https://www.scmp.com/rss/508696/feed Xpeng is a leading Chinese maker of electric vehicles. The company is considered the most tech-centric of the country's premium EV makers. It counts Alibaba Group, which owns the South China Morning Post, among its backers. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com 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,Themis Qi Daniel Ren,Themis Qi Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers at the Beijing auto show are shifting their focus to overseas markets, banking on opportunities from the Middle East crisis to boost profitability amid weak sales at home. “Going global has become a top choice for Chinese EV builders as they struggle to break even,” said Phate Zhang, founder of Shanghai-based data provider CnEVPost. “The Middle East crisis is acting as a strong catalyst to bolster their overseas deliveries.” Nearly all major EV assemblers... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351357/chinese-ev-makers-target-global-expansion-auto-china-amid-energy-shock?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3351357/chinese-ev-makers-target-global-expansion-auto-china-amid-energy-shock?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:57:59 +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 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren European consumers, spooked by rising oil prices due to the Middle East conflict, rushed to buy battery-powered cars last month, with Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brands poised to reap the benefits and give their global expansion a boost. Battery EV (BEV) registrations, a proxy for retail sales, climbed 51 per cent month on month in March, topping 224,000 units across 15 key European Union (EU) markets, according to data jointly released by research firm New Automotive and industry consortium... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3350776/jump-eu-ev-sales-amid-iran-war-boosts-chinese-brands-fortunes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3350776/jump-eu-ev-sales-amid-iran-war-boosts-chinese-brands-fortunes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:30:07 +0000 Fox Yi Hu Fox Yi Hu In Canada, fans and foes of Chinese electric vehicles are holding their breath for brands like BYD to hit the market. Whether they love them or not, they share the hope that Chinese carmakers will help to bring all EV prices down, as affordability becomes a growing concern for consumers. Companies including BYD, Geely, Nio and Xpeng are preparing to roll out sales locations in Canada, seizing the opportunity of warmer ties between the two countries. Ottawa struck a milestone trade deal with... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350483/china-trade-deal-has-canadians-looking-forward-cheaper-electric-vehicles?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350483/china-trade-deal-has-canadians-looking-forward-cheaper-electric-vehicles?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:00:09 +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 Yulu Ao,Daniel Ren Yulu Ao,Daniel Ren Chinese electric vehicle (EV) stocks rallied against a falling broader market in Hong Kong on Monday, as strong export data and rising oil prices bolstered the appeal of battery-powered and hybrid cars while a coming wave of model launches sparked hopes of a domestic demand recovery. Nio surged 7.5 per cent to HK$52.40 on Monday, while BYD climbed 5 per cent to HK$110.30, the highest since October 2. Xpeng advanced 0.9 per cent to HK$67.60, and Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology added 1.6 per cent to... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349858/chinese-ev-stocks-jump-surging-exports-hopes-domestic-demand-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3349858/chinese-ev-stocks-jump-surging-exports-hopes-domestic-demand-recovery?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 06:00:19 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren A pivotal year for self-driving cars has begun in China, with the first “hands off” models approved to ply public roads, carmakers gearing up to mass-produce them and the first mandatory safety standards for autonomous vehicles out for public comment. The first carmakers were given the go-ahead in mid-December to build electric vehicle (EV) models with Level 3 (L3) autonomous driving capability. On an international scale from L0 to L5, an L3 autonomous vehicle can operate independently under... https://www.scmp.com/plus/business/china-evs/article/3349837/chinese-carmakers-gear-l3-self-driving-roll-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/business/china-evs/article/3349837/chinese-carmakers-gear-l3-self-driving-roll-out?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 03:40:07 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi German automotive giant Volkswagen will launch three new electric vehicle (EV) models in mainland China over the next two weeks, developed using technology from Chinese firms. The move comes at a time when international marques are struggling on the mainland amid fierce competition in the world’s largest car market. As the largest foreign carmaker in China, Volkswagen previously said that it would integrate Germany’s high manufacturing standards with technology developed by Chinese firms. “We... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3349457/volkswagen-tests-chinas-appetite-locally-developed-evs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3349457/volkswagen-tests-chinas-appetite-locally-developed-evs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:57:03 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi The energy shock stemming from the Middle Eastern conflict may help Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) makers exceed their overseas expansion goals this year, according to analysts. “High oil prices – and even gasoline shortages in some countries – will accelerate the pace of China’s EV exports,” said Yale Zhang, managing director at the consultancy Automotive Foresight in Shanghai. “This oil crisis presents a historic opportunity for China’s EV industry, just as the oil crisis of the 1970s paved the... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3348561/middle-east-oil-shock-jolts-ev-demand-putting-chinese-exports-fast-lane?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3348561/middle-east-oil-shock-jolts-ev-demand-putting-chinese-exports-fast-lane?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:30:08 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi The era of price wars in China’s electric vehicle (EV) market is giving way to a new contest: who can deliver better technology at the same price. On a cloudy evening in March, Shenzhen-based BYD put forward its answer with the unveiling of a battery capable of charging from 10 to 70 per cent in just five minutes – and to 97 per cent in nine minutes. The company said it would apply the technology to models priced as low as 155,000 yuan (US$22,500) while building 20,000 charging stations this... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3348131/how-chinas-ev-makers-think-they-can-outrun-disastrous-price-wars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3348131/how-chinas-ev-makers-think-they-can-outrun-disastrous-price-wars?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 02:00:13 +0000 Fan Hou Fan Hou - https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3347946/evs-lead-chinas-going-global-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/economy/china-economy/article/3347946/evs-lead-chinas-going-global-push?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 05:01:34 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Xiaomi’s updated SU7 electric vehicle (EV) is expected to bite into the market share of Tesla and some domestic rivals in China, as demand weakens and regulators tighten oversight. Founder and CEO Lei Jun on Thursday announced official pricing for the new-generation smart sedan, with the standard edition starting at 219,900 yuan (US$31,900) and the pro and max variants set at 249,900 yuan and 303,900 yuan, respectively. The figures are 10,000 yuan lower than pre-sale estimates, but 4,000 yuan... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3347259/xiaomis-new-generation-su7-launch-sparks-fresh-ev-fight-tesla-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3347259/xiaomis-new-generation-su7-launch-sparks-fresh-ev-fight-tesla-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:29:50 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese carmakers, saddled with excess capacity and weak demand at home, are taking a new approach to global expansion: utilising idled facilities abandoned by international marques. By adopting an asset-light strategy, companies from Geely Auto to Great Wall Motor (GWM) can assemble their cars overseas at lower costs, broadening their influence on the global automotive sector, according to analysts. “Mindful of profitability as well as geopolitical and operating risks, Chinese carmakers are... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346472/carpool-chinese-giants-use-idled-foreign-plants-fuel-global-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3346472/carpool-chinese-giants-use-idled-foreign-plants-fuel-global-expansion?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:00:07 +0000 Zhu Wenqian Zhu Wenqian Several years ago, prime ground-floor spaces in major shopping malls across Beijing and Shanghai’s business districts were commonly occupied by electric vehicle (EV) showrooms, with staff often escorting customers to car parks for test drives. Many of these stores have now closed amid sluggish EV sales – yet mall owners have not been left disappointed. Instead, a new retail landscape is emerging, filled with tenants who are proving to be even more effective at drawing crowds and boosting rental... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346537/china-mall-shuffle-evs-exit-whos-filling-ground-floor-showrooms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3346537/china-mall-shuffle-evs-exit-whos-filling-ground-floor-showrooms?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 04:00:12 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Aridge, the flying-car developer backed by Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, has raised nearly US$200 million in fresh funding as it prepares for a potential initial public offering (IPO) in Hong Kong this year. Existing investors including GL Ventures, the venture capital arm of Hillhouse Investment, and HongShan – formerly Sequoia China – participated in the latest round, according to a statement released on Friday. The fundraising brings Aridge’s total equity financing to about US$1... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346597/flying-car-dreams-gain-altitude-xpeng-affiliate-aridge-raises-us200-million?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3346597/flying-car-dreams-gain-altitude-xpeng-affiliate-aridge-raises-us200-million?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 08:43:40 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Two prominent Chinese business leaders have pledged to double down on outbound investment – including in the Middle East and Latin America – even as geopolitical risks intensify following the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran and Washington’s increasing interventions in the western hemisphere. Li Dongsheng, founder and chairman of Chinese electronics giant TCL, said the recent crisis in the Middle East had only a temporary impact on the company’s operations there and that the overall... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346500/top-chinese-entrepreneurs-commit-middle-east-expansion-despite-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3346500/top-chinese-entrepreneurs-commit-middle-east-expansion-despite-iran-war?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Adrian Cheng Chi-kong, former heir apparent to Hong Kong property giant New World Development (NWD), plans to spend more time in mainland China and increase his tech investments this year, with a focus on a range of sectors from artificial intelligence to aerospace, echoing China’s latest five-year plan. “If our country can realise [the 15th five-year plan], we would be stable and secure, and our future will definitely be promising,” Cheng, who is a member of the Chinese People’s Political... https://www.scmp.com/business/money/markets-investing/article/3345918/hong-kong-tycoon-adrian-cheng-doubles-down-tech-step-chinas-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/money/markets-investing/article/3345918/hong-kong-tycoon-adrian-cheng-doubles-down-tech-step-chinas-5-year-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 06:12:38 +0000 Yulu Ao Yulu Ao The founder and chairman of Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) said his company plans to ramp up the use of artificial intelligence in research and take Chinese battery technology and standards further overseas, as the battery giant maps the next phase of growth. The world’s largest maker of electric vehicle (EV) batteries would step up research and development (R&D) spending and apply more AI methods to strengthen its technological edge, said billionaire Robin Zeng Yuqun at a briefing... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345432/chinas-ev-battery-leader-catl-step-use-ai-rd-founder-and-chairman-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3345432/chinas-ev-battery-leader-catl-step-use-ai-rd-founder-and-chairman-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:33:14 +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. Low-cost models dominate China EV sales, surpassing Tesla and BYD Amid intensifying competition among Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) makers last year, relatively inexpensive models from Geely Auto and Wuling Motor Holdings topped the sales chart, surpassing cars from BYD and Tesla. 2.... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3345201/low-cost-models-surpass-tesla-china-geely-makes-bets-amid-price-wars-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3345201/low-cost-models-surpass-tesla-china-geely-makes-bets-amid-price-wars-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 07:30:08 +0000 Wency Chen,Ann Cao Wency Chen,Ann Cao China’s tech leaders, including Xiaomi’s Lei Jun, 360 Security Technology’s Zhou Hongyi and Xpeng’s He Xiaopeng, have put forward policy proposals ahead of the “two sessions”, as Beijing seeks to accelerate development in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence and robotics. The executives aim to promote the industrial use of humanoid robots, speed up the deployment of AI agents and expand computing infrastructure – areas increasingly viewed as key battlegrounds in the global... https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3345372/chinas-tech-leaders-urge-faster-ai-humanoid-robot-adoption-two-sessions-proposals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3345372/chinas-tech-leaders-urge-faster-ai-humanoid-robot-adoption-two-sessions-proposals?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 06:37:05 +0000 Themis Qi,Zhu Wenqian Themis Qi,Zhu Wenqian The head of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng said the country should accelerate the development of autonomous driving technology amid slowing sales growth in the sector. He Xiaopeng, founder and CEO of the Guangzhou-based company, said on Monday that the country should skip an intermediate step and move directly to a more advanced version of autonomous capabilities, adding that Beijing should adjust regulations and policies faster to make this happen. He said he would submit this... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3345163/why-wait-china-should-skip-step-self-driving-cars-xpeng-founder-and-ceo-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3345163/why-wait-china-should-skip-step-self-driving-cars-xpeng-founder-and-ceo-says?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 11:33:07 +0000 Themis Qi Themis Qi Ahead of China’s annual legislative meetings – typically a window into Beijing’s top-level policy agenda – this is the fifth entry in a series examining the complex economic recalibration driving China’s growth philosophy and its wide-ranging implications for local governments, financial investors and private enterprises. Chinese government and industry officials are likely to discuss plans to control domestic electric-vehicle (EV) makers’ output, while encouraging them to prioritise... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3344899/top-chinese-officials-industry-leaders-may-discuss-capping-ev-output-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3344899/top-chinese-officials-industry-leaders-may-discuss-capping-ev-output-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 08:00:08 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat Xiaomi is doubling down on its five-year plan for core technologies including chips, artificial intelligence and operating systems, aiming to position itself as a deep-tech player amid China’s self-reliance push, while peers such as Li Auto and Xpeng accelerate moves into humanoid robotics. Lei Jun, founder, chairman and CEO of the Beijing-based smartphone and electric vehicle giant, on Tuesday said private technology firms must deepen investment in core technologies and speed up the... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344572/xiaomi-deepens-push-chips-and-ai-peers-race-humanoid-robotics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3344572/xiaomi-deepens-push-chips-and-ai-peers-race-humanoid-robotics?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 07:29:56 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Geely Auto – assembler of mainland China’s bestselling pure electric vehicle (EV), the Galaxy Xingyuan – said it is betting on longer-range and faster-charging technologies, rather than price cuts, to consolidate its leading position in the world’s largest car market. Jerry Gan Jiayue, CEO of the firm’s car subsidiary, pledged that the carmaker, as a bellwether player, would “oppose involution”, while staying committed to driving the growth of China’s automobile sector. Involution refers to... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344489/chinese-ev-maker-geely-bets-longer-range-faster-charging-tech-over-another-price-war?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344489/chinese-ev-maker-geely-bets-longer-range-faster-charging-tech-over-another-price-war?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:47:39 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Electric vehicle deliveries in mainland China slumped by more than 40 per cent in January, darkening the outlook for a sector grappling with rising production costs and the gradual withdrawal of government support. The country’s roughly 50 electric carmakers sold about 900,000 vehicles last month, down 42.3 per cent from 1.56 million units in December, according to preliminary data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) on Wednesday. The figures, which include retail sales,... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342410/chinas-turbocharged-ev-market-hits-speed-bump-amid-falling-sales-and-rising-costs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342410/chinas-turbocharged-ev-market-hits-speed-bump-amid-falling-sales-and-rising-costs?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:47:41 +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 flying car makers aim for deliveries this year as passenger use nears China could see its first flying car begin carrying paying passengers in 2026, as government backing and a growing pipeline of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle makers push the country’s... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3342319/xiaomis-tesla-killer-beijing-ottawa-tariff-deal-promising-china-market-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3342319/xiaomis-tesla-killer-beijing-ottawa-tariff-deal-promising-china-market-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 07:00:41 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Tesla has spearheaded a new round of low-interest, long-term loans to spur electric vehicle (EV) sales in mainland China, prompting domestic rivals such as Nio and Xpeng to follow suit in a cutthroat market grappling with raw-material inflation. However, fresh competition in car financing – while better than another bruising discount war – may not be enough to shore up deliveries as consumers refrain from buying cars due to reduced government incentives. “All EV makers are facing a dilemma this... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342310/tesla-xiaomi-vie-chinese-ev-buyers-cheaper-longer-loans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342310/tesla-xiaomi-vie-chinese-ev-buyers-cheaper-longer-loans?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 03:32:52 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng Motors showcased its humanoid robot in front of hundreds of onlookers at a mall in the southern metropolis of Shenzhen over the weekend, but a backwards flop became headlines, reflecting the bumpy journey ahead for such machines. After completing a smooth catwalk to the centre of the audience on Saturday, Iron, the 178cm robot said to walk with humanlike grace, lost its balance and fell backwards when standing still on the stage, according to multiple... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3342102/when-robot-topples-chinas-xpeng-deals-fallout-humanoids-public-plunge?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3342102/when-robot-topples-chinas-xpeng-deals-fallout-humanoids-public-plunge?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:00:10 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Major Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers got off to a bumpy start in 2026 as they reported falling deliveries in January due to softening government support. Shares of Hong Kong-listed BYD, Xpeng, Li Auto and Nio plummeted on Monday, battered by a bearish delivery outlook in the cutthroat mainland EV market. “Lacklustre [sales] data in January represented a rude reminder that the industry will face a difficult year,” said Ivan Li, a researcher at Loyal Wealth Management in Shanghai. “Nearly... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342066/chinese-ev-makers-shares-skid-sales-slide-after-tax-incentive-ends?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3342066/chinese-ev-makers-shares-skid-sales-slide-after-tax-incentive-ends?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 07:00:09 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Tesla’s falling car deliveries and declining profitability on the mainland have not stopped its Chinese electric-car rivals from imitating the US firm’s transition into an artificial intelligence entity. Xpeng, Li Auto and Nio, dubbed as Tesla challengers over the past decade, have taken similar steps to diversify into emerging technologies and position themselves for the future of transport. These Chinese firms are now building next-generation vehicles, flying cars, robots and chips to create... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3341771/how-teslas-ai-shift-prompting-chinese-wannabes-expand-tech-offerings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3341771/how-teslas-ai-shift-prompting-chinese-wannabes-expand-tech-offerings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 04:49:50 +0000 Ying Xu,Weishi Zhang Ying Xu,Weishi Zhang In the global shift towards carbon neutral mobility, a striking role reversal is taking shape. China, often seen as a top-down planner, has emerged as a pragmatic, market-responsive architect of new energy vehicle (NEV) policy. Europe, a champion of climate ambition, is seemingly executing a retreat amid a disconnect between ambition and reality. The planned dilution of the European Union’s ban on new combustion-engine cars by 2035 to a carbon dioxide output reduction target of 90 per cent is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3341418/ev-targets-europe-should-take-page-chinas-playbook?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3341418/ev-targets-europe-should-take-page-chinas-playbook?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Cao Li,Themis Qi Cao Li,Themis Qi As Chinese companies accelerate their overseas expansion, industry leaders are urging a more partnership-driven approach rather than simply building factories abroad – a strategy they say could help ease growing concerns about excess capacity. As it pushes further into global markets, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group will prioritise partnerships over rapid capacity build-outs, vice-chairman Daniel Li Donghui said at the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) in Hong Kong on Tuesday. “We don’t think it’s the... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3341479/partnerships-not-plants-chinese-companies-rethink-overseas-expansion-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3341479/partnerships-not-plants-chinese-companies-rethink-overseas-expansion-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Jan 2026 03:00:13 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Exports of chip-manufacturing equipment, electric vehicles (EVs) and other high-value goods from China’s southern Guangdong province rose to a record high last year of over 1 trillion yuan (US$140 billion), highlighting the country’s progress in its quest for technological self-sufficiency in an ongoing tech war with the US. The country’s leading manufacturing hub exported semiconductor equipment worth more than 800 billion yuan in 2025, an increase of nearly 20 per cent from a year earlier,... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3341367/chinas-guangdong-province-exports-record-us140-billion-tech-high-value-goods?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3341367/chinas-guangdong-province-exports-record-us140-billion-tech-high-value-goods?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng is aiming to double its overseas sales in 2026, as it battles domestic rivals such as BYD and Leapmotor for a bigger slice of the global market. The Guangzhou-based company expects to deliver more than 90,000 vehicles to customers outside mainland China this year – about 15 per cent of its targeted annual output – as it accelerates its international expansion amid intensifying competition at home, according to two people familiar with the matter. Part... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3341301/xpeng-targets-overseas-sales-surge-2026-china-ev-battle-goes-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3341301/xpeng-targets-overseas-sales-surge-2026-china-ev-battle-goes-global?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:30:11 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren China could see its first flying car begin carrying paying passengers in 2026, as government backing and a growing pipeline of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle makers push the country’s “low-altitude economy” closer to commercial reality. Seven eVTOL manufacturers were expected to start delivering products before the end of this year, according to CCID Consulting. Local governments including Shanghai, Shenzhen and Chongqing are also preparing to loosen rules around... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340714/chinas-flying-car-makers-target-deliveries-year-passenger-flights-near-reality?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3340714/chinas-flying-car-makers-target-deliveries-year-passenger-flights-near-reality?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 23:30:09 +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. ‘Soft landing’: China, EU see progress in EV dispute with price floor option Beijing and Brussels last week announced a milestone in resolving their years-long trade dispute over Chinese electric vehicles, with the European Union releasing guidance set to address the countervailing... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3340624/chinese-carmakers-eye-western-markets-china-eu-dispute-progress-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3340624/chinese-carmakers-eye-western-markets-china-eu-dispute-progress-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 04:30:08 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Aridge, the affiliate of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng formerly known as AeroHT, is likely to spearhead a listing bonanza of flying car businesses in Hong Kong as its share offering plan edges closer to the runway. The Guangzhou-based company, controlled by Xpeng co-founder and CEO He Xiaopeng, confidentially filed an initial public offering (IPO) plan with the Hong Kong stock exchange and hired JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley to underwrite the share sale, according to two people with... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3339601/xpengs-flying-car-unit-readies-hong-kong-ipo-take?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3339601/xpengs-flying-car-unit-readies-hong-kong-ipo-take?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 09:31:47 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant Xpeng Motors has launched a new hybrid version of its G7 that it says offers the world’s longest range among SUVs, capable of covering the distance from Seattle to Los Angeles without charging. The updated G7 could travel 1,704km – longer than the distance between Beijing and Shanghai – with a 60-litre fuel tank and a 55.8kWh pack, the company said at a launch event in Guangzhou on Thursday. The model combines batteries with a small petrol engine that... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3339222/chinas-xpeng-unveils-hybrid-suv-version-boasting-worlds-longest-driving-distance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3339222/chinas-xpeng-unveils-hybrid-suv-version-boasting-worlds-longest-driving-distance?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:00:13 +0000 Mark Andrews Mark Andrews China’s car industry is expected to stagnate this year as it tries to catch its breath after years of growth. New energy vehicles (NEVs) are likely to continue increasing their market share but growth will be much lower than in recent years, with the penetration rate reaching around 60 per cent. “Involution” was the major theme last year, and despite efforts by the government and manufacturers, the situation is unlikely to improve until the second half of the year, due to a tepid economy and a... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338636/innovation-and-exports-will-winnow-chinas-car-industry-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338636/innovation-and-exports-will-winnow-chinas-car-industry-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 08:30:09 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng One of the biggest moments for China’s booming robotics industry this year was the catwalk performance by carmaker Xpeng’s new humanoid robot: it was so lifelike that founder He Xiaopeng had to unzip its back to prove there was no person inside. The reveal exposed what was under the covers: bionic “muscles” that enable such uncanny lifelikeness, made possible by the 3D printing technology and high-performance materials from Chinese start-up PollyPolymer. Wang Wenbin, founder and chairman of... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3337880/how-chinese-start-scaling-3d-printing-sneakers-robots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3337880/how-chinese-start-scaling-3d-printing-sneakers-robots?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Dec 2025 23:00:10 +0000 Willa Wu,Lo Hoi-ying Willa Wu,Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong authorities have vowed to investigate a mainland Chinese driver under the southbound travel vehicle scheme and may suspend his eligibility after he posted a video of himself using automatic cruising illegally in the city on social media. The Transport Department said on Friday that it had issued a warning to the driver and had notified mainland authorities about the case. It also urged Guangdong motorists under the “Southbound Travel for Guangdong Vehicles (Entry into Urban Area)”... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3337775/hong-kong-probes-mainland-chinese-driver-using-banned-autopilot-mode-city?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3337775/hong-kong-probes-mainland-chinese-driver-using-banned-autopilot-mode-city?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 05:13:36 +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. BYD plans giant Brazil factory to scale electric bus and truck production Chinese carmaker BYD plans to build a new factory in Brazil within the next three years after rising demand for electric buses filled its existing production capacity and forced the company to redraw its... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3337575/byds-big-plans-brazil-xpeng-tries-go-global-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3337575/byds-big-plans-brazil-xpeng-tries-go-global-7-ev-reads?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 07:30:08 +0000 Danielle Popov Danielle Popov China has pulled far ahead in the race to build humanoid robots, issuing five times as many related patents as the United States over the past five years, Morgan Stanley said in its latest Robot Almanac. In “Robot Almanac, Volume 3: Humanoids & Industrial Robots”, released on Tuesday as part of a six-volume series, Morgan Stanley said China recorded 7,705 humanoid patents over the past five years, compared with 1,561 in the US. Japan ranked next with 1,102, followed by the World Intellectual... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3337151/china-packs-patent-punch-race-build-humanoid-robots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3337151/china-packs-patent-punch-race-build-humanoid-robots?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 20 Dec 2025 23:30:08 +0000 Iris Deng Iris Deng Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the world’s largest maker of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, has started deploying humanoid robots at scale within its Zhongzhou production base in Luoyang, a city in central Henan province. The company on Wednesday described its deployment at scale as a “world’s first”, as humanoid robots built by start-up Spirit AI performed complex tasks with speeds that matched those of skilled human workers. Spirit AI’s Xiaomo robots have been assigned to plug in... https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3336939/chinas-catl-marks-trailblazing-deployment-humanoid-robots-scale-factory-floor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3336939/chinas-catl-marks-trailblazing-deployment-humanoid-robots-scale-factory-floor?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 13:00:15 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren He Xiaopeng, co-founder and CEO of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng, is not concerned about a bubble in the artificial intelligence sector and believes autonomous cars will outperform human drivers sometime soon. Sharing his thoughts on Weibo, the billionaire entrepreneur tried to allay public concerns about an overheated AI industry, adding that he foresaw vast opportunities ahead. “Any technological revolution will inevitably see bubbles in some aspects during a certain period of... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3336800/xpeng-ceo-dismisses-ai-bubble-fears-predicts-robots-will-soon-be-affordable-households?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3336800/xpeng-ceo-dismisses-ai-bubble-fears-predicts-robots-will-soon-be-affordable-households?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:44:46 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Two leading Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers, Xpeng and Li Auto, have been granted licences to test their level 3 (L3) autonomous driving technologies in designated urban areas, the latest sign that Beijing is encouraging wider use of advanced driver assistance systems amid a slowing automotive market. The green light came just one day after the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) gave another two carmakers – Changan Automobile and BAIC – approvals to start assembling new... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336664/xpeng-li-auto-latest-get-approval-test-hands-driving-amid-slowing-car-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336664/xpeng-li-auto-latest-get-approval-test-hands-driving-amid-slowing-car-market?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Dec 2025 11:45:56 +0000 Eunice Xu Eunice Xu TikTok owner ByteDance is the top recruiter in China’s tech sector this year, while at the same time artificial intelligence-related job postings on the mainland have risen more than 500 per cent, according to a report by Maimai, China’s largest professional social networking platform. ByteDance dominated tech hiring between January and October, with a hiring index of 897, ahead of Meituan at 587 and Alibaba Group Holding at 407, while AI related job listings surged 543 per cent, the report... https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3336503/bytedance-dominates-chinas-tech-hiring-ai-talent-demand-surges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3336503/bytedance-dominates-chinas-tech-hiring-ai-talent-demand-surges?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:00:10 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Volkswagen is making a major bet in China, the largest and one of the most cutthroat auto markets in the world. The question is whether it will work. The German carmaker, which once dominated the market with a more than 50 per cent share, has invested €3 billion (US$3.5 billion) in a sprawling research and development centre – its largest outside its home country – in Hefei, a low-key central China city of 10 million people. It is a sea change from how foreign carmakers operated in China for... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336472/volkswagens-us35-billion-bet-can-it-regain-share-chinas-competitive-car-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3336472/volkswagens-us35-billion-bet-can-it-regain-share-chinas-competitive-car-market?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:25:53 +0000 Daniel Ren Daniel Ren Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng plans to establish a production base in Malaysia targeting Southeast Asian customers, in its latest move to expand overseas to improve profitability. The Guangzhou-based company, 5 per cent owned by Volkswagen Group, said on Monday that it would partner with Malaysian firm EP Manufacturing Berhad (EPMB), an investment conglomerate focusing on automotive manufacturing and engineering, to locally assemble its intelligent electric cars tailored to the needs... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3336166/xpeng-steps-go-global-drive-malaysian-ev-assembly-hub-southeast-asian-market?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-evs/article/3336166/xpeng-steps-go-global-drive-malaysian-ev-assembly-hub-southeast-asian-market?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:00:14 +0000