As China looks to tap Europe’s vast market for lithium batteries, Hungary has become an attractive destination for production to make logistics simpler – and bypass EU trade investigations.

Geely Auto’s premium EV unit raised US$441 million by upsizing its IPO by 20 per cent to accommodate demand, according to two sources. The stock is due to debut in New York on Friday.

The potential launch of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving system in China is expected to help widen domestic availability of such autonomous vehicle technology.

Guangzhou-based carmaker also aims to sell right-hand-drive models in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, as an escalating price war in mainland China squeezes profit margins.

Hong Kong-based private equity firm and BP Ventures to invest US$10 million each in the latest funding round, helping Hysata to scale up its green hydrogen facilities in New South Wales.

Bilateral working group sessions meant to build on agreements reached last year and restore top-level engagement as pledged at Xi-Biden summit.

Expected granting of a licence follows CEO Elon Musk’s discussion with top Chinese officials last month, state-run newspaper China Daily reported.

Ganfeng Lithium’s potential buyout of a Malian lithium mine gives it greater security over raw material supplies.

Scholars have suggested a realignment of industries, with some pain in the short term, would go a long way towards resolving China’s overcapacity problem and adapting to trade restrictions in those sectors.

The Austin-based senior vice-president had previously been based in China, heading the carmaker’s Asia-Pacific operations.

French President welcomes Beijing’s commitment to ‘refrain from selling any weapons or aid’ to Russia, but commerce official reinforces the need to enhance bilateral trade.

Global EV sales are expected to accelerate from next year onwards and grow at a compound annual rate of 23 per cent up to the end of the decade, according to estimates by the French bank.

The fierce price war sweeping China’s EV market is likely to persist for years, with the impact to be felt by foreign carmakers which will see their market share shrink, Leapmotor co-president Michael Wu says.

StarCharge, which provides charging equipment for electric vehicles, is focusing on efforts to grow its presence in more profitable markets outside mainland China, chief strategy officer Evan Feng says.

The autonomous driving start-up plans to launch the L4-capable FlashBot in Shanghai this year, followed by other tier-one mainland cities. It is also seeking tie-ups in Hong Kong, Europe and North America.

China’s overseas vehicle shipments are set to grow at a clip this year, bolstered by surging sales in markets like Southeast Asia and the Middle East, as the country’s heft in manufacturing electric cars goes from strength to strength.

‘Aqueous batteries with high energy density are possible, offering a development option for grid-scale energy storage, and even electric vehicles’: researchers.

Hefei, the capital of the eastern Anhui province, has placed a heavy focus on innovation and emerging industries, including new energy vehicles, with officials from across China eager to copy the formula for success.

President Xi Jinping’s European trip comes amid barrage of EU trade and competition tools largely targeting Chinese firms, including dramatic raids in the Netherlands and Poland.