On September 23, Li Xinyang, the leader in charge of Li Auto's product line, revealed that the company has rescheduled the launch of the 2026 i6 model. Initially, pre-orders were set to commence at the end of September, with deliveries scheduled for early November. However, to prevent excessively prolonged waiting periods for customers post-order placement, the launch has now been shifted to late October. Despite this adjustment, the delivery timeline remains set for early November. Notably, the vehicle has already undergone declaration in the 411th batch of announcements released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Key enhancements of this model encompass the integration of a self-developed chip and battery technology.

Lens Technology announced on an interactive platform that it has successfully surmounted technical hurdles, including ultra-precision surface polishing. Consequently, its HDD glass hard drives have now passed customer validation and commenced small-batch shipments. In the realm of embodied intelligence, Lens Technology has forged deep collaborations with several top-tier clients, focusing on precision component processing for robots, joint module production, and complete machine assembly. The company occupies a pivotal role in manufacturing critical components such as robot head modules, dexterous hands, and joint modules, as well as in complete machine assembly. Its cumulative shipments position it among the industry's leaders. However, specific client and supply details remain undisclosed due to commercial confidentiality considerations.

Zhang Zhuo, the General Manager of BYD Auto's Ocean Network Sales Division, has disclosed the design blueprint for the second-generation Seagull. He highlighted that the new model showcases reimagined contours, revitalized surfaces, and promises even more revelations to come. Earlier, the vehicle had successfully undergone the declaration process with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It embraces the latest design philosophy, featuring a trident-inspired headlight assembly on the front, an upward-sweeping side silhouette that evokes a diving stance, and a floating roof design. The vehicle's dimensions are 4205mm in length, 1810mm in width, and 1570mm in height, with a wheelbase stretching to 2650mm. In comparison to its predecessor, the length has been augmented by 425mm, and the wheelbase has been elongated by 150mm. The rear end of the vehicle exudes a minimalist yet layered design, adorned with two inverted trapezoidal taillights, and the BYD English logo is seamlessly integrated between the light clusters. Regarding powertrain, the new vehicle is entirely electric, harnessing a permanent magnet synchronous drive motor, model TZ164XYB, crafted by Zhengzhou BYD, boasting a peak power output of 95kW. Additionally, it will be outfitted with a BYD Blade battery.

On September 23, news emerged that on the preceding day, September 22, Mr. Feng Changjun, the General Manager of Dongfeng Motor, made a trip to Shenzhen for high-level talks with Ren Zhengfei, the founder of Huawei, along with other senior representatives from Huawei. The two parties delved into comprehensive discussions on fortifying their strategic cooperation and fostering collaborative innovation in product technology. They also shared insights into their respective corporate operations and business development trajectories.

During these discussions, the focus was on the strategic new vehicle models that have been jointly developed, such as the EI-X9, Mengshi X700, and LanTu Dreamer 9. Both sides explored avenues for deepening cooperation in key areas, including the definition of future products, the integration of intelligent technologies, and marketing strategies. In light of emerging industry trends, Dongfeng Motor is expediting the execution of its 'Eastern Wind Rises 2030' initiative and has initiated programs like 'Heavenly Net Zero Carbon,' 'Embodied Intelligent Vehicle Omni-Guard,' and 'Horizon Sailing.' Both Dongfeng Motor and Huawei reiterated their dedication to continually strengthening their strategic partnership and collaboratively crafting innovative solutions for intelligent vehicles and smart mobility that are geared towards the future.

The ZEEKR 9X, the flagship model of China's premium new energy vehicle brand, has officially set sail for the United Arab Emirates, heralding the start of its ambitious global rollout. With a price tag exceeding RMB 800,000 in the UAE and nearing RMB 1 million in Europe, this vehicle is rapidly making inroads into key markets across the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
Powered by the cutting-edge SEP Extreme Super Electric Hybrid Architecture—a global leader in its field—the ZEEKR 9X has captured considerable interest overseas, thanks to its outstanding performance, handling prowess, and safety features. In certain regions, it commands a premium of over RMB 500,000, positioning it in direct competition with established overseas ultra-luxury marques like Porsche, Rolls-Royce, and Bentley.

The Legal Affairs Department of Leapmotor released a statement, indicating that they had recently received numerous complaints and reports of infringement from vehicle owners. These complaints alleged that netizen Wang [Name Redacted] had violated their lawful rights and interests. Upon collecting evidence, Leapmotor initiated legal proceedings against the individual. During the court proceedings, Wang [Name Redacted] acknowledged the damage caused by their actions, voluntarily halted the infringing activities, and issued an apology. Through a court-mediated settlement, both parties reached a mutual agreement, bringing the case to a close. Wang [Name Redacted] publicly apologized, admitting that since 2025, they had leveraged their fictitious identity as a Leapmotor owner and engineer to gain trust, spread false information, and sell counterfeit automotive products and accessories bearing Leapmotor's registered trademarks. Wang [Name Redacted] expressed profound regret and pledged to remove the infringing products and delete any inappropriate comments. Leapmotor sought only a nominal compensation of 1 yuan and demanded a public apology, underscoring its zero-tolerance stance towards online misinformation while also providing the individual with an opportunity to correct their behavior. Leapmotor stressed that the online realm is not a lawless domain and that they would persist in safeguarding their rights in accordance with the law.

Deng Chenghao, Chairman of Deepal Auto, has officially announced that the all-new Deepal S07 will be seamlessly integrated with the Doubao large model. Deng Chenghao highlighted that the competitive dynamics within the intelligent cockpit landscape have undergone a significant transformation. With the advent of AI large models in cockpits, vehicle systems are transitioning from a mere aggregation of functions to a sophisticated understanding of user intentions, with the concept of One Agent emerging as a pivotal trend for the future. He reflected on the bygone era when intelligent cockpits relied heavily on hardware stacking, necessitating users to adapt to the machine's limitations. However, he emphasized that with the integration of AI large models into vehicles, users can now simply articulate their needs, and the system will autonomously orchestrate its capabilities to fulfill services. Deepal Auto leverages an end-cloud collaboration model to deploy large models effectively. Simple instructions can be processed with millisecond-level responsiveness on the end side and are applicable in offline scenarios, while complex tasks are handled by invoking cloud resources, ensuring that private data remains processed locally. Previously, Deepal had forged collaborations with Huawei and DeepSeek. This time, the decision to partner with Doubao was driven by considerations of ecological synergy, as Deepal Auto believes that the ultimate potential of the cockpit experience hinges on the depth of the AI ecosystem supporting it. The all-new Deepal S07 is also outfitted with AI laser intelligent driving technology and is slated for an official launch on September 28th.

China has officially overtaken all other nations to become Germany’s largest source of automobile imports, with Chinese-brand vehicles experiencing a remarkable surge in the German market, especially within the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector. Data released by the German Federal Statistical Office reveals that from January to July 2026, Germany imported roughly 175,000 passenger vehicles from China, marking a staggering year-on-year increase of 120.9%. This growth propelled China past the Czech Republic, securing its position as Germany’s leading automobile import partner, with a market share of 13.8%. During the same timeframe, Germany’s overall passenger vehicle imports amounted to approximately 1.3 million units, reflecting a 16% year-on-year rise.

According to a report by The Daily Telegraph, research by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), based on 47.4 million MOT annual inspection records, reveals that high-mileage electric vehicles (EVs) demonstrate significantly higher reliability compared to their gasoline counterparts over the same distance. Moreover, this reliability gap continues to widen as mileage increases. When mileage surpasses 120,000 miles, gasoline vehicles are nearly 47% more likely to fail than EVs, challenging the common belief that "EVs become more problematic over time." The MOT is a mandatory annual safety inspection in the UK that applies to all vehicles on the road, ensuring the data is statistically representative.

The study shows that at lower mileages, the failure rates of EVs and gasoline vehicles are nearly equal, with EVs even showing slightly higher rates in some cases. For instance, between 20,000 and 40,000 miles, the MOT failure rate for EVs stands at 12%, while for gasoline vehicles, it is 11.7%. However, starting from 60,000 miles, the failure rate of EVs stabilizes around 16%, forming a plateau. In contrast, the failure rates of gasoline and diesel vehicles continue to climb, reaching 23.5% beyond 120,000 miles. Between 90,000 and 120,000 miles, the failure rate for EVs is 16.5%, compared to 22.1% for gasoline vehicles, indicating that EVs are about 25% less likely to fail, with this gap widening as mileage increases.

These findings are consistent with the operating principles of EVs. Internal combustion engine vehicles contain numerous moving parts, and mechanical wear inevitably leads to an increased failure rate. In contrast, EVs have significantly fewer moving parts. Although batteries and electronic control systems may degrade over time, the overall failure curve for EVs is much smoother compared to that of internal combustion engines.

Toby Poston, CEO of BVRLA, stated that this data debunks assumptions about the reliability of used electric vehicles.

The 30,000th NIO ES9 will be delivered this week

On September 22, Yang Qing, the Chairman of Dongfeng Motor, journeyed to Shenzhen for a significant meeting with Ren Zhengfei, the founder of Huawei, and Huawei's top-tier executives. During this gathering, both parties delved into profound discussions centered around fortifying their strategic partnership and fostering joint innovation in product technology. Dongfeng and Huawei have a history of fruitful collaborations, and this recent meeting has paved the way for an even more comprehensive and innovative cooperation in the forthcoming phase. Notably, the eπ009, the inaugural model under their jointly developed eπ brand, is slated for its official launch on September 24.

In August, Chinese automotive brands, with BYD leading the charge, made significant inroads into the European new car market. These brands secured a market share of nearly 12% of the total sales, claimed a quarter of the hybrid vehicle segment, and dominated a third of the plug-in hybrid vehicle market. The month witnessed a notable 27% increase in demand for battery-electric and hybrid vehicles, effectively counterbalancing the decline in sales of traditional fuel-powered cars. Spurred by the burgeoning electric vehicle sector, the overall European new car market experienced a growth of 4.6%.

On September 23, NIO's tech-savvy flagship SUV, the ES9, achieved a significant feat by delivering its 30,000th new vehicle. NIO's founder, Li Bin, was present to personally hand over the keys to the new car to He Yinjun, Chairman of Suzhou Suyingshi Image Software Technology Co., Ltd. Earlier, on September 21, NIO had officially announced that the ES9 would reach this delivery milestone within the week. Since its market debut on May 27, the ES9 has witnessed a consistent acceleration in its delivery pace. Notably, on August 8, the 20,000th unit of this model was already delivered, setting a new benchmark as the fastest high-end pure electric vehicle, priced at 500,000 yuan, to exceed 20,000 deliveries in the Chinese passenger vehicle market.

Chinese automakers reached a new peak in market share in Europe last month, attracting European buyers who remain hesitant about fully electric vehicles with their affordable hybrid cars. According to Dataforce, new car sales from brands like BYD accounted for nearly 12% of the European market in August, with hybrid vehicles making up a quarter of the sales and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounting for as much as one-third. Analysts point out that given European consumers' concerns about charging infrastructure and driving range, Chinese automakers are positioning hybrid vehicles as a bridge toward the transition to fully electric vehicles.

On September 23, according to Dataforce data, new car sales from brands like BYD accounted for nearly 12% of the European market in August, with hybrid vehicles making up a quarter of sales and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounting for one-third. In August, demand for battery and hybrid vehicles increased by 27%, offsetting the impact of declining demand for fuel-powered cars. The growth in electric vehicles drove a 4.6% increase in the overall market.

On September 23, Chery Automobile (09973.HK) made an announcement stating that, with immediate effect, Executive Director Zhang Guozhong would cease to hold the position of Executive Vice President, and Zhang Guibing, a member of the senior management team, would assume this role.

Data from the Tianyancha App reveals that GAC Energy Technology Co., Ltd. has recently established a fully-owned subsidiary in Beijing, named GAC Energy Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. The subsidiary has appointed Liu Zhihui as its legal representative and secured 50 million yuan in registered capital. The new entity's business scope encompasses the management of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, centralized rapid-charging stations, the sale of vehicle charging services, and the leasing of charging control equipment, among other sectors. Established on July 19, 2022, GAC Energy Technology Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Guangzhou and boasts a substantial registered capital of 1 billion yuan. It is a joint venture between Youpai Energy Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., which holds a 55% stake, and GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd., which holds the remaining 45%.

On September 23, CATL and Wuling Commercial Vehicle jointly launched a cutting-edge generation of professional-grade batteries tailored specifically for urban logistics applications. These batteries incorporate the advanced Feiliu Intelligent 2.0 Temperature Control System and MUST Ultra-Thin Structure Technology. Moreover, their battery cells utilize high-temperature side-reaction self-inhibiting supercharging technology, which is a testament to their innovative design. Operating at a standard temperature of 25℃, these batteries boast an impressive cycle life of up to 10,000 times. Even under the demanding conditions of 45℃, they maintain a robust performance with 5,000 cycles. The Wuling Yangguang L model will be the first to benefit from the integration of these advanced batteries.

Following Yu Chengdong's discussion on the benchmarks for family vehicles and his solicitation of feedback on the pain points experienced during family travels, Xiangjie V8 has unveiled a range of family-centric configurations. This vehicle will be available for limited reservations starting September 28. The Xiangjie V8 makes its debut with innovative MPV five-protection concealed floor rails, effectively addressing the common issues associated with traditional MPV floor rails, such as their protruding design, tendency to accumulate dirt, and potential tripping hazards.

In addition, the Xiangjie V8 has undergone extensive optimizations for family use, particularly in terms of the second-row seating, passageway space, sliding doors, and trunk capacity. The vehicle also boasts a low wind resistance design, an 800V high-voltage platform, and incorporates multiple intelligent technologies sourced from Huawei. It offers both pure electric and extended-range powertrain options, delivering exceptional range performance. Overall, the Xiangjie V8 is meticulously crafted to cater to the diverse needs of families and holds significant potential to become a bestseller in its segment.

The National Energy Administration has unveiled data concerning the national electric vehicle charging infrastructure for August 2026. According to the figures, as of the end of August 2026, the cumulative number of electric vehicle charging infrastructure units (guns) across China had soared to 24.223 million, marking a significant year-on-year surge of 39.6%. Breaking it down, there were 5.16 million public charging units (guns), reflecting a 19.5% year-on-year growth, with a combined rated power of 262 million kilowatts and an average power output of roughly 50.69 kilowatts per gun. Simultaneously, the number of private charging units (guns) stood at 19.063 million, experiencing a robust 46.3% year-on-year increase, with the installed electrical capacity of private charging facilities reported at 163 million kilovolt-amperes.