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☆ Xpeng's former autonomous driving head joins Nvidia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A smartphone with a displayed NVIDIA logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken March 6, 2023. Wu did not disclose what role he was taking up at Nvidia but Chinese media outlet Jiemian News said he would become its head of automotive products. Nvidia also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Wu, who resigned from Xpeng this month, said on his Weibo account that he had joined Nvidia, posting a photo of himself alongside Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Xpeng's chairman He Xiaopeng. Wu had led Xpeng's autonomous driving development efforts from 2018 with more than 1,000 engineers in China and the United States.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Wu Xinhou, Wu, Jensen Huang, Xiaopeng, Tesla, Brenda Goh, Zhang Yan, Robert Birsel Organizations: NVIDIA, REUTERS, Rights, HK, U.S, Nvidia, Jiemian, Thomson Locations: Xpeng, China, United States

Western automakers are rattled, with Carlos Tavares, the CEO of Peugeot-to-Fiat carmaker Stellantis (STLAM.MI), warning last month of an "invasion" of cheap Chinese EVs in Europe. But Chinese brands are likely to struggle to sell cars in Europe as cheaply as at home. CONSUMER TRUSTWhile some Chinese brands, such as MG, are well known in Europe, others like XPeng (9868.HK) and Nio need to build trust. Surveys indicate most potential EV buyers in Europe do not recognise Chinese brands. But among those aware of Chinese brands, 1% or fewer would consider buying one.

Persons: Annegret, Carlos Tavares, Chen Shihua, ” Shihua, Spiros Fotinos, Alexander Klose, BYD, Geely’s Lynk, Tesla, Aiways, Zeekr's Fotinos, ” Fotinos, Klose, Victoria Waldersee, Zhang Yan, Gilles Gillaume, Giulio Piovaccari, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, HK, Allianz . Western, Peugeot, Fiat, EV, New Energy Vehicle, Jato Dynamics, Logistics, Geely, South Korean, YouGov, GAC, Victoria, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, Europe, BERLIN, China, Beijing, Munich, Milan

☆ China's CATL launches fast charging LFP battery, mass production expected by year-end
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People walk past the booth of the battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) at the Auto Shanghai show, in Shanghai, China April 18, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING/SHANGHAI, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Chinese battery giant CATL(300750.SZ) on Wednesday launched a fast charging lithium iron phosphate or LFP battery capable of running 400 km (248 miles) on a 10-minute charge. "We hope through continuous efforts to improve technology and reduce costs, Shenxing will become a standard product available for every electric vehicle," Gao said. Automakers such as Chongqing Changan Automobile and Guangzhou Automobile Group also sourced more batteries from smaller suppliers to reduce costs. Reporting by Zhang Yan, Qiaoyi Li and Brenda Goh; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Aly, ， Gao Han, CATL's, Gao, CATL, Zhang Yan, Qiaoyi Li, Brenda Goh, Himani Sarkar, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Amperex Technology, ., Auto, REUTERS, Rights, Wednesday, Chongqing Changan Automobile, Guangzhou Automobile Group, Thomson Locations: Auto Shanghai, Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, SHANGHAI, Chongqing

☆ China's Geely unveils auto robotics brand JI YUE
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File PhotoBEIJING, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Chinese automaker Geely Holding Group (0175.HK) on Monday unveiled a premium intelligent technology brand JI YUE, which stems from Geely's cooperation with Baidu Inc (9888.HK) on "automotive robotics", and introduced its first model. JI YUE 01, the flagship model under the new brand will be produced by Geely and is expected to debut in the last quarter of this year, the company said. Baidu will provide its know-how in smart cockpits, autonomous driving and artificial intelligence technologies, which will be applied in JI YUE cars, Geely added. Also on Monday, China's industry ministry website showed three electric vehicles under the JI YUE brand were seeking regulatory approvals. Geely had co-funded an electric vehicle venture Jidu with Baidu.

Persons: Maxim, YUE, Geely, Zhang Yan, Ella Cao, Meg Shen, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: REUTERS, Geely Holding, HK, Baidu Inc, Baidu, JI, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, BEIJING, China, Beijing, Hong Kong

☆ Changan Ford Motor to set up electric car JV with Chongqing Changan Auto
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Workers assemble vehicles at a plant of Changan Ford, a joint venture between Changan Automobile and Ford Motor Company, in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China February 22, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer/File PhotoBEIJING, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Changan Ford Motor plans to set up a new-energy passenger car joint venture with state-owned Chongqing Changan Automobile (000625.SZ), according to a document published by China's market regulator on Friday. Changan Ford Motor will own a 60% stake and Chongqing Changan Automobile will have the remaining 40% stake. In the future, the joint venture plans to engage in the "supply business of mainstream brand new energy passenger vehicles and the distribution business of Ford brand models that Changan Ford has invested in," the statement said. Officials at Ford and Changan could not immediately be reached for further comment.

Persons: Changan Ford, Stringer, Ford, Tesla, Farah Master, Twinnie Siu, Zhang Yan, Ben Klayman, Louise Heavens, Susan Fenton Organizations: Changan Automobile, Ford Motor Company, REUTERS, Ford Motor, Chongqing Changan Automobile, Ford, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Thomson Locations: Harbin, Heilongjiang province, China, BEIJING, Chongqing, Changan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Detroit

☆ BYD calls on China automakers to unite, 'demolish the old' in global push
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BYD (002594.SZ) used an event this week to mark a production milestone to celebrate a bigger purpose: the emergence of China as a global auto manufacturing powerhouse. China's automakers are locked in a bruising price war that was started by Tesla (TSLA.O) in January and which shows no signs of easing. It ends with a call for China's automakers to "demolish the old legends and achieve new world-class brands," under the slogan, "Chinese Autos". said Li Xiang, CEO of Li Auto, who reposted the BYD video. In July, the industry group representing China's automakers retracted a pledge to avoid "abnormal pricing" brokered between 16 automakers, including BYD.

Persons: Aly, Wang Chuanfu, BYD –, BYD, Li Auto, William Li, Li Xiang, Wang Yuanli, Wall, Wang, Great Wall, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Kevin Krolicki Organizations: Security, Auto, REUTERS, Tesla, FAW Group, HK, BYD's, Technology, China's Auto Business, China Association of Auto Manufacturers, BYD, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: Auto Shanghai, Shanghai, China, Weibo, Europe

☆ China's Hozon to start selling Neta EVs in Indonesia from Q4
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company also plans to start localized assembly and production for its products in Indonesia from the second quarter of 2024, it said. Wang Chengjie, president director of PT NETA Auto Indonesia, said the local assembly plant will have a production capacity of 30,000 units annually. Hozon, which exported 6,970 cars in the first half of this year, has been selling its Neta EVs to Southeast Asian countries including Thailand, Myanmar and Nepal. It is building its first overseas plant in Thailand and aims to start production there in January 2024. Hozon's Neta V was the second best-selling EV in Southeast Asia in the first quarter, following BYD's Atto 3, according to research firm Counterpoint.

Persons: Tingshu Wang TANGERANG, Hozon Auto, Wang Chengjie, Hozon's Neta, Stefanno Sulaiman, Zhang Yan, Kim Coghill Organizations: Beijing International Automotive, Auto, REUTERS, Hozon, Gaikindo, PT NETA Auto, Thomson Locations: Auto China, Beijing, China, Indonesia, SHANGHAI, Southeast Asia, Gaikindo Indonesia, Hozon, Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal, Jakarta, Shanghai

☆ China EV brand Zeekr to launch its first luxury sports car
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A man walks past a sign of Geely's new premium electric vehicle (EV) brand Zeekr at its factory in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China April 15, 2021. REUTERS/Yilei Sun/File PhotoSHANGHAI, Aug 10 (Reuters) - China's Zeekr, Geely Automobile's (0175.HK) electric vehicle brand, said on Thursday it will launch its first luxury sports car, which will be priced above 1 million yuan ($140,000). BYD launched an electric off-road SUV with a starting price of 1.098 million yuan as the first model under its luxury brand Yangwang in January. Founded in 2021 as a premium EV brand, Zeekr has three models for sales with starting prices ranging from 189,800 yuan to 499,000 yuan. ($1 = 7.2116 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh; Editing by Edmund Klamann and Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Geely Automobile's, Tesla, EVs, BYD, Zeekr, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Edmund Klamann Organizations: REUTERS, Yilei, HK, EV, Thomson Locations: Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China

☆ China's Li Auto aims to outsell BMW, Mercedes, Audi in its home market in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People stand near the logo of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Li Auto at a product launch event in Beijing, China May 25, 2021. REUTERS/Yilei Sun/File PhotoSHANGHAI, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Li Auto (2015.HK) said it aimed to outsell BMW (BMWG.DE), Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) and Audi in China in 2024 as the up and coming Chinese automaker accelerates rollouts of new models and ramps up production. The company will launch four new models next year including three EVs, he said. But Li Auto managed to gain market share in the segment of cars priced above 300,000 yuan and grow profits this year with four extended-range hybrid vehicles targeting family users. ($1 = 7.2134 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh; Editing by Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Li, Li Auto, Li Xiang, Tesla, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, Yilei, HK, BMW, Mercedes, Benz, Audi, Li Auto, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China

Sales of Tesla's (TSLA.O) China-made vehicles fell 31% in July from June, data from China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed on Thursday, marking its first month-on-month decline since December, when it struggled with rising inventories. Tesla sold 64,285 China-made EVs in July, up 128% from 28,217 a year earlier when a scheduled upgrade to its Shanghai factory curbed production. Meanwhile BYD (002594.SZ), with its Dynasty and Ocean series of EVs and petrol-electric hybrid vehicles, said it posted a 61% year-on-year rise in July sales to 261,105 passenger vehicles, including 18,169 which were exported. CPCA is set to publish full data for July later this month, with sales of new energy passenger vehicles in China estimated to reach 750,000. Still, BYD outsold Tesla China by 29% in EV sales in the first half while its lower-priced Dolphin EV outsold Tesla's Model 3, which is expected to be revamped in September.

Persons: Tesla, BYD, Xpeng, Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Christopher Cushing, Kim Coghill, Alexander Smith Organizations: Tesla, China Passenger Car Association, General Motors, Volkswagen, EV, Authorities, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, SHANGHAI, China, Shanghai

☆ Tesla's China-made EV sales in July down 31% mth/mth
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Visitors wearing face masks check a China-made Tesla Model Y sport utility vehicle (SUV) at the electric vehicle maker's showroom in Beijing, China January 5, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File PhotoBEIJING, Aug 3 (Reuters) - U.S. automaker Tesla (TSLA.O) sold 64,285 China-made electric vehicles (EVs) in July, down 31% from a month earlier, data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) showed on Thursday. Sales of China-made Model 3 and Model Y cars were up 128% from 28,217 a year earlier when a scheduled upgrade to Tesla's Shanghai factory lowered production. Chinese rival BYD (002594.SZ), with its Dynasty and Ocean series of EVs and petrol-electric hybrid vehicles, posted a 61% year-on-year rise in July sales to 261,105 passenger vehicles, including 18,169 exported. Reporting by Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; editing by Christopher Cushing and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Tesla, BYD, Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Christopher Cushing, Jason Neely Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, China Passenger Car Association, of, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, BEIJING, of China, Shanghai

☆ China's Leapmotor unveils new manufacturing platform, wants others to use it
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SHANGHAI, July 31 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle maker Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology (9863.HK) unveiled on Monday a new platform it developed in-house for making vehicles, which its chief executive said it wants to license to other automakers. The company hopes to sell the platform to other automakers via tech licensing agreements, he said. "We hope Leapmotor will not only be an EV brand but also a licensor of core technologies," Zhu said. Leapmotor, which employs more than 2,000 engineers, sold 44,500 units in the first half, 14% fewer than a year ago. ($1 = 7.1512 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Jacqueline Wong, Robert Birsel and Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Zhu Jiangming, Leapmotor, Zhu, Tesla, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Jacqueline Wong, Robert Birsel, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology, HK, Companies, Shanghai Electric Group Corp, Sequoia Capital, Volkswagen, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Sequoia Capital China

☆ VW-Xpeng EV models to use Xpeng platform in boost for Chinese startup
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 27 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) and Xpeng's (9868.HK) jointly developed electric vehicles (EV) will use Xpeng's G9 'Edward' platform, in a filip for the Chinese startup that analysts said could boost its sales and profitability. The Edward platform is an older generation of Xpeng's platform technology, forming the basis for the startup's G9 and P7 models. Its latest models, like the G6, are being built on a newer platform, the Smart Electric Platform Architecture (SEPA) 2.0. Still, news that Volkswagen and Xpeng will use the Edward platform could help boost the sales of models still using it, said an analyst who declined to be named. The partnership could also help lower Xpeng's EV production costs by leveraging Volkswagen's scale and bargaining power in supply.

Persons: Edward, filip, Oliver Blume, Xpeng, Blume, Victoria Waldersee, Zhang Yan, Matthias Williams, Mark Potter Organizations: HK, Volkswagen, Smart, EV, Deutsche Bank, Thomson Locations: China

☆ Global automakers scramble to reset China strategies as sales slow
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Global automakers, who for years have dominated the market along with their Chinese state-run partners, have been slow to pivot to the fast-growing market for EVs with competitive offerings. "This major collaboration between Volkswagen and Xpeng is a milestone for our electrification strategy 'in China for China'," said Ralf Brandstatter, a VW board member on his social media account. Their deeper pockets give established foreign automakers who are determined to fight for share in China, the ability to play a long game. Kia (000270.KS) is to enter China's EV market with its first EV, the EV6 crossover, via imports in August. "The German brands benefit from significant global scale," said He Lei, CEO of Chinese EV trading platform xChuxing.

Persons: Aly, Yale Zhang, Ralf Brandstatter, We've, Mary Barra, Tu Le, Yang Honghai, Kia, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen's Audi, Lei, It's, Bill Russo, Automobility, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Kevin Krolicki Organizations: Audi, Volkswagen, Auto, REUTERS, General Motors, Toyota, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Global, BMW, Mitsubishi, Automotive Foresight, GM, Reuters Graphics Volkswagen, BYD, China's Xpeng, HK, SAIC, VW, Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, CHINA EV INC, Tesla, China EV Inc, Volkswagen's, EV, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Ford, Renault, Thomson Locations: Auto Shanghai, Shanghai, China, SHANGHAI, CHINA, Kia China, KS

☆ China's Sunwoda plans $274.7 mln Hungarian battery plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, July 27 (Reuters) - China's Sunwoda Electronic (300207.SZ) plans to build a power battery factory in Hungary for electric vehicles, with initial investment of up to 1.96 billion yuan ($274.71 million), as Chinese battery makers expand in the European market. Sunwoda, a smaller player among Chinese battery makers, counts Xpeng (9868.HK), Mercedes (MBGn.DE) and Guangzhou Automobile Group (601238.SS) among its biggest clients. Its move comes as Chinese battery suppliers shake up Europe's e-mobility supply chains by setting themselves up on the continent. Chinese market leader Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) (300750.SZ) is building a 7.3 billion euro ($8.13 billion) battery plant, also in Hungary, following its first European production site in Germany. ($1 = 7.1380 Chinese yuan renminbi)($1 = 0.8977 euros)Reporting by Ethan Wang, Zhang Yan and Ryan Woo; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Emma RumneyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sunwoda, Ethan Wang, Zhang Yan, Ryan Woo, Christian Schmollinger, Emma Rumney Organizations: Shenzhen Stock Exchange, HK, Mercedes, Guangzhou Automobile Group, Amperex Technology, EVE Energy, Energy, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Hungary, Germany, Thailand

☆ Chinese battery giant CATL posts 63% growth in Q2 profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, July 25 (Reuters) - Chinese battery giant CATL (300750.SZ) on Tuesday recorded a 63.22% rise in net profit for the second quarter, as the company scrambled to maintain its industry leadership amid intensifying competition in the electric vehicle (EV) battery market. This compared to a 558% surge in its net profit in the first quarter. China's battery makers including CATL are facing challenges of weakening demand and bigger cost reduction pressure from EV makers amid a price war and a slowdown in auto sales this year. The EV battery market grew at a much slower pace this year with a 36.8% increase in battery installation volume in the first half compared with the 176.4% growth in the same period in 2022, data from China Automotive and Battery Alliance showed. ($1 = 7.1379 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Editing by Sam Holmes, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tesla, Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Sam Holmes, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: EV, China Automotive, Battery Alliance, Chongqing Changan Automobile, Guangzhou Automobile Group, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Chongqing

☆ Toyota's China venture dismisses some factory workers as sales fall - workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The joint venture between Toyota and China's state-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) (601238.SS) laid off the workers over the weekend and offered them compensation, said the workers, who declined to be named for privacy. The workers affected were hired by labor service companies and dispatched to work at the factory of GAC Toyota in the southern city of Guangzhou. The GAC Toyota factory has an annual output capacity of 1 million vehicles and employs around 19,000 people, according to its website. Toyota has been counting on its electric vehicle (EV) models to revive sales in China, which fell 9% in the first six months. The company joined a price war started by Tesla in January and slashed the starting price for its bZ4X EV by 15% in February.

Persons: Levin, bZ4X, Toyota's, Tesla, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Mark Potter Organizations: Toyota Motor Corp, Reuters, Toyota, Guangzhou Automobile Group, GAC Toyota, GAC, Mitsubishi, China Association of Automobile Association, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Guangzhou

☆ Toyota's China joint venture dismisses about 1000 workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SHANGHAI/TOKYO, July 24 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor's (7203.T) joint venture (JV) in China said on Monday that it has terminated early the contracts of about 1,000 dispatch workers, in a sign of pressure on automakers from a price war in the world's largest auto market. Toyota's JV in China, Guangzhou Toyota Motor Co, said in a statement to Reuters that it had prematurely terminated contracts for about 1,000 workers with labour services companies in light of recent production levels. The GAC Toyota factory has an annual output capacity of 1 million vehicles and employs around 19,000 people, according to its website. The production of Mitsubishi's new Outlander model remained suspended, Kato added, describing the conditions faced by the company in China as "severe". The company joined a price war started by Tesla in January and slashed the starting price for its bZ4X EV by 15% in February.

Persons: Levin, bZ4X, Toyota's, Takao Kato, Kato, Tesla, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Daniel Leussink, Mark Potter, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Toyota, JV, Guangzhou Automobile Group, Reuters, Toyota's JV, Guangzhou Toyota Motor, GAC Toyota, Mitsubishi Motors, GAC, China Association of Automobile Association, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, TOKYO, China, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Tokyo

IMPORTED ASSEMBLY KITSAfter a chaotic decade following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia encouraged Western carmakers to build factories. "Undoubtedly, the expansion of Chinese carmakers on the Russian market will continue," said Andrey Olkhovsky, the head of dealership chain Avtodom. It is a radical change of fortunes for Chinese carmakers in Russia. Production of Chinese vehicles only began in Russia in 2019 with the arrival of Chinese automotive company Great Wall Motor (601633.SS). LESS LOCAL INPUTUnder the partnership with Chinese firms, less of the production at former Western factories is currently conducted in Russia, the sources said.

Persons: Jetour, Maxim Shemetov, Moscow's, Sergei Sobyanin, French carmaker, JAC, Sehol, Moskvich, capitalising, Vladimir Bespalov, Vladimir Putin, Andrey Olkhovsky, Olkhovsky, Wall, Sollers, Avtovaz, Denis Manturov, Gleb Stolyarov, Alexander Marrow, Zhang Yan, Daniel Flynn Organizations: REUTERS, French, French carmaker Renault, Moscow Automobile Factory, JAC Motors, Reuters, Renault, Nissan, Russia's Industry, Trade Ministry, Wall, Chery, Geely, HK, Argo, Ford Transit, Nissan's St, Lada, China's FAW Group's, FAW, Western, Trade, Thomson Locations: Lyubertsy, Moscow Region, Russia, Soviet, Moscow, Anhui, Ukraine, Soviet Union, Western, Tula, Autostat, Tatarstan, Nissan's, Nissan's St Petersburg, St Petersburg, Leningrad, Japan, Europe, China, Shanghai

☆ Tesla's Shanghai factory workers welcome bonus increase after record deliveries
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoSHANGHAI, July 14 (Reuters) - Several workers at Tesla's (TSLA.O) Shanghai plant, its biggest manufacturing hub globally by output, said they had been awarded a large increase in their latest quarterly performance bonuses. Three workers told Reuters that they had received bonuses of 1.5 times of monthly base salary for the second quarter. This was higher than the quarterly bonuses - 1.2 times the monthly salary - that the majority of workers used to receive for average performance, the workers said. One of the workers said that his performance bonus had doubled this month on the first quarter, when it was cut to 0.785 times the month salary. But the move comes after Tesla delivered 247,000 units of China-made electric vehicles in the second quarter, the highest level since its Shanghai plant opened.

Persons: Aly, Elon Musk, Tesla, Musk, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Zhuzhu Cui, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, SHANGHAI, Tesla's

☆ EV brand Smart plans funding led by Tianqi Lithium
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, July 13 (Reuters) - EV brand Smart said on Thursday it planned to raise $250-300 million via series-A funding which it hoped would enhance its long-term sustainable development strategy and accelerate its global development. Chinese lithium producer Tianqi Lithium Corp (002466.SZ) has agreed to invest $150 million in the fund raising, Smart said in a statement. Smart, a joint venture of Germany's Mercedes-Benz Group AG (MBGn.DE) and China's Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (GEELY.UL), said both firms will remain equal controlling shareholders. "Thanks to the support from Mercedes-Benz and Geely, Smart now is accelerating its global development and business operation. Meanwhile, we are more than glad to welcome the strategic investments of worldwide industry leaders, such as Tianqi Lithium," Smart's Global CEO Tong Xiangbei said in the statement.

Persons: Smart, Germany's Mercedes, Tong Xiangbei, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Meg Shen Organizations: Lithium Corp, Benz Group AG, Zhejiang Geely Holding, Mercedes, Benz, Smart, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, Zhejiang

☆ China's car sales shrink 2.9% in June as big-ticket spending falters
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Car sales in June totalled 1.91 million units, down 2.9% from last year, CPCA data showed. However, sales advanced 2.5% to 9.65 million units in the first half of the year. Reuters GraphicsMeanwhile, sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs), including pure battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids, jumped more than 25% in June, accounting for roughly 35% of the total car sales. NEV sales surged more than 37% to 3.09 million units in the first six months. Reuters GraphicsChinese automakers counted more on overseas markets to sustain their sales growth, with car exports soaring 56% in June.

Persons: Tesla, BYD, Li Auto, Xpeng, Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Robert Birsel Organizations: China Passenger Car Association, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, EVs, China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, SHANGHAI, China

☆ Explainer: What's behind China's failed 'truce' in EV price war?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] A Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle (EV) is displayed at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 1, 2022. Toyota (7203.T) offered a discount on its bZ4X EV, and Nissan (7201.T) offered an incentive on its Ariya EV. Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) joint ventures with SAIC and FAW also announced price cuts in China on their ID-series EVs on Friday. AlixPartners said while China's EV market will continue to grow rapidly, intensifying competition and excess capacity will also drive a shakeout. In one example, Chinese automakers have invested $1.4 billion in Thailand since 2020, now dominating the Thai EV market after taking share from the Japanese brands that have long operated there.

Persons: Florence Lo, Tesla, CAAM, Li Auto, Liu Xu, furloughs, AlixPartners, Zhang Yan, Kevin Krolicki, Tom Hogue Organizations: Tesla, Fair for Trade, Services, REUTERS, China Association of Auto Manufacturers, stoke, HK, Volvo, Chery Automobile, Global, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, EV, General Motors, Honda, Consultancy, Consumers, SAIC, GAC, Dongfeng, FAW Group, China's Ministry of Industry, Information Technology, FAW, National Strategy Institute of Tsinghua University, International, Hyundai, Thai EV, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Shanghai, Europe, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Singapore

That represents a steep 75% discount to the $315 billion valuation in 2020 for what was set to be the world's largest IPO had it not been derailed at the last minute by Chinese regulators. "China needs to resolve the Ant IPO to restore investor confidence," said Wang Qi, chief executive of China-focused asset manager MegaTrust Investment. For the broader technology sector, Ant's fine marks a key step towards the conclusion of China's bruising crackdown on private enterprises, which began with the scrapping of Ant's IPO in late 2020 and subsequently wiped billions off the market value of several companies. "At the same time, initiating a stock buyback also indirectly informs investors that the possibility of a short-term IPO recovery is unlikely." On Friday, Chinese authorities also announced fines against two Chinese banks, an insurer, and Tencent Holdings' (0700.HK) online payment platform Tenpay.

Persons: Ant, Zhang Zihua, Wang Qi, Jack Ma, Hanyang Wang, Julie Zhu, Josh Ye, Brenda Goh, Zhang Yan, Scott Murdoch, Shri Navaratnam, Kim Coghill Organizations: Saturday, Ant, Hangzhou Junhan Equity Investment Partnership, Hangzhou Junao Equity Investment Partnership, Beijing Yunyi, MegaTrust Investment, Fidelity, Reuters, Tencent Holdings, HK, People's Bank of China, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hangzhou, Hangzhou Junhan, Beijing, China

☆ China's auto group retracts pledge to avoid 'abnormal pricing'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Cars drive on the road during the evening rush hour in Beijing, China, July 1, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File PhotoSHANGHAI, July 8 (Reuters) - The China Association of Auto Manufacturers (CAAM), citing antitrust law, on Saturday retracted a pledge to avoid "abnormal pricing" made two days earlier by 16 automakers, including Tesla. Thursday's CAAM-organised pledge by the companies, including Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers Nio, Li Auto and Xpeng, had been interpreted by some as signalling a truce in a price war that has threatened industry-wide profitability. CAAM said it would urge the 16 companies and other association members to strictly comply with the antitrust law and compete fairly with independent pricing. Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; Editing by William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jason Lee, Thursday's, Li Auto, CAAM, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, China Association of Auto Manufacturers, Tesla, Elon, Ministry of Industry, Information Technology, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, SHANGHAI

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