Incat Tasmania, based in Tasmania, has upheld its commitment to constructing the world's largest battery-electric passenger ferry, and today marked the official unveiling of the "China Zorrilla" at its Hobart shipyard. Measuring an impressive 130 meters in length and equipped with an extensive battery capacity exceeding 40MWh, this ferry stands as the globe's largest lightweight battery-electric vessel. Tailored for South American client Buquebús, the ferry is set for delivery in 2025 and is poised to become the first fully electric ship in South America. It will ply the waters between Argentina and Uruguay, accommodating up to 2,100 passengers and crew, along with 225 vehicles.

Recently, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra underwent an upgrade to Xiaomi HyperOS, introducing a novel feature called "Qualifying Mode Lap Time Assessment." This feature mandates that owners achieve the officially recommended lap time on a designated track before gaining access to the qualifying mode. Prior to this update, owners were merely required to pass the "Driving Safety Precautions" test to unlock all performance modes. This change has ignited widespread debate among netizens, with some viewing it as a measure to safeguard novice drivers, while others express dissatisfaction over the lack of consultation. Xiaomi customer service has responded, stating that this measure is designed to ensure the safety of novice track drivers, asserting that the daily 900 horsepower limit is adequate, and that the track mode necessitates professional knowledge.

During the first quarter of 2025, sales of Chinese independent auto brands overseas surged to 660,000 units, reflecting an 8% increase from the same period last year. In March alone, sales hit 246,000 units, a 4% rise. China's auto exports are demonstrating robust momentum, with their market reach extending from less developed regions such as Africa to premium markets like Europe. Brands including Chery, SAIC, and BYD have exhibited particularly noteworthy performances, each leveraging their unique strengths in diverse overseas markets. According to the China Passenger Car Association, passenger vehicle retail sales are forecasted to increase by 3% in 2025, with exports anticipated to grow by 10% and wholesale sales of new energy vehicles projected to soar by 32%.

In April, the five major automakers in South Korea collectively sold 688,778 vehicles worldwide, marking a 2.4% increase year-on-year. Among them, Hyundai Motor's sales surged by 2%, and Kia's sales grew by 5%. Conversely, GM Korea experienced a 6.3% decline, Renault Korea saw a 1.4% drop, and KGM faced an 8.4% decrease in sales.

In pre-market trading, the most popular Chinese stocks experienced notable gains. Specifically, XPeng Motors surged more than 6%, Alibaba climbed more than 4%, while NIO, Li Auto, and JD.com each advanced over 3%. Additionally, Pinduoduo rose by more than 2%.

Next time you encounter a long-haul truck on Interstate 45, keep an eye out for the driver's seat. If it's unoccupied, you can thank Aurora. This Pittsburgh-based startup specializing in autonomous vehicle technology has initiated an autonomous trucking service in Texas, initially catering to freight forwarders plying the route between Dallas and Houston. Its suite of driverless technologies has already navigated over 1,930 kilometers on public roads with remarkable success.

On May 2, Chery Group announced its latest sales figures: In April, the Group sold a total of 200,760 vehicles, representing a 10.3% year-on-year increase. Specifically, sales of Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. reached 184,850 units, up 5.2% compared to the same period last year. Notably, new energy vehicle sales soared to 61,223 units, marking an impressive 85.5% year-on-year growth. Additionally, the Group exported 87,738 units during the month. For the first four months of 2023, Chery Group's cumulative sales amounted to 820,785 units, indicating a 15.3% year-on-year rise. Cumulative exports reached 343,203 units, while cumulative new energy vehicle sales hit 224,629 units, showcasing a remarkable 140.7% year-on-year surge.

On May 2, the 21st edition of the Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition drew to a successful close, gathering nearly 1,000 automobile companies from 26 countries and regions. The event welcomed over one million visitors, underscoring its significance in the global automotive industry. This year's auto show was themed "Embrace Innovation, Win the Future Together," spanning a total exhibition area of over 360,000 square meters and showcasing 163 new car launches. According to official figures, the event attracted a total of 1.01 million attendees.

Skoda Auto has announced a sales revenue of €7.26 billion for the first quarter, reflecting a robust 10.4% year-on-year growth. Operating profit stood at €546 million, marking a 2.1% increase compared to the same period in 2022. During this quarter, the company delivered 238,600 vehicles, showcasing an 8.2% year-on-year rise. Notably, sales of purely electric and plug-in hybrid models witnessed a significant surge of 114%, amounting to 36,900 units.

On May 2, reports that Tesla was exploring the possibility of appointing a new CEO to succeed Elon Musk garnered significant attention. Reuters revealed that despite denials from both Tesla and Musk himself, internal discussions at the company explored alternative options aimed at diminishing Musk's operational involvement.

The Tesla Model Y has attained a remarkable milestone by becoming the most popular car in Norway, consistently topping the country's car sales charts for multiple years. This achievement underscores the all-electric crossover's dominance in the Norwegian market.

On May 2, Stephanie Brinley, associate director at S&P Global Mobility, emphasized that the uncertainty surrounding the U.S. government's tariff policy is impeding manufacturers' long-term strategic planning and will ultimately lead to higher costs for consumers. According to S&P Global Mobility's forecast, the sales of light vehicles in the United States are anticipated to drop by more than 640,000 units by 2025, a direct consequence of the tariff policies. Manufacturers are grappling with significant challenges in realigning their supply chains, as tasks such as relocating factories and substituting components are both time-consuming and complex. Revitalizing the domestic automotive industry in the U.S. is proving to be a formidable task.

General Motors (GM) anticipates earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to range between $10 billion and $12.5 billion, a decrease from the previous forecast of $15.7 billion, primarily due to tariff pressures. Additionally, the company's capital expenditures for this year are projected to remain within the $10 billion to $11 billion bracket.

According to a recent institutional survey by Well Microelectronics, the rising popularity of intelligent automobiles has accelerated since 2024. Notably, domestic manufacturers have successfully integrated L2+ intelligent driving solutions into mid-to-low-priced models, leading to a substantial increase in the number of cameras per vehicle. This trend has, in turn, fueled a massive surge in demand for high-pixel automotive CIS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Image Sensor) products.

On the evening of May 1st, Chery Group revealed its sales figures for April, reporting a total of 200,760 vehicle sales, marking a 10.3% year-on-year increase. Specifically, Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. sold 184,850 units, representing a 5.2% growth. New energy vehicle sales surged by 85.5%, totaling 61,223 units. Notably, exports reached 87,738 units, securing Chery's position as the leading Chinese automaker in exports for the second consecutive month.

Xiaomi Automobile has announced its sales performance for April, boasting the delivery of over 28,000 new vehicles. This impressive figure underscores Xiaomi Automobile's robust market competitiveness and widespread consumer acceptance.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially granted California's request to phase out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. Initially outlined by the California government in 2020, this ambitious plan mandates that all newly sold passenger cars, SUVs, and small pickup trucks in the state must achieve zero emissions by 2035, with a provision allowing up to 20% of sales to be plug-in hybrid vehicles. Securing this exemption from the EPA was crucial for California to move forward with its goal. Despite this regulatory green light, claims that the U.S. House of Representatives has voted to reject California's plan have yet to be substantiated by authoritative sources.

Ford initially adopted nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) ternary lithium-ion batteries and, in 2023, added lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries to its lineup. Looking ahead, Charles Pan, Director of Ford's Electrification Propulsion Engineering, emphasized that lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) batteries represent the next significant step in battery development. He affirmed that Ford intends to maintain its focus on LMR technology, with plans to integrate these batteries into its future vehicle models by 2030. Ford is actively expanding the application scale of LMR batteries, underscoring its commitment to this promising technology.

BYD reported a total of 380,089 vehicle sales in April 2025, reflecting a robust 21.3% year-over-year growth. Breaking down the figures, the BYD brand accounted for 347,053 sales, FANGCHENBAO contributed 10,039, DENZA added 15,388, and YANGWANG closed with 135 sales. The overseas market shone brightly with 78,705 units sold, marking a 91.9% surge. Notably, the Seagull model led the pack, with five models exceeding 30,000 sales each. The Han, Seal, and Sea Lion models also distinguished themselves by each selling over 20,000 units.

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has officially confirmed that, pursuant to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), automotive components produced in Canada and Mexico will be exempted from the 25% tariff that is scheduled to come into effect on May 3rd.