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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.
CATL’s Naxtra battery is seen at the company’s booth at the China International Supply Chain Expo, in Beijing, on July 18. Photo: AP
CATL

CATL lithium mine halt signals Beijing’s EV battery overcapacity concerns

Lithium carbonate contracts in Guangzhou rise by the daily limit of 8 per cent to US$11,279 a tonne.

Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD challenges Tesla with launch of cheaper SUV in Hong Kong

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese vehicle makers scale back EV discounts on Beijing’s orders

Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla shipments slip from China factory as drivers choose domestic EVs

Shanghai plant loses momentum one month after an increase in deliveries halted an eight-month decline.

Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai, pictured on September 26, 2023. Photo: Xinhua
China Future Tech briefing

EVs | China’s EV makers look overseas for growth

Domestic price wars and overcapacity, as well as tariffs in North America, are spurring Chinese EV makers to boost exports and open new factories in Europe and emerging markets.

Robotics

Baidu partners with Lyft to launch robotaxis in UK and Germany

The deal is part of a broader trend among Chinese autonomous-driving companies to bring their services to international markets.

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Singapore

Chinese EVs are making inroads in Singapore. Here’s why

A confluence of factors, from aggressive pricing to a high level of public trust in the government’s Green Plan, is propelling the shift.

Financial adviser Winnie Koh bought her BYD Atto 3 in January. Photo: Winnie Koh
Electric & new energy vehicles

China EV war: Tesla, Nio and Li Auto target mainland families with premium SUVs

Rich households are willing to pay a premium to own bigger, higher-performance and longer-range cars for their travel needs, analyst says.

Electric & new energy vehicles

CATL posts 34% profit growth, defying weak global EV demand

The world’s largest electric vehicle battery maker saw its net profit reach US$2.3 billion in the second quarter.

Malaysia

Is Malaysia’s EV boom a cybersecurity risk?

A new report says the industry’s shift towards software-dependent vehicles is creating new vulnerabilities for hackers to exploit.

The MAS 7, Malaysian automotive firm Proton’s first electric vehicle, on display in Kuala Lumpur last year. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

Li Auto launches 6-seat electric SUV in pre-emptive strike against Tesla

The Beijing-based carmaker will start delivering the premium Li i8 electric vehicle to mainland customers from August 20.

Li Auto’s new Li i8 premium electric SUV. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s car market faces turbulence as discounts end, sales tax expires

Near-term car demand is likely to be suppressed after Beijing’s directives to end discounting and restore market order, Fitch says.

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Autonomous vehicles

Pony.ai steps up mass production of robotaxis, targets overseas expansion

Co-founder says firm to partner with carmakers GAC, BAIC and Toyota on production, targeting a fleet of 1,000 robotaxis this year.

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Style Edit

Style Edit: BMW’s latest iX xDrive45 arrives in Hong Kong

The range of between 490km and 602km is more than a third longer than previous iXs even while the higher torque allows for improved acceleration.

The new BMW iX xDrive45, now in Hong Kong, brings a greener and more sophisticated driving experience with a longer range and improved performance. Photo: Handout
Sri Lanka

How China’s ‘big winner’ BYD conquered Sri Lanka’s car market

After a five-year import ban, BYD shrewdly adapted its models to circumvent sky-high taxes, making electric vehicles affordable again.

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A BYD Atto 3 compact SUV. The Chinese carmaker accounted for roughly 90 per cent of Sri Lanka’s EV sales in May. Photo: BYD
Donald Trump

Trump offers surprise support to Musk, as Tesla stock plunges

The US president says he wants the billionaire to ‘THRIVE’, in a startling development after their recent bitter public feud.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Leapmotor eyes global market with smart EV at half the price of Tesla’s Model 3

Deliveries to mainland Chinese customers will begin this month, but the company does not say when the new car will be sold overseas.

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Accidents and disasters in China

China sets out ethical guidelines for autonomous driving technology

Science ministry says algorithms, models and other tech-related content must be clearly documented and accessible for inspection.

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Pony.ai is among robotaxi operators conducting pilot programmes in Chinese cities. Beijing says innovations in the autonomous driving sector must “fully consider public values and ethical concerns”. Photo: Xinhua
Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla seeks a comeback in China with refreshed Model 3 and Model Y

Carmaker expects to begin delivering the models to mainland customers as early as September.

United States

Trump tariffs take US$1 billion bite out of GM earnings, shares fall

Automaker’s Q2 results topped expectations, but projections of weaker second-half profitability due to ongoing trade headwinds sent shares down.

China's economic recovery

China’s public bus companies look to curb losses with pet rides, postal delivery

Public bus companies activate their idle fleet capacity, turning underutilised resources into new revenue streams.

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Can trips for pets help China’s struggling bus companies? Photo: Shutterstock
China manufacturing

Chinese officials call on carmakers to clamp down on price spiral

Figures from various government bodies encouraged firms to cut back on the ‘irrational competition’ that has hit the auto industry.

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China’s electric vehicle (EV) makers have been warned by officials to pull back on intense, destructive intra-industry competition. Photo: Reuters
China consumption

‘The American dream has faded’: how Jeep reached the end of the road in China

Chinese consumers have rapidly turned away from the iconic US brand, leading to plunging sales, spiking debts and a historic bankruptcy.

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US-China relations

US sets 93.5% anti-dumping tariff on Chinese graphite, a key battery component

The move could further roil the global EV supply chain, which is already facing Beijing’s export controls on critical minerals.

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Science

Former top Shell engineer joins Nanjing University to chase ‘cleaner’ oil tech

The visiting professor at Imperial College London joins Chinese university to head a team working with oil firms on low-carbon technology.

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Jing Xudong spent 20 years working for Shell and has held academic posts. Photo: Handout
Japan

Japanese carmaker Nissan to shut ‘iconic’ plant in suburban Tokyo to cut costs

The move is part of a global restructuring plan to reduce production capacity and consolidate plants in response to declining sales and a US$4.5 billion loss last year.

Nissan Motor employees assemble the company’s electric vehicle Leaf at the Oppama plant in suburban Tokyo. The plant will halt at the end of its 2027 fiscal year. Photo: AFP
India

Electric avenue: Tesla unveils first India showroom

While few Indians will be able to afford one, the opening is less about selling and more about building Tesla’s brand, analyst says.

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Britain

Britain offers US$5,000 discounts on electric cars to boost demand

To achieve the net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal by 2050, the UK wants to phase out sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

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