2020-07-03

The Matthew Effect is intensifying—urgent action is needed to elevate domestic brands.

“The pandemic has accelerated the survival-of-the-fittest process among automotive companies.” Recently, Wang Xia, Chairman of the Automotive Industry Committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and also Chairman of the Automotive Industry Chamber of the China Chamber of International Commerce, once again emphasized to everyone that market competition in the second half of 2020 will become even fiercer.

2020-06-29

Didi's autonomous driving service launches—Cheng Wei says the new technology will create new career opportunities for drivers.

On June 27, Shanghai launched a large-scale demonstration application of intelligent connected vehicles for passenger transport, marking the first time Didi Chuxing has opened its autonomous driving service to the public. Users can sign up online through the Didi app; once approved, they’ll be able to request and experience free rides in self-driving vehicles on designated autonomous driving test routes in Shanghai.

2020-06-24

Tesla: Confirms It Will Migrate Chinese User Data and Authentication Services from the U.S. to China

On June 23, Tesla China insiders revealed that Tesla's user data and certification services will be moved from the U.S. to China. Additionally, Tesla China is currently recruiting for a range of IT operations roles, including data center engineers, storage engineers, database engineers, and other related positions.

2020-06-19

With the resurgence of the pandemic and a sharp drop in passenger traffic, Beijing's auto market is under immense pressure.

Beijing had gone nearly 60 days without any locally transmitted cases, but since June 11, the city has reported 107 confirmed cases in just five short days. As of 9 a.m. on June 16, Beijing now has 107 confirmed COVID-19 cases—27 more than the previous day. Clearly, Beijing is once again entering an "extraordinary moment" in its fight against the pandemic.

2020-06-12

CATL will launch batteries with a lifespan of up to 2 million kilometers.

According to Bloomberg, Zeng Yuguang, Chairman of Chinese battery manufacturer CATL, said in an interview that the company is preparing to produce batteries capable of lasting 16 years under sustainable operation—enabling electric vehicles to travel up to 2 million kilometers. Currently, according to data from BloombergNEF, the typical warranty for EV batteries covers around 150,000 miles or 8 years. Thus, CATL's new battery would represent a groundbreaking milestone.

2020-06-05

Nidec will build a new electric vehicle motor R&D base in Dalian.

According to foreign media reports, Nidec, a global leader in the production and supply of electric motors, will establish a new R&D facility for electric vehicle drive motors in China. This move aims to mitigate risks stemming from U.S.-China tensions while also tapping into local Chinese demand.

2020-05-29

APCOA partners with HERE to digitize parking solutions, building high-precision 3D maps of indoor parking facilities.

According to foreign media reports, on May 25 local time, APCOA PARKING, Europe's leading parking technology operator, and HERE Technologies, a leading location data and technology platform, announced a strategic technology and business collaboration plan.

2020-05-22

Preparing for electric vehicle sales: Volkswagen Group reshapes dealer marketing model

On May 21, a reporter from Beijing News learned from Volkswagen Group officials that, in an effort to boost the purchase conversion rate for electric vehicles, Volkswagen has revamped its dealership marketing model. Its retail partners have now fully agreed to transition into "agents" specializing in electric vehicles, and agency agreements have already been signed. According to information disclosed by Volkswagen Group, under the new marketing approach, consumers—whether placing orders online or offline—will be required to designate a preferred dealer when placing an order with the Volkswagen Group. Meanwhile, dealerships are shifting their roles: moving away from traditional dealership functions to instead organize test drives, handle transactions, and ensure vehicles are delivered in a manner that leaves customers thoroughly satisfied.