Advertisement
Advertisement
TOPIC

Future of transport

Future of transport
From electric cars to on-demand car service apps, companies like Uber, Google and Didi Dache are changing the way we get from place to place, and having a potentially irreversible effect on employment in this key sector.
A Peugeot concept car on display at the Auto China show in Beijing, April 24, 2026. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

Peugeot, Jeep take on Chinese rivals with new models using local EV tech

Peugeot and Jeep are following in the footsteps of Hyundai Motor’s Ioniq to regain lost ground in mainland China.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers hunt for idled plants in Europe as they expand global influence

videocam
Electric & new energy vehicles

Oil shock fuels BEVs to 9 of top 10 in sales, with China brands overtaking Tesla

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese smart cars set to control 20% of western European market by 2028: JPMorgan

Amid surging demand for electrification and a worldwide energy crisis, domestic carmakers can benefit from the stepped-up ‘go-global’ drive.

MG electric cars before being loaded onto a ship for export at the port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province on April 29. Photo: CN-STR / AFP
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.

5
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.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV maker Leapmotor taps Stellantis’ Spanish plant for EU production

Hangzhou carmaker’s overseas strategy highlights how Chinese brands are leveraging idle plants to scale globally while easing trade barriers.

A Leapmotor Lafa5 Ultra is on display at the Beijing Auto Show on April 24. Photo: AFP
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.

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s move to cut EV payment cycles may push weaker carmakers out: S&P

China’s weaker EV makers may soon be running on fumes as tighter payment cycles squeeze cash flow and curb price wars.

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s EV battery giants thrive while carmakers’ profits shrink amid price wars

Carmakers’ profit margin stood at 3.2 per cent in the first quarter, versus 6 per cent for downstream industrial firms, according to CPCA.

videocam
CATL’s advanced battery module technology is displayed at the Auto China show in Beijing that ended on May 3. Photo: China News Service/VCG via Getty Images
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.

videocam
Vehicles are displayed in ZYT’s booth at the Beijing Auto Show. Photo: Weibo
Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD, Geely benefit from overseas orders amid Middle East energy shock

Retail sales of EVs fall 11 per cent year on year in April to 614,000 units – but foreign markets are providing a boost.

videocam
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.

A GAC Montx concept car is displayed on the opening day of Auto China in Beijing. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Video | Cleaner, cheaper EV trucks gain traction in China

The energy shock from the Middle East conflict is transforming China’s trucking and logistics sector.

This picture taken on April 23, 2026 shows a driver returning the charging gun after charging his electric truck at a station in Beijing. At a dusty lot an hour outside Beijing, a steady stream of vehicles come and go for a quick battery charge -- just one node in China’s rapidly expanding network of electric trucks. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP) / To go with AFP story China-tech-logistics-auto-show, FOCUS by Peter CATTERALL
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.

7
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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
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.

A Pony AI robotaxi is displayed at the Beijing Auto Show. Photo: DPA
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s CATL touts landmark energy-storage order for sodium-ion batteries

Deal for massive grid storage system shows that CATL has ‘overcome all the challenges in mass-producing sodium-ion batteries’, company says.

videocam
Electric & new energy vehicles

Li Auto targets BMW and Mercedes with premium SUVs in Middle East, Asia-Pacific

Beijing-based EV maker expects overseas deliveries to account for 30 per cent of its total by 2030, president Ma Donghui says.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng sets August goal to overtake Tesla’s self-driving tech in China

Carmaker bets on training AI in China’s dense urban roads to build a competitive advantage for expansion into Europe and Southeast Asia.

He Xiaopeng, CEO of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, walks past the new SUV GX six-seater on the opening day of Auto China 2026 in Beijing. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Huawei earmarks US$11.7b for training of autonomous-driving systems

Company claims it will outspend all rivals combined to boost computing power, which is essential to enhance advanced driving systems.

Richard Jin, CEO of Huawei’s intelligent automotive solutions business unit, introduces the company’s latest advanced driving system in Beijing on April 23, 2026. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers bet on in-house chips to make cars smarter and more autonomous

Chinese EV makers are showcasing advanced in-house chips at Auto China, powering smarter vehicles and challenging global tech leaders.

Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s low-cost EVs to be fitted with lidar systems, usually saved for lux cars

Intense competition, rapid tech advancement and falling costs allow the superior driving systems to be fitted into budget-price vehicles.

videocam
Electric & new energy vehicles

CATL to supercharge China’s EV sector with revamped battery tech

World’s largest EV battery producer reveals third-gen product that charges in under six and a half minutes, easing drivers’ range anxiety.

videocam
People look at a model of CATL’s Chocolate 26# Battery during the CATL Tech Day event ahead of the Beijing Auto Show in Beijing on April 21. Photo: AFP
China-EU relations

China’s CRRC drops bid for Lisbon metro deal as EU finds ‘billions’ in subsidies

Polish firm to replace state-backed Chinese giant as Brussels uses regulatory powers to curb what it says is market-distorting foreign aid.

videocam
Workers operate on a production line at an assembly workshop of CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive in China’s Hunan province. Photo: Xinhua
Electric & new energy vehicles

Jump in EU EV sales amid Iran war boosts Chinese brands’ fortunes

Chinese-made EVs accounted for 16 per cent of the EU market in the year’s first two months, up from 12.2 per cent in 2025, CPCA data shows.

5
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s Hesai adds colour to lidar to help EVs level up in self-driving

Colour-capable sensors to ‘significantly enhance’ sensing, helping cars identify traffic lights, construction signs, Deutsche Bank says.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement