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Automotive industry

Automotive industry
News about the global automotive industry with a focus on developments that matter most for the China market.
A Leapmotor Lafa5 Ultra is on display at the Beijing Auto Show on April 24. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV maker Leapmotor taps Stellantis’ Spanish plant for EU production

Hangzhou carmaker’s overseas strategy highlights how Chinese brands are leveraging idle plants to scale globally while easing trade barriers.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s EV import curbs to protect local sector criticised for inconsistency

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla China posts 36% sales rise, as local rivals nip at heels

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s move to cut EV payment cycles may push weaker carmakers out: S&P

China’s weaker EV makers may soon be running on fumes as tighter payment cycles squeeze cash flow and curb price wars.

Employees work on the production line at a factory for Chery’s electric vehicles in Wuhu, Anhui province, China. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s EV battery giants thrive while carmakers’ profits shrink amid price wars

Carmakers’ profit margin stood at 3.2 per cent in the first quarter, versus 6 per cent for downstream industrial firms, according to CPCA.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese start-up ZYT eyes semi-autonomous truck production this year

DJI spin-off is providing autopilot systems to six manufacturers, as fuel-saving abilities gain importance amid oil supply shock.

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US-China relations

Exiting China market a ‘self-inflicted wound’ for US tech, think tank warns

ITIF argues that regional sales help finance domestic R&D and block local rivals, while warning that a full exit would be a self-inflicted wound to innovation leadership.

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Visitors take pictures and videos of a human-like robot head on display at the Humanoid Robots Industry Base in Beijing’s Shougang Park on April 28. Photo: AP
China-EU relations

Opinion | ‘Made in Europe’ law sets stage for an economic showdown with China

The proposed legislation is seen as discriminatory to China and could also hurt Chinese interests in non-EU European states.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD, Geely benefit from overseas orders amid Middle East energy shock

Retail sales of EVs fall 11 per cent year on year in April to 614,000 units – but foreign markets are providing a boost.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Shifting gears: how foreign giants aim to catch up in China’s EV era

International carmakers launch tailored models and accelerate R&D as they scramble to match the speed and sophistication of domestic rivals.

Illustration: Henry Wong
Donald Trump

Trump to put 25% tariffs on EU cars, says bloc not complying with trade deal

The status of the pact was first put in doubt after the Supreme Court ruled the president lacked legal authority for his duties on EU goods.

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A car passes through the European district in Brussels, Belgium, in April. Photo: EPA
Electric & new energy vehicles

Lights, camera, traction: China’s EV race rolls out film-projecting headlights

Ultra-fast charging technology and a wave of smart features are helping Chinese EVs win over overseas buyers.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Geely joins Chery, BYD in profit slide as China car sales plunge

Three most profitable carmakers last year all report double-digit profit declines, but rosier export forecast improves outlook.

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Semiconductors

Hit from memory costs spreads from smartphones to BYD EVs in China

Carmaker explicitly cites sky-high memory costs as it raises the price of a high-end driver-assistance system by 21 per cent.

People watch a demonstration of BYD’s self-parking technology during the 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition on April 26, 2026. Photo: Xinhua
Future of transport

Video | Cleaner, cheaper EV trucks gain traction in China

The energy shock from the Middle East conflict is transforming China’s trucking and logistics sector.

This picture taken on April 23, 2026 shows a driver returning the charging gun after charging his electric truck at a station in Beijing. At a dusty lot an hour outside Beijing, a steady stream of vehicles come and go for a quick battery charge -- just one node in China’s rapidly expanding network of electric trucks. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP) / To go with AFP story China-tech-logistics-auto-show, FOCUS by Peter CATTERALL
Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD, Geely tap global EV demand to escape China price wars

Shares of BYD and Geely rose after they released earnings as the Strait of Hormuz shutdown boosts global demand for Chinese-made electric vehicles.

BYD

BYD, China’s EV king, posts a 55% slump in first-quarter profit

The company reports a net profit of nearly 4.09 billion yuan (US$590 million) and revenue of 150.2 billion yuan.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s EV and battery makers race to cut charging times to under 10 minutes

Fast-charging technology takes centre stage at the Beijing Auto Show as firms unveil batteries promising unprecedented speed.

Visitors look at a chamber with sub-zero temperatures that showcases battery-charging technology at the Beijing Auto Show. Photo: AP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese robotaxi firms accelerate global roll-outs as cost edge drives expansion

Pony AI and WeRide harness China’s supply chain strength to cut costs, boost efficiency and scale robotaxi fleets worldwide.

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s CATL touts landmark energy-storage order for sodium-ion batteries

Deal for massive grid storage system shows that CATL has ‘overcome all the challenges in mass-producing sodium-ion batteries’, company says.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Li Auto targets BMW and Mercedes with premium SUVs in Middle East, Asia-Pacific

Beijing-based EV maker expects overseas deliveries to account for 30 per cent of its total by 2030, president Ma Donghui says.

Li Auto’s flagship L9 SUV is displayed at the ongoing Auto China in Beijing. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng sets August goal to overtake Tesla’s self-driving tech in China

Carmaker bets on training AI in China’s dense urban roads to build a competitive advantage for expansion into Europe and Southeast Asia.

He Xiaopeng, CEO of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, walks past the new SUV GX six-seater on the opening day of Auto China 2026 in Beijing. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers target global expansion at Auto China amid energy shock

Most carmakers taking part in the exhibition have either debuted models designed for export markets or announced expansion plans.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Huawei earmarks US$11.7b for training of autonomous-driving systems

Company claims it will outspend all rivals combined to boost computing power, which is essential to enhance advanced driving systems.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers bet on in-house chips to make cars smarter and more autonomous

Chinese EV makers are showcasing advanced in-house chips at Auto China, powering smarter vehicles and challenging global tech leaders.

Hesai CEO David Li speaks at the lidar maker’s tech open day in Shanghai, on April 17, 2026. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s premium EVs mount tech-powered challenge to BMW, Mercedes-Benz at expo

10-day show in Beijing, the world’s largest, to feature 1,451 models and exhibition area of 380,000 square metres.

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A worker puts the finishing touches on the China International Exhibition Centre in Beijing on Wednesday ahead of Auto China 2026. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

CATL to supercharge China’s EV sector with revamped battery tech

World’s largest EV battery producer reveals third-gen product that charges in under six and a half minutes, easing drivers’ range anxiety.

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Canada

Canadian who was detained by China warns against Carney’s EV deal

Ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig was imprisoned for three years after Canada arrested Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou on a US extradition request.

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