Volvo robotaxis are rolling out in suburban Shanghai as part of a pilot program from China’s dominant ride-hailing platform, Didi Chuxing. Since Saturday, users of Didi’s app aged 18 to 70 have been able to sign up for a free test drive. Wang Mingze, a Didi spokesperson, told Sixth Tone... Read more →

Ballard Power Systems has received a $7.7-million purchase order for membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for use in manufacturing FCvelocity-9SSL fuel cell stacks from Guangdong Synergy Ballard Hydrogen Power Co., Ltd. (Synergy-Ballard JVCo), a joint venture in which Ballard holds a 10% ownership interest. Ballard FCvelocity-9SSL fuel cell stacks (CNW Group/Ballard... Read more →

Buick is adding the VELITE 6 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) to its new energy vehicle (NEV) portfolio in China. The model is expected to be launched this month. The VELITE 6 PHEV will be powered by Buick eMotion electric drive technology that leverages GM’s global electrification expertise. It will... Read more →

A new study finds that automated pollution monitors in China led to more accurate readings and that citizens used this information to protect themselves better against the harms of air pollution. Less than a decade ago, not only was air pollution a recognized problem in China, but many didn’t trust... Read more →

Xpeng Motors has begun China-wide delivery of its new P7 super-long range, high-performance, smart EV sports sedan to customers. This follows the receiving of the official production license on 19 May from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology for its new own-built, wholly-owned factory, the Zhaoqing Xpeng Motors Intelligent... Read more →

Buick will introduce its first electric SUV, the VELITE 7, in China this year. Developed on GM’s global electric vehicle platform, the VELITE 7 compact SUV will offer an electric range of up to 500 kilometers (311 miles) under New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) conditions on a full charge. The... Read more →

Honda Motor (China) Investment Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned Honda subsidiary in China, has established Hynex Mobility Service Co., Ltd., a new joint venture company with Neusoft Reach Automotive Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Hynex Mobility Service will strive to advance connected services and offer new value users can enjoy through their... Read more →

Venti Technologies has successfully deployed two autonomous SUVs built by SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile (SGMW), the joint venture formed by Chinese automakers SAIC and Wuling, along with GM, achieving another milestone in its path to commercialization. The two autonomous SUVs were deployed at a school at Nanning City, the capital of Guangxi... Read more →

Chevrolet launched five new Orlando variants in China featuring 48V mild hybrid technology. The additions include a choice of five- and seven-seat models as well as sporty Redline variants, with a selection of six exterior colors. They are priced between RMB 136,900 and RMB 159,900 (US$19,350 to $22,600). The Orlando... Read more →

The BMW Group will release the new BMW iX3 EV (earlier post)onto the market by the end of 2020. Standard production of the BMW core brand’s first pure electric model will get underway at the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture (BBA) in China in late summer as planned: BBA Plant... Read more →

Toyota Motor and five Chinese OEMs—China FAW Corporation Limited (FAW); Dongfeng Motor Corporation (DFM); Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group); Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd. (BAIC Group); and Beijing SinoHytec Co., Ltd.—signed a joint venture agreement for the establishment of United Fuel Cell System R&D (Beijing) Co., Ltd. (FCRD).... Read more →

Didi Chuxing, the world’s leading mobility and convenience platform, announced the completion of the first fundraising round of more than US$500 million for its autonomous driving subsidiary. The investment will enable DiDi to further enhance safety and efficiency by continuing its investment in advanced research and development of autonomous driving... Read more →

As of 26 May 2020, NIO Power has completed more than 500,000 EV battery swaps in China, becoming one of NIO’s most well-received power services. Power Swap is at the core of NIO’s “chargeable, swappable, upgradable” user experience, alongside a comprehensive battery and vehicle e-powertrain inspection. The infrastructure also enables... Read more →

From 2015 to 2019, the market share of plug-in vehicles in China more than quadrupled, reaching 5.1% in 2019, according to figures presented by the US DOE. During that same period, Europe saw its plug-in vehicle sales share reach 3.0%. In the US, plug-in vehicle market share in the United... Read more →

Volkswagen plans to increase its share in JAC Volkswagen, its joint venture for e-mobility. Around €1 billion is to be invested. This amount includes the acquisition of 50% of JAG, the parent company of the Volkswagen partner JAC, and an increase in the stake in JAC Volkswagen from 50 to... Read more →

BASF and DiDi, the world’s leading mobile transportation platform, signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, where Xiaoju Autocare (Xiaoju Yangche), a subsidiary of DiDi, is headquartered. Under the agreement, BASF will provide DiDi with sustainable automotive refinish products developed at its research and production site in... Read more →

In China, Wuling launched its first electric minivan, the Rong Guang EV, and Chevrolet launched four new Monza variants featuring 48V mild hybrid technology. In China, General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Holden, Baojun and Wuling brands. Rong Guang... Read more →

Levels of two major air pollutants have been reduced significantly since lockdowns began in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a secondary pollutant—ground-level ozone—has increased in China, according to new research. Two new studies in AGU’s journal Geophysical Research Letters find nitrogen dioxide pollution over northern China, Western Europe and... Read more →

The China Electricity Council (CEC) recently ratified and published a set of national standards (“GuoBiao” or GB standard) for the wireless charging of EVs; WiTricity’s patented technology is incorporated in the standards. The new standards are: GB / T 38775.1 “Wireless Charging System for Electric Vehicles Part 1: General Requirements”... Read more →

Volvo Cars sold 31,760 cars in April, down 43.8% compared with the same month last year, as demand in Europe and the US continued to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic. China, meanwhile, returned to growth in April as showroom traffic began to return to normal levels. In the January... Read more →

Buick strengthened its sedan lineup in China with the launch of five new and enhanced vehicles: 2021 Excelle GT family sedan with mild hybrid (MHEV) technology; the new-generation Regal GS upper-medium sports sedan; new Verano GS midsize sports sedan; and optimized LaCrosse premium sedan and LaCrosse Avenir flagship sedan. The... Read more →

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), the global leading EV battery manufacturer, is expanding partnerships with VDL Bus & Coach B.V. and Quantron AG to optimize local product solutions and services for commercial vehicle electrification in Europe. The new partnerships are significant to CATL’s overseas strategy in the commercial vehicle... Read more →

Xpeng Motors launched its P7 long-range, high-performance, fast-charging intelligent EV sports sedan—its second production model. (Earlier post.) The P7 is immediately available for order in China, in 3 versions—4WD High Performance; Super-Long Range: (656km – 706km NEDC); and Long Range (568km NEDC)—and 8 configurations. Customer deliveries will begin at the... Read more →

NIO has officially started deliveries of its 2020 ES8, the flagship model from its smart electric vehicle range. As of 31 March 2020, with cumulative deliveries of 20,675, the ES8 was the only Chinese model in the top ten sales chart for the luxury SUV class. The new ES8, available... Read more →

As COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, the pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on the global economy and commodity markets, including cobalt. With countries imposing prevention and control measures against the virus, a number of cobalt-producing operations have been temporarily closed for maintenance since March. Roskill has so far recorded... Read more →

Groupe Renault is setting a new strategy for China, based on Electric Vehicles (EV) and Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV). With 860,000 electric vehicles sold in China in 2019, China is by far the largest EV market in the world. EV sales are expected to reach 25% of the Chinese market... Read more →

Volkswagen Group Components and the start-up Shanghai DU-POWER New Energy Technical Co., Ltd. plan to form a joint venture to produce flexible quick charging stations in China. Series production of the flexible quick charging stations is currently scheduled to start in the second half of 2020. A comprehensive charging infrastructure... Read more →

Loop Energy, a mobile-power company providing hydrogen-fuel-cell-based solutions for the medium-to-heavy duty vehicle market, has received a purchase order from a leading bus manufacturer in China to support the Nanjing municipal government’s objective of replacing its existing 7,000-unit battery-electric bus fleet with an improved battery-hydrogen hybrid alternative that offers all-season,... Read more →

In a recent study by the market research institute Ipsos, two out of three respondents say that they prefer their own car to public transport—twice as many as before the COVID-19 outbreak. At the end of February, Ipsos asked 1,620 Chinese citizens about their mobility preferences, and the fear of... Read more →

General Motors and its joint ventures delivered 461,716 vehicles in China in the first quarter, down 43.3% from 813,973 in Q1 2019. Cadillac deliveries topped 26,800 units (-40% y-o-y). The CT4 sedan being launched in China this month will give Cadillac its strongest and most complete lineup ever, enabling it... Read more →

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in China will impact the green energy sector, including renewable energy sources, battery energy storage, electric vehicles (EVs), and renewable heating and cooling, says data and analytics company GlobalData. China’s attempt to fight the coronavirus outbreak has led to delayed production across a number of battery... Read more →

The COVID-19 has hit the Chinese EV sector hard; CRU, a provider of business intelligence on the global metals, mining and fertilizer industries, believes that weak sales will last at least until early Q2 2020. Nonetheless, it continues to forecast Chinese EV sales growth in 2020 over 2019’s total. EV... Read more →

Data from the ESA’s Tropomi (TROPOspheric Monitoring) instrument on board the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite shows the variation of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions over China from December to March. A decline in NO2 corresponds to the outbreak of COVID-19 and a subsequent resurgence corresponds to the succes of measures to contain... Read more →

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China (MIIT) has verified Xpeng’s P7 electric sports sedan’s driving range to be NEDC 706 km (439 miles). It is the longest range among electric vehicles available in China. MIIT released its 329th batch of vehicle manufacturer and product announcements and its... Read more →

Chevrolet has launched the Menlo, the brand’s first fully electric vehicle in China. (Earlier post.) Initially being offered in Beijing, the Chevrolet Menlo is available in four variants priced from RMB 159,900 (US$22,800) to RMB 179,900 (US$25,600) after national subsidies for new energy vehicles. The Chevrolet Menlo incorporates GM’s class-leading... Read more →

Innoviz Technologies, a leading provider of high-performance, solid-state lidar sensors and perception software, announced cooperation with Shaanxi Heavy Duty Automobile Co. in Xi’an, China to deploy autonomous trucks for an upcoming project in one of the biggest ports in China. Shaanxi Heavy Duty Automobile Co. Ltd., better known as Shacman... Read more →

Volvo Car AB and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited are considering combining their businesses to create a strong global group, which would accelerate financial and technological synergies between the two companies. This would be a combination between two strong companies. Volvo Cars was founded in 1927 and is one of the... Read more →

China-based ThunderSoft, an operating system technology provider, and Didi Chuxing announced a strategic collaboration focused on intelligent automotive operating system products and solutions for automotive manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers. This partnership is intended to accelerate the development of the Intelligent Connected Vehicle (ICV) by combining ThunderSoft’s OS technology and... Read more →

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) confirmed that it is in discussions with Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd. (Foxconn) regarding the potential creation of an equal joint venture to develop and manufacture in China new generation battery electric vehicles and engage in the IoV (Internet of Vehicles) business. The proposed... Read more →

Volvo Cars and leading telecom provider China Unicom are joining forces on using 5G next generation mobile network technology for communication between cars and infrastructure in China. The two companies have agreed to work together in researching, developing and testing automotive applications of 5G and emerging vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology. As... Read more →

Clariant, a focused and innovative specialty chemical company, Anhui Guozhen Group, a Chinese green energy company, and Chemtex Chemical Engineering, a multinational engineering company, signed a license agreement on sunliquid cellulosic ethanol technology. (Earlier post.) The Anhui Guozhen Group and Chemtex have agreed to form a joint venture with the... Read more →

Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC, a provider of fuel cell power solutions for motive applications, is building a fuel cell stack production line in the Hangzhou district government of Fuyang, China. In December 2018, Nuvera signed a cooperation agreement with the Fuyang government, located in Zhejiang province, to enable the local... Read more →

Ballard Power Systems announced receipt of a purchase order from Weichai Ballard Hy-Energy Technologies Co., Ltd. (Weichai-Ballard JV) for Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) valued at $19.2 million, to be delivered in 2020 under a long-term MEA supply agreement. Ballard next-generation LCS fuel cell stack (CNW Group/Ballard Power Systems Inc.) Weichai... Read more →

In China, Baojun showed the first images of its ne... Read more →

The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) announced the first research grants from the EPIC-UCAS Joint Center for Energy Policy Research in China. Formed in January 2019, the EPIC-UCAS Joint Center supports the development of research-based insights on... Read more →

Volkswagen has successfully launched its sub-brand JETTA in China with the new SUV VS5 and the VA3 sedan. Since market entry in September, nearly 30,000 vehicles were delivered to customers; almost 80% of JETTA deliveries were SUVs. This makes the JETTA launch the most successful recent brand introduction in China,... Read more →

Daimler Mobility AG and Geely Technology Group, a subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding), unveiled the premium ride-hailing provider StarRides in China with inaugural services to begin in Hangzhou in December 2019. The ride-hailing joint venture will begin operating in Hangzhou, a city of more than 10 million... Read more →

The BMW Group and Great Wall Motor have launched a new joint venture—Spotlight Automotive Limited—and are building a joint plant in China, where the BMW Group will produce future fully-electric models of its MINI brand. The plant will have a standard capacity of up to 160,000 vehicles per year, which... Read more →

ZF Friedrichshafen AG is establishing a third Chinese research and development center in Guangzhou in southern China. ZF already has two development centers in China, both located in Shanghai. With their respective focus on the development of active and passive safety technology as well as driveline and chassis technology, the... Read more →

BASF officially launched its smart Verbund project in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, China, and commenced building its first plants. It marks a milestone of the company’s US$10-billion investment project announced in July 2018. (Earlier post.) The first plants will produce engineering plastics and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to serve the increasing needs... Read more →