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Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles

Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Self-driving cars and autonomous vehicles. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Baidu tests its new robotaxi on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong transport

Hong Kong ramps up autonomous vehicle tests as Baidu expands trials in city

Government says seven pilot licences for 63 vehicles issued as of June, as Chinese tech firm Baidu tests sixth-generation robotaxi in Lantau.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng, armed with road-tested tech, ready to take on Tesla overseas

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Baidu

China’s lower tech costs poised to accelerate global robotaxi market: Morgan Stanley

IPO

Chinese self-driving firm Momenta eyes US$750m in Hong Kong IPO

Second ‘red-chip’ approved by Beijing for a Hong Kong listing this year aims to invest proceeds in research and development, robotaxi push.

Momenta's technology has been used cars from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota and Honda. Photo: Reuters
IPO

Momenta granted regulatory approval to list in Hong Kong amid rumoured crackdown

As Beijing appears to tighten rules on the listing of domestic firms incorporated offshore, self-driving tech start-up Momenta gains IPO approval.

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IPO

Momenta moves closer to Hong Kong IPO after US listing setback

Autonomous-driving start-up seeks to issue up to 43.75 million shares after an earlier US IPO approval expired.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Hong Kong emerging as the proving ground for China’s global smart-car ambitions

Chinese carmakers unveiled 14 smart vehicles in Hong Kong as they use the city to gauge overseas demand and refine global expansion plans.

Geely’s Caocao concept car at the 2026 International Automotive and Supply Chain Expo (Hong Kong). China is hoping Hong Kong can open the door to global markets. Photo: May Tse
Artificial intelligence

AI | AI’s next frontier, world models, and why China is leading

AI models that understand the workings of the physical world and can simulate it will give the technology more human-like powers and drive embodied intelligence.

Semiconductors

How massive AI-driven demand for MLCCs triggered a supply bottleneck

Power-hungry data centres fuel demand for MLCCs, which are crucial components for modern innovations including smartphones and electric cars.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers recover in May but competition fierce amid overcapacity woes

Consumer willingness to embrace new tech, along with cash subsidies from local governments, gave the EV sector a much-needed boost.

A man opens the door of a Zeekr X7 electric vehicle at a showroom in Beijing on February 3, 2026. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s BYD aims for zero accidents with ‘God’s Eye’, vows crash cost coverage

EV giant pushes affordable autonomy with its system, aiming to make self-driving safer and accessible to mass-market consumers.

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A BYD booth at the Beijing Auto Show on April 30. Photo: AFP
Made in China 2025

China’s machinery giant XCMG eyes bigger scoop of global sales

State-owned firm banks on intelligent manufacturing, green technology, product integration and digital services to boost sales overseas.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Zelos looks to Middle East, Southeast Asia to turn a profit on robovan fleet

China’s robovan industry is in a period of consolidation, marked by the merger of Zelos with Cainiao’s autonomous-vehicle unit in January.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla’s FSD launch in China heats up competition with domestic EV makers

The long-awaited roll-out received approval from regulators a week after Tesla CEO Elon Musk visited China as part of a US delegation.

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A Tesla owner drives hands-free in Amsterdam on April 17, days after Dutch regulators approved the use of the company’s self-driving software. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese firm Xpeng builds driverless cabs, challenging Tesla’s FSD software

The EV maker has embarked on mass production of robotaxis using its own chips and plans to trial the tech before the end of the year.

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Xpeng’s first robotaxis roll off its production line. Photo: Handout
China manufacturing

China’s old ‘Motown’, Shanghai bets on robotaxis, better batteries to bump GDP

City authorities point at the need to lure foreign firms, while emerging sectors are expected to generate a trillion-yuan boost over the next 5 years.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Xi-Trump summit: Ford-CATL plant shows how global carmakers need China

Collaboration with Chinese suppliers ‘the only way international carmakers can compete with Chinese carmakers’, Morgan Stanley analyst says.

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Trending in China

China driver fined for doing make-up, dancing at wheel; says assisted driving more reliable

SUV-driving woman eats snacks while travelling through tunnel, posts videos online of her ‘dangerous’ driving, prompts police action.

A woman in China has been fined for applying make-up, eating and dancing when driving while claiming that her car’s assisted driving system is more reliable than she is. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/CCTV
Electric & new energy vehicles

Tech and pricing edge behind China’s SUV surge against BMW, Mercedes and Audi

Chinese SUVs storm the premium segment with fresh momentum, giving German marques their toughest test in years.

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Americas and the Caribbean

EVs surge in Bolivia amid fuel shortages, ‘junk gas’ scandal

The number of electric vehicles in Bolivia climbed from 500 to 3,352 in the last five years, and is set to triple again as broad appeal rises.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

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

April sales rose on a year-on-year basis but dropped from the previous month, indicating fiercer competition from domestic brands.

An employee works in Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai on April 14. Photo: EPA
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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Vehicles are displayed in ZYT’s booth at the Beijing Auto Show. Photo: Weibo
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.

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.

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
Mainland China

China taps the brakes on robotaxi licences after Wuhan incident: sources

Licensing curbs follow a Wuhan system failure that stranded passengers, as authorities shift focus from rapid roll-out to safety oversight.

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A safety operator sits in the driver’s seat of an Apollo Go robotaxi as the vehicle travels to Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. Photo: Coco Feng
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.

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.

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