Deliveries hit a record 940,000 units in November, industry body CPCA estimates, as a strong second half of the year puts EV makers on course to meet an ambitious sales target for 2023 despite a bumpy start.

Li Auto and Xpeng, two top premium electric vehicle builders in China, rewrote sales records in November, as their new car models amplified the popularity of battery-powered vehicles.

Elon Musk apologised for endorsing a social media post widely seen as antisemitism, but accused advertisers who are turning away from his social media platform X of blackmail.

The surprise announcement shows Huawei’s ambitions in the car business despite repeatedly denying that the company will make its own vehicles.

Critics have accused Musk, the world’s richest person, of amplifying anti-Jewish hatred on X.

Shanghai-based Nio has formed a partnership with state-owned Changan Automobile to build EVs equipped with battery swapping technology to ease drivers’ range anxiety.

New launches by BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) maker, targeting established models by Tesla, leader in China’s premium EV segment, are expected to intensify competition in the world’s largest auto market, analysts said.

Musk said the potential danger of AI is so great that OpenAI, the most powerful artificial intelligence company in the world right now, should disclose the reason it fired CEO Altman.

Li Auto, Tesla’s closest rival in mainland China, unveiled its first multipurpose vehicle (MPV) on Friday as the electric vehicle (EV) maker looks to expand its customer base in the family segment of the world’s biggest car market.

India’s adoption of EVs remains slow and is hindered by the high cost of cars, a lack of models and charging options.

In China, the world’s largest EV market, where ‘intelligent’ battery-powered vehicles are a must-have, Huawei Technologies, Baidu and Xiaomi are challenging established players and heightening concerns about overcapacity and a price war.

The carmaker, which saw losses expand to US$537 million in the quarter ended September 30, said it would hand between 59,500 and 63,500 vehicles to customers between October and December, marking an all-time high.

Tesla’s deliveries in mainland China fell 34.2 per cent month on month in October, slipping further following a 32.8 per cent drop in September, according to CPCA. The price increases will push consumers towards rivals, analyst says.

Musk also said xAI released its first AI model, a bot named Grok, after making it available to all X Premium+ subscribers on Friday.

A decades-old policy favouring local players over foreign investors has dulled Malaysia’s competitive edge. Anwar Ibrahim’s administration wants to make the country ‘the darling of investors’ again.

The Shanghai-based company’s lay-offs reflect its effort to stay afloat amid escalating competition in the world’s largest EV market and rising losses.

China’s premium EV makers report bumper October sales as technology-packed vehicles continue to find favour with wealthy buyers.

Tesla’s shares have sunk more than 17 per cent since the EV giant dialled back growth expectations during its third-quarter earnings call on October 18.

BYD, the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) maker, reported on Monday its highest ever quarterly profit, buoyed by surging deliveries and a cost-cutting campaign.

SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk can’t be called materialistic, but he still spends big on the things he cares about – from unusual cars to Diet Coke

The 14,000 yuan (US$1,917) increase comes after Tesla reported a 32.8 per cent month-on-month sales decline on the mainland in September and could signal a shift to prioritising profit over volume, an analyst says.

Brussels is now focused on three Chinese-owned manufacturers in quest to level playing field for European EV makers.

Chinese electric-car builder Leapmotor is to receive a €1.5 billion (US$1.58 billion) investment from Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler, in the latest vote of confidence from a global carmaking giant in the mainland’s EV industry.

Chinese EV start-up Xpeng plans to expand the use of its semi-autonomous driving technology to 50 mainland cities by the end of the year and nationwide by the end of 2024.

Japanese carmakers will display EV concepts to send the message they are willing and able to make battery-powered car sightings more common on the country’s roads in the years to come.

Wheels could come off bid to end use of fossil fuel cars if government ends tax breaks to make electric vehicles more attractive, campaigners warn.