to give “fascism” a whirl instead. The 30-year-old showbiz pro was born to Chinese parents, making her race a rarity in Western stand-up comedy. But the crowd was a near sell-out. I saw Tian’s March performance during a visiting media tour of Australia after days of meetings with national... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348468/australias-180-degree-shift-5-years-ago-china-favour-us-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348468/australias-180-degree-shift-5-years-ago-china-favour-us-out?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Tesla has regained the global pure electric vehicle (EV) crown for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2024, after its deliveries rose 6.5 per cent year on year in the three months ending March. The modest increase was enough for the US carmaker to beat China’s EV king BYD, which posted a 25.5 per cent drop in sales during the first quarter of 2026. Tesla’s deliveries worldwide between January and March hit 358,023 units, it said in a statement on Thursday. Tesla builds only pure electric... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348898/tesla-outraces-chinas-byd-pure-electric-car-sales-regain-worlds-top-spot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3348898/tesla-outraces-chinas-byd-pure-electric-car-sales-regain-worlds-top-spot?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:00:12 +0000