"Great Wall heavy trucks are easy to operate and steer, and the ride is similar to that of a family car. I will try it to transport goods next time I have the chance."

In the video, Wei Jianjun, dressed in a suit, climbed onto the driver's seat of the Great Wall heavy truck. He was very familiar with how to drive the vehicle. He first adjusted the height of the air suspension, turned on the vehicle's air conditioner, shifted the vehicle into D gear and started the vehicle.

This heavy truck head is not yet equipped with a trailer bed. It looks extremely flexible and agile when driving on the site. Wei Jianjun looks very powerful and domineering sitting on the high driving platform.

It is understood that such heavy trucks and semi-trailers require an A2 driver's license to drive, which means Wei Jianjun has an A2 driver's license. In addition, Wei Jianjun also has a racing driver's license. He said he has 20 years of racing experience and can drive everything from civilian cars to heavy trucks to track racing. He is indeed a veteran in the racing circle.

In addition, thanks to the support of hybrid technology, Great Wall heavy-duty trucks are not only more technologically advanced and comfortable, but also have greatly upgraded and improved fuel consumption and power performance compared to traditional fuel heavy-duty trucks on the market.

Great Wall heavy-duty trucks are equipped with Great Wall's self-developed Hi4-G hybrid architecture, which features advanced technical features of "three engines, eight gears and ten modes".

Among them, "three engines" refers to the power system consisting of a 13L diesel engine and a P2+P2.5 dual motor, which can make the truck's combined horsepower reach 1,000 horsepower; "eight gears" refers to the world's first commercial vehicle 8-speed DHT transmission developed by the Great Wall Commercial Vehicle technical team;

The "Ten Modes" use intelligent algorithms to switch driving modes under different working conditions, ensuring that the vehicle can achieve low-energy consumption and high-efficiency operation in various scenarios.

According to Great Wall Motors, the Hi4-G hybrid system can reduce fuel consumption by at least 15%-25% compared to traditional heavy trucks. This technological innovation not only reduces the operating costs of logistics companies, but also improves the economy and competitiveness of vehicles.

Chen Bin, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of FAW Group China, deputy general manager and director, party secretary and general manager of FAW-Volkswagen, Bared, managing director of Volkswagen Group's China business, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group (China), Sun Huibin, general manager of the Strategy and Cooperation Department of FAW Group China, Li Songmei, deputy general manager of the Strategy and Cooperation Department of FAW Group China, Wu Borui, chief technology officer of Volkswagen Group (China) and CEO of Volkswagen (China) Technology Co., Ltd. (VCTC), and Dr. Qi Zekai, executive vice president of Volkswagen Group (China) and head of products and strategy, attended the ceremony to witness this important moment.

In the compact car market, FAW-Volkswagen will launch two pure electric models based on the CMP platform (Compact Main Platform) developed locally by Volkswagen Group. These two models will be equipped with the high-performance CEA electronic and electrical architecture (China Electronic Architecture), bringing advanced digital services and advanced autonomous driving assistance functions to customers. At the same time, FAW-Volkswagen will build two plug-in hybrid models for the first time by leveraging the high flexibility of the CMP platform to meet the rapidly growing market demand for hybrid models.

In addition, a new model of FAW-Volkswagen based on the MEB platform will also achieve a comprehensive intelligent upgrade through CEA. In the mid-size car market, FAW-Volkswagen will launch two pure electric models and their extended-range versions based on the Volkswagen Group's future advanced platform , simultaneously meeting consumers' needs for long-range driving and electric travel experience.

As an important part of the strategic transformation, the Jetta brand will launch its first pure electric model in 2026 to enter the fast-growing entry-level pure electric vehicle market. This model will not only have a very competitive price, but also provide advanced intelligent functions. Through new products, the Jetta brand will bring its own advantages into the era of intelligent connected vehicles and help FAW-Volkswagen further enhance its business strength. By 2030, FAW-Volkswagen's various brands will launch more than 20 new models based on the "oil-electric hybrid" and "oil-electric hybrid full intelligence" strategies, with a diversified product matrix, intelligent solutions and scenario-based experience design to fully meet the diverse needs of Chinese customers.

JAC heavy-duty trucks are favored by customers for their excellent product performance in terms of high efficiency, fuel saving, stability and safety, as well as full life cycle services. The 50 JAC heavy-duty trucks purchased in this batch will bring customers more efficient and low-cost transportation solutions.

The JAC heavy-duty truck Geerfa 4×2 tractor model delivered this time is equipped with a Yuchai 240-horsepower engine and a Fast six-speed gearbox. It has strong power and achieves a balance between energy efficiency and performance. The vehicle is also equipped with intelligent configurations such as airbag seats, front-view cameras, and millimeter-wave radars, which greatly improves the convenience and comfort of driving, while also enhancing driving safety. The integration of high-tech elements is not only an innovation of traditional transportation tools, but also a positive response to the future trend of smart logistics.

Every delivery is another implementation of JAC Heavy Truck's commitment to quality. Looking to the future, JAC Heavy Truck will adhere to the dual-wheel drive strategy of technological innovation and service upgrade, and continue to help the logistics industry move to a higher level with more advanced technology and more considerate services, and jointly draw a beautiful blueprint for smart logistics.

Work together to draw a new blueprint for Dalian's tourism commuting

Dalian, located at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, is surrounded by the sea on three sides and is known as the "Pearl of the North". The mountains and the sea are close together, and the scenery is charming, attracting countless tourists to visit. In recent years, Dalian has continued to promote the transformation and upgrading of road passenger transport, encouraged the development of customized passenger transport, and met the high-quality, diversified, and personalized travel needs of passengers.

Dalian Jiefang Square Bus Passenger Transport Service Co., Ltd. was established in 2003. It mainly engages in road passenger transport, shuttle bus commuting and bus rental. The company has always practiced the service concept of "customer first" and continues to provide high-quality travel services for citizens and tourists. Previously, the company has cooperated with Foton Auman for many times. Based on its full recognition of its product quality and after-sales service, it once again purchased Auman's Pinzhi buses.

This delivery will help Dalian Jiefang Passenger Transport to further improve its service quality and meet the high-quality travel needs of local passengers. After the vehicles are put into operation, they will be mainly used for tourist passenger transport and commuting in Dalian, connecting Dalian's cultural and tourism resources with the city's commuting network, and injecting new impetus into the high-quality development of local road passenger transport.

Excellent quality leads the new trend of high-end quality travel

With the continuous development of China's road passenger transport industry, the market demand for high-quality and high-performance buses is growing. As a well-known domestic bus company, Foton Auman has been committed to providing customers with safe, comfortable and efficient travel solutions. The two intercity buses, BJ6122 and BJ6906, are the star products launched by Foton Auman to meet market demand. With their excellent product performance and comfortable riding experience, they are widely recognized by customers in many places. In addition, these two models will start a tour exhibition in Dalian from March 15 to March 30, showing the technical strength and brand charm of Foton Auman buses and setting a quality benchmark for the industry.

The BJ6122 intercity buses delivered this time are mainly aimed at high-end tourism and long-distance passenger transport markets. The model has an elegant and smooth appearance, and the front wall embedded LED headlights are matched with metal chrome strips, which are highly recognizable. The car is equipped with double-density sponge seats, bionics-designed concave luggage racks, "dome"-style center roofs, and a variety of combination atmosphere lights to create a safe, comfortable and energy-saving driving experience. At the same time, BJ6122 can also be equipped with an intelligent vehicle management system and a number of active safety technologies to achieve real-time monitoring and precise control of vehicle status, effectively improving driving safety and fuel economy.

Another model, BJ6906 intercity bus, is mainly suitable for the mid-to-high-end highway passenger transport market and the tourism market. It has the advantages of novel appearance, full power, fuel efficiency and high efficiency. The body lines are smooth, and the interior is equipped with luxurious seats and independent fuel heating system. It can also be equipped with a multi-functional intelligent management system and a variety of humanized design elements, such as USB charging port, reading light, ABS, ESC, tire pressure monitoring and alarm, etc., to provide passengers with a more comfortable and convenient travel experience. In addition, BJ6906 also adopts a full-load body structure and lightweight design to reduce energy consumption and operating costs, helping to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

This delivery not only demonstrates the strong strength of Foton Auman in the bus industry, but also is a vivid practice of both parties in promoting the high-quality development of the road passenger transport industry. In the future, Foton Auman will continue to uphold the spirit of innovation, improve product quality and service level, help the public travel better with high-quality transportation equipment, promote the vigorous development of China's road passenger transport industry, and strive to write a new chapter of "a strong transportation country".

Figure: Auman Xingyi 400kWh pure electric tractor

Overall performance upgrade to enhance efficient operation value in all scenarios

With the continuous improvement of domestic heavy-duty truck manufacturing standards, the impact of vehicle performance on logistics operations in terms of power, control and quality is becoming more and more obvious. In response to the current demand for efficient operation in complex working conditions, the Auman Star Wing pure electric tractor has achieved a breakthrough improvement in core performance, enabling efficient logistics operations in all scenarios.

In terms of power performance, the Auman Star Wing pure electric tractor is equipped with CATL's new generation of heavy-duty truck-specific batteries, which use high-density integrated battery module technology, longer cycle life and higher energy efficiency. Among them, the comprehensive operating energy consumption of the Auman Star Wing 400kWh pure electric tractor is less than 1.2kWh/km, and the full-load endurance of the Auman Star Wing 600kWh pure electric tractor is ≥350kWh, which can meet the energy needs for longer transportation distances. At the same time, the battery upgrade has a highly integrated thermal management system and adopts a customized scene control strategy to improve the power flexibility in extreme environments such as high cold and plateaus with "one scene, one policy". To improve charging efficiency, the new car is also equipped with a dual-gun 600A fast charging equipment. It only takes 30 minutes to charge the battery from 20% to 80%, and the charging efficiency is increased by more than 33%. In addition, the chassis layout and component selection of the whole vehicle are greatly optimized, and composite materials and lithium battery starting batteries with better performance and lighter weight are used. The vehicle can be reduced by more than 500kg on the basis of the lightweight platform of the existing platform. The lightest standard load product can reach 8.8T, further helping logistics and transportation to "load more and run faster".

In terms of handling performance, the new car upgrades the single motor to a high-speed dual-motor integrated electric drive system, with a peak power of more than 600kW, a 50% increase in power, and a 35% increase in continuous climbing ability, which not only avoids the frustration of frequent gear shifting, but also saves energy. To improve the handling smoothness, the new car chassis has improved the stiffness of the front and rear suspensions, leaf springs, and the front suspension of the body, as well as adjusted the damping of the shock absorber, to achieve the handling stability of empty and full-load conditions, which not only ensures the safety of the goods but also reduces the fatigue of the driver.

In terms of quality and performance, the Auman Xingyi pure electric tractor has a strengthened protection system, and the battery box has a chassis guard plate to improve its waterproof and anti-corrosion capabilities. The motor controller has a maximum protection level of IP68+IP6K9K to ensure that the vehicle can operate normally and safely in the case of urban flooding and road waterlogging during the rainy season.

Renewing the mecha shape and reshaping the image value of heavy trucks

With the trend of younger users and the promotion of functionalism, national fashion culture and other design forms, the image of Chinese heavy trucks has changed, from aesthetics to practicality. The Auman Star Wing pure electric tractor follows the trend, renewing the classic mecha shape to create a new image of Chinese heavy trucks. The new car breaks the tradition with an integrated body without sun visors and outer corner panels, making it more recognizable for logistics fleets.

Lighting is important for logistics users who travel day and night. The new car uses a brand-new Galaxy Matrix LED headlight, which brings the beauty of layered light and shadow while effectively reducing energy consumption. The specially equipped down-view mirror greatly reduces the blind spot of vision and makes turning safer; the low-drag rearview mirror with streamlined design makes high-speed driving more fuel-efficient. The 3-section split bumper is easier to maintain and saves maintenance costs.

Luxurious interior design, enhanced comfort and driving pleasure

The comfort and quality of the interior of a heavy truck have become the focus of the transportation efficiency of truck users, and are the key to user care. Taking into account the driving scenarios and habits of new-era truck users, the Auman Star Wing pure electric tractor has been upgraded to a high-end level in terms of space and configuration. After layout optimization, the vehicle fully releases the floor space in the vehicle by canceling the parking brake valve and other measures. The floor bulge height is reduced from 300mm to 150mm, and the middle floor standing height reaches 1850mm, allowing users to move more flexibly in the vehicle. The 880mm wide large sleeper is leading in its class, reducing physical stress for users, and resting after long hours of driving can effectively relieve fatigue.

In addition to the optimization of space, the new car is more luxurious and sophisticated. The high-end airbag shock-absorbing seat can be adjusted in height, damping, front and back, and backrest, equipped with side wing support and side lumbar support and ventilation and heating functions, so that driving comfort is guaranteed. In addition, the vehicle has greatly improved the NVH quality in the car through the door seal, white body ceiling, body side and front and rear suspension material reinforcement. Not only is the noise in the car reduced by 5dB, but the noise next to the driver's inner ear is reduced to 58.5dB (A), allowing the driver to reduce noise interference during driving and improve driving concentration and safety. Specially designed mobile phone storage box, deepened damping cup holder and other details make user driving operation more convenient.

In terms of technological configuration, the new car is equipped with a four-spoke multi-function steering wheel wrapped in microfiber, which feels comfortable and is super wear-resistant. Multi-function combinations such as multimedia control, Bluetooth phone, and cruise control make driving easier and more in line with the driving habits of heavy truck drivers. The new color screen Chinese display LCD instrument can provide intelligent diagnosis, monitoring, and prompt functions to help safe travel. The central control large screen supports Bluetooth, intelligent voice control, mobile phone interconnection, wifi networking, 4G networking and other functions, bringing users more driving fun. The four-way imaging device realizes no dead angle protection, the electronic parking saves space in the car, the emergency braking force is larger and safer, and the daily driving starts without slipping, making driving easier. The manual and automatic knob shift can freely switch between economic mode or power mode, freeing up the channel between the main driver and the co-driver and the sleeper, and further improving the passability in the car.

Figure: Auman Xingyi 400kWh pure electric tractor

The breakthrough of new energy heavy-duty trucks is not only leading in data, but also in the operational value of every trip for users. Auman Xingyi pure electric tractor has been upgraded in many aspects such as appearance, comfort, and performance, which can more accurately and comprehensively meet the operational needs of logistics users to reduce costs and increase efficiency, and provide a more efficient and reliable new energy solution for the heavy-duty truck transportation market.

　　As a leading company in China's commercial vehicle industry, FAW Jiefang always keeps in mind the "big things of the country", takes innovation-driven as its engine, and takes high-quality development as its goal. Since 2025, all work has made a good start, showing strong development momentum, and laying a solid foundation for achieving the annual operating goals.

　　Digital intelligence empowers and creates new advantages in intelligent manufacturing. In the wave of the global automotive industry accelerating its transformation to digital intelligence, FAW Jiefang has accelerated the cultivation of new quality productivity, strived to be the first in the intelligent upgrading of the automotive industry, and became the backbone of promoting industrial transformation and upgrading. FAW Jiefang's J7 vehicle intelligent factory integrates automation, flexibility and digital intelligence technologies, builds a full-link system for orders, products, and manufacturing data, and creates a new model of "personalized customization, networked collaboration, and intelligent manufacturing". It has achieved a deep integration of manufacturing technology and digital intelligence technology to achieve the best efficiency, benefits, and costs. This "super factory" of commercial vehicle intelligent manufacturing continues to innovate and improve, providing solid support for the continued hot sales of Jiefang's high-end heavy trucks. In January 2025, FAW Jiefang's J7 vehicle intelligent factory was selected as the first batch of excellent intelligent factories by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and it is the only intelligent factory selected in the field of commercial vehicle complete vehicles.

　　Green transformation, building a solid core competitiveness of enterprises. Under the guidance of the "dual carbon" goal, green and low-carbon development has become the main theme of the commercial vehicle industry. While maintaining the basic plate of traditional energy products, FAW Jiefang continues to increase its investment in the field of new energy, promote technological progress and industrial upgrading, and win wide market recognition and user reputation with its lightweight, power-saving, intelligent and reliable product advantages, helping to continuously improve the market penetration rate of new energy commercial vehicles. At the beginning of the new year, the strategic cooperation between FAW Jiefang and CATL was further deepened. The joint venture company of the two parties, Jiefang Times New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., will fully assist both shareholders to achieve a leapfrog growth in the sales of new energy commercial vehicles. FAW Jiefang and Shanghai Reshape have joined hands to promote the large-scale operation of hydrogen-powered commercial vehicles, and have achieved the commercial operation of hundreds of hydrogen-powered vehicles in the Shanghai Hydrogen Energy Demonstration City Cluster, covering high-energy consumption scenarios such as steel parks and cold chain logistics, and focusing on breakthroughs in heavy-duty truck application scenarios such as ports and industrial parks.

　　Breakthroughs overseas, building a new sales growth pole. "Going global" is the general trend of China's automobile industry and an inevitable requirement for building a world-class enterprise. FAW Jiefang continues to promote system optimization and market expansion with the strategy of "localized manufacturing + scenario-based products", continuously improves its comprehensive competitiveness, and accelerates the process of globalization. Recently, FAW Jiefang signed a contract with an Australian dealer, taking a solid step in the development of the Australian market, and opening up a new situation for the realization of the internationalization strategy of Jiefang "SPRINT 2030". The Australian transportation market, especially the road transportation market, has an outstanding capacity, which is of great significance to FAW Jiefang and is a key link in the global layout of Jiefang's internationalization strategy. FAW Jiefang will give full play to its own advantages, seize important opportunities, establish a good brand image of FAW Jiefang in the Australian market, and accelerate the formation of a new sales and profit growth pole.

　　In 2025, FAW Jiefang will accelerate its strategic transformation, be determined to lead the way, dare to build a winning position and play a strong note again, and resolutely win the final battle of the "14th Five-Year Plan" with new breakthroughs, new growth, and new leaps, and accelerate its unremitting efforts to become a world-class enterprise and a century-old national brand!

| Editor: Shan Rujiao
| First review: Shan Rujiao
| Second review: Liu Shumei
| Final review: Li Xiang

　　With the continuous improvement of scale effect and operating efficiency, the quarterly net profit was 3.5 billion yuan and the annual net profit was 8 billion yuan. The annual operating cash flow reached 15.9 billion yuan. As of the end of 2024, the company's cash reserves were 112.8 billion yuan. Looking forward to the first quarter of 2025, Ideal Auto expects quarterly deliveries to be 88,000 to 93,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 9.5% to 15.7%.

　　In 2024, the production and sales of new energy vehicles in China will grow by more than 30%. Plug-in hybrid vehicles will become a new driving force for the growth of the new energy market, and new car sales will account for 40% of the total share of new energy vehicles. Following the three hot-selling products of Ideal L7, Ideal L8 and Li L9, Li Auto will launch the Ideal L6 for young families in April 2024. The monthly sales of Ideal L6 in the fourth quarter of 2024 will be more than 20,000 units.

　　Through its four AI teams, namely smart driving, Ideal Classmates, smart industry, and smart business, Ideal Auto empowers user experience upgrades and organizational process changes, driving improved operational efficiency.

　　Since the second quarter of 2024, Ideal Auto's directly-operated store network has continued to undergo structural adjustments, expanding its store scale by reducing the number of tail supermarket stores and expanding head auto city center stores. By the end of the fourth quarter, the total number of stores nationwide increased by more than 40% year-on-year.

　　In 2024, Ideal Auto's R&D expenses reached 11.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.6%. For two consecutive years, the R&D investment exceeded 10 billion yuan, and the investment in hardware, software and talent introduction was increased. Intelligent driving and Ideal Classmates are the two core AI products of Ideal Auto.

　　In the fourth quarter, Ideal Auto's industry-first end-to-end + VLM new generation intelligent driving technology architecture was first pushed to all users. As an interactive carrier of the intelligent space, in 2024, Ideal will be fully upgraded based on the full-stack self-developed base model Mind GPT, and its reasoning ability will be comprehensively improved. At the end of the year, Ideal successfully entered the two major terminals of mobile phones and PCs from the car side, providing convenience for more users.

According to foreign media reports, in February 2025, the number of pure electric vehicle registrations in Thailand was 5,164, an increase of 42.1% over the same period in February 2024, but a month-on-month decrease of 58.3% compared with the registration of 12,376 vehicles in January 2025. BYD Dolphin became the sales champion with 647 registrations and a market share of 12.5%.

Malaysia: Electric vehicles sold in Malaysia must be equipped with external sound warning devices as standard starting from 2026

The Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ) recently announced the new car registration data for February 2025. The local brand Perodua still sits firmly on the sales champion throne, with a total of 31,382 new cars registered in February, more than three times the registration volume of the runner-up Proton. This year, Perodua's cumulative registration volume reached 54,627, far ahead of Proton's 20,756. Jaecoo, a sub-brand of the Chinese brand Chery, made a strong comeback in February, jumping to the fifth place with 1,684 registrations, more than doubling from the previous month. In addition, Tesla achieved an amazing increase. The brand registered only 13 vehicles in January, but the registration volume soared to 443 vehicles in February, indicating that the market demand for it is still strong.

Focusing on the electric vehicle market segment, in February, the local brand Proton eMas 7 once again topped the list of best-selling electric vehicles, followed by BYD Sealion7 (Sea Lion 07 EV), which received 387 registrations. The third place winner was Tesla Model 3, which had 377 registrations. The new force brand Xiaopeng G6 ranked fourth.

From January 1, 2026, all pure electric and hybrid/plug-in hybrid models sold in Malaysia must be equipped with external sound warning devices as standard. According to the new regulations, when the vehicle is traveling at a speed of 20km/h or below, the system will automatically play a warning sound through the external speaker to remind pedestrians and cyclists around to pay attention to approaching vehicles in the visual blind spot. This policy aims to solve the road safety risks caused by the silent characteristics of electric vehicles.

Indonesia: Chinese auto brands increase to 16, aiming to achieve annual production capacity of 250,000 electric vehicles

Chinese cars are becoming increasingly active in the Indonesian auto market. With the recent entry of Xiaopeng Motors, the number of Chinese brands in Indonesia has increased to 16, surpassing Japanese brands (13). Yohannes Nangoi, chairman of the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (GAIKINDO), pointed out that Indonesia is attracting global automakers to compete for layout. He particularly emphasized that Chinese automakers are investing in factories with unprecedented strength, and this industry siphon effect will accelerate the transformation and upgrading of Indonesia's auto industry.

In addition, the Indonesian Ministry of Industry shows that with the heavy investment of Chinese automakers such as BYD and Geely, Indonesia's annual production capacity of electric vehicles is expected to surge from the current 70,000 vehicles to 251,000 vehicles by the end of 2025. Currently, there are 10 electric vehicle manufacturers in Indonesia, among which BYD's Subang plant in West Java leads with an annual production capacity of 150,000 vehicles and a total investment of 11.7 trillion rupiah (about 5.1 billion yuan). The technology transfer and capital injection brought by Chinese brands are driving Indonesia's transformation from a resource exporter to a new energy manufacturing center.

Vietnam: Inventory is high, 2024 models have seen significant price cuts

According to local media reports in Vietnam, the Vietnamese passenger car market will undergo a major transformation in 2025, and the 2024 models are experiencing a significant price cut. According to data from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, the total national automobile inventory will reach 620,700 vehicles in 2024 (including imported vehicles and 2023 backlog inventory), but only 510,000 vehicles will be consumed throughout the year, forming a supply inventory of more than 110,000 vehicles. In order to accelerate inventory reduction, automakers have introduced a variety of stimulus measures, providing Vietnamese consumers with car purchase opportunities through strategies such as cash rebates, low loan interest rates, and extended warranty periods.

In terms of appearance, the Dongfeng Yipai 008 Intelligent Driving Edition continues the current design style, adopts a family-style design language, and has a relatively simple overall shape. The front face adopts a closed design, with a through-type lamp group with a built-in dot matrix light source and a luminous brand logo, matched with sharp and slender headlights on both sides, which is very fashionable. The guide groove design on both sides of the front of the car is matched with the blackened lower air intake grille, showing a bit of sportiness.

On the side of the car, the square and straight lines and the outline of mainstream medium and large SUVs create a high-end and atmospheric visual effect. The new car has smoked window frames, roof racks and side skirts, and combined with hidden door handles and large-size low-drag wheels, it also shows a good sense of fashion. It is worth mentioning that the new car's drag coefficient is only 0.268. In terms of body size, the new car is 5002/1972/1732mm in length, width and height respectively, and the wheelbase is 3025mm.

At the rear, the through-type taillights with built-in dot-matrix light sources and the concave lower surround echo the front face. The roof adopts a large-size spoiler design, and the bottom of the car adopts a hidden exhaust design.

In terms of interior, the new car brings a sense of elegance and luxury through simple and smooth trims. The double-spoke multi-function steering wheel is matched with an 8.8-inch LCD instrument, a hand-held gear shift mechanism and a floating central control screen. While conforming to the current trend of simple interior design of new energy vehicles, it also brings a good sense of technology. The new car is available in two seat layouts: a five-seat version and a six-seat version. The shoulder area of the seat is embroidered with the car logo, and the segmented large-size sunroof not only improves safety but also provides a good visual enjoyment for rear passengers.

In terms of configuration, the entire series of new cars are equipped with SOA smart cockpit, and come standard with comfortable configurations such as refrigerator, color TV, large sofa, panoramic large skylight and music cockpit with 20 speakers.

In terms of power, the new car is equipped with Dongfeng Quantum Architecture and Mach Power, and is available in pure electric and extended-range versions. Among them, the pure electric version is equipped with an output motor with a maximum power of 200kW, a maximum torque of 340N·m, and a CLTC range of 636km. The extended-range version is equipped with a 1.5T range extender, with a maximum engine power of 108kW, a maximum torque of 210N·m, a CLTC comprehensive range of 1,300km, and a fuel consumption of 4.7L/100km.

As a smart driving model, Dongfeng Yipai 008 performs well in smart driving. The new car is equipped with 32 smart sensing hardware and 24 smart assisted driving functions. More importantly, the new car is equipped with high-speed NOA navigation assistance, LAPA memory parking, FAPA fusion parking and other functions. L2.9 smart navigation, city NOA, cross-layer memory parking and other functions will also be launched this year.

With its outstanding exterior design, comfortable interior, powerful power and advanced intelligent driving system, Dongfeng Yipai 008 Smart Driving Edition has demonstrated strong product strength and provided consumers with an excellent car purchase option.

During the live broadcast, the Xingtu Xingjiyuan ES extended-range version, which was fully fueled and charged, was driven by three drivers in relays, starting from Sanya and driving around the Hainan Island Ring Expressway to test its endurance.

In the end, the three drivers took turns driving for 47 hours, without any refueling, traveled 2,521.9 kilometers, and drove around Hainan Island more than three times, setting a new record for long-range endurance of city cars.

The fuel tank capacity of the Star Era ES extended-range version is 67L, which means the average fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is only 2.68L. Both its endurance and fuel consumption are in the first echelon of the industry.

It is understood that the extended-range version of the Star Era ES was launched on March 10, with four models and a price range of 152,800-209,800 yuan.

The vehicle is positioned as a medium-to-large sedan with a body length of 4945mm and a wheelbase of 3000mm. It is a brother model of the Zhijie S7.

The vehicle is equipped with the Falcon graphics-free end-to-end intelligent driving system and dual NVIDIA DRIVE ORIN chips (with a computing power of 508TOPS), supporting full-scenario intelligent driving covering highway navigation, city navigation and smart parking.

The core power system adopts Chery's self-developed 1.5T range extender + electric motor. The engine is the same as that of Zhijie R7. The range extender system can generate 3.7 kWh of electricity per liter of fuel, and its power generation efficiency is the best among domestic car companies.

Officials said that the Star Era ES extended-range single-motor version has a maximum power of 195kW, a power battery capacity of 34.7kW, a CLTC pure electric range of 255km, and a comprehensive range of 1645km; the dual-motor version has a system total power of 345kW, equipped with a 41.16kWh battery, a CLTC pure electric range of 255km, and a comprehensive range of 1570km.

As the largest automobile manufacturing center in sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa is home to many well-known automobile brands such as Toyota, Ford, Isuzu, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz.

Auto industry insiders said that the incentives and policy support introduced by the South African government will effectively encourage OEMs to increase their investment in local electric vehicle production in South Africa. The "Electric Vehicle White Paper" released by the South African government in 2023 clearly stated that it plans to achieve the strategic goal of transforming the South African automotive industry from single internal combustion engine vehicle production to a "internal combustion engine vehicle + electric vehicle" dual-track model by 2035.

The South African Treasury said in its 2024 budget review that the Department of Trade and Industry will work with the Department of Mineral Resources to develop and implement a regional critical mineral strategy, but the specific timetable has not yet been announced. Critical minerals such as copper, cobalt and lithium are important raw materials for the production of products such as electric vehicle batteries and solar panels, and play an important role in the global energy transformation process.

The South African Treasury said it would set aside R1 billion in the medium-term budget to support the transformation of South Africa's automotive industry. The plan aims to encourage companies in specific manufacturing sectors such as automobiles to increase their participation and investment in infrastructure construction. The South African Treasury added: "The main purpose of this incentive is to enhance South Africa's local production and assembly capabilities for new energy vehicles and batteries, while focusing on operational efficiency and competitiveness in new manufacturing projects." It is reported that this incentive plan is expected to attract R30 billion in investment from the South African private sector.

It is worth noting that in January this year, it was reported that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had signed a law to reduce taxes for the production of new energy vehicles, planning to implement a 150% tax reduction policy for companies that invest in the production of electric vehicles and hydrogen-powered vehicles in South Africa. Therefore, Chinese automakers are planning to invest in the South African automotive industry.

It is equipped with a 96.3kWh battery pack and offers three range versions: 770km, 760km and 675km. It is expected to be officially launched in June-July.

Xiaomi YU7 continues the family design, and the overall shape is a sporty crossover SUV. The front face is equipped with iconic "water drop headlights", and the front surround is highly consistent with Xiaomi SU7.

The side of the body adopts a low wind resistance design, equipped with semi-hidden door handles, frameless exterior rearview mirrors, five-spoke wheels and yellow brake calipers. The body size is 4999×1996×1608mm and the wheelbase is 3000mm.

At the rear, the new car retains the classic design of Xiaomi SU7, such as the dynamic ducktail and "halo taillights". At the same time, the roof is equipped with a laser radar, and a version without a laser radar is also provided. A pure vision solution may be adopted in the future.

In terms of interior, according to the conceptual picture, the new car adopts a remote ultra-wide screen design, breaking through the limitations of traditional instrument panels. It can display information such as battery life, speed, multimedia and navigation, and is full of technology.

In terms of power, Xiaomi YU7 is available in single-motor and dual-motor versions. The dual-motor four-wheel drive model has a total power of 508kW and a maximum speed of 253km/h; the low-power four-wheel drive model has a total power of 365kW; the single-motor rear-wheel drive model has a maximum power of 235kW and a maximum speed of 240km/h, and is equipped with a lithium iron phosphate battery.

Magna officials have not yet commented on the report, nor disclosed the ongoing negotiations or other details. But it is said that Magna Steyr's Graz plant is about to finalize assembly orders with the two Chinese brands.

For Chinese companies, this is undoubtedly an important breakthrough under the heavy pressure of EU tariffs; for Magna Steyr, it is also good news that can at least temporarily protect some jobs.

Image source: Magna

What models will be produced at Magna Steyr's Graz plant?

German media pointed out that Magna Steyr will use the SKD (Semi Knocked Down) model at the Graz plant to perform simple assembly for the models of Xiaopeng and GAC Group. Specifically, the two Chinese automakers will ship some pre-produced parts to Austria, and the Graz plant will only need to install a dozen core components including axles and engines to complete the final assembly of the vehicle in Europe.

This OEM model is a two-birds-with-one-stone approach for Chinese automakers. On the one hand, by partially localizing production in Austria, they can avoid the additional tariffs imposed by the EU on Chinese electric vehicles (for example, Xpeng Motors is expected to face an additional tariff of 21.3% from the EU); on the other hand, their investment scale in Europe can be controlled because they mainly produce small batches of models to test their sales potential in the European market.

Magna's presence in China

Since entering the Chinese market in 1996, Magna has been in business for 28 years. It has 65 factories and 21 engineering/R&D/sales centers, providing R&D and production support for almost all major automakers. In recent years, Magna Steyr Graz has been in in-depth negotiations with Chinese brands that plan to enter the European market. Xiaopeng and GAC are among the most ambitious brands, hoping to seize a place in the European electric vehicle market in the medium term.

Previously, there were reports that Magna had contacted Chery. However, Austria's high wages and high production costs have always been major obstacles, resulting in a huge gap in production costs between it and Chinese automakers.

Current status of Magna Graz plant

In the past two years, many models produced by Magna Steyr's Graz plant have been temporarily or completely discontinued, including Fisker's Ocean pure electric SUV, BMW 5 Series, and Jaguar E-Pace and I-Pace. In addition, the BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra, which use the same platform as the above models, will also be discontinued in 2026. In addition, the Graz plant's contract with Mercedes-Benz for the production of the G-Class off-road vehicle will also end in 2029. British startup Ineos has also canceled its plan to produce its electric off-road vehicle Fusilier in Graz.

Therefore, Magna must fill the gap in these production orders as soon as possible. In the current situation of sluggish sales in the European market, Chinese automakers have undoubtedly become the most important potential customers, and the Graz plant has also set its sights on China.

At present, Magna Steyr's business is still profitable, partly because its R&D department has sufficient orders. For example, the company is developing new models of Scout brand for Volkswagen Group, including Range Extender models. However, in order to cope with business challenges, the Graz plant has been gradually streamlined and continued to lay off employees.

The car is equipped with an independent floating LCD instrument panel and central control screen, equipped with the Flyme Auto car system, and matched with the AR-HUD in the front, giving it a very technological feel.

The center console is designed horizontally with hidden air outlets, and there are suspended speakers on the left and right sides of the center console, giving the visual experience a simple, grand and luxurious feel.

The vehicle uses a hand-operated gearshift, but a crystal knob is set on the armrest, and several commonly used physical buttons such as air-conditioning switch and defog mode are provided. There is also an air-cooled wireless charging panel on the driver's side.

According to Geely Auto's previous introduction, the Galaxy Star 8 EM has a body length of 5018mm and a wheelbase of 2928mm. The wheelbase of nearly 3 meters also makes the interior space extremely impressive.

The rear seats are VIP executive seats, with a cushion length of 536mm, which is enough for 1.8-meter-long legs, and a ventilation/heating/massage three-piece set. In addition to being able to adjust the backrest to 131° into a reclining mode, the entire seat can also slide 100mm forward and backward, and the comfort is comparable to many MPV models, which can be called a first-class cabin experience.

The appearance of the vehicle was also announced at the beginning of this month. The front part of the car is the Geely Galaxy family-style front face, and the whole car has a coupe streamlined shape, which is very sporty.

In terms of intelligent driving, the entire series is equipped with the "Qianli Haohan" high-level intelligent driving as standard, and the high-speed NOA navigation function as standard, supporting automatic on and off ramps + active lane change and overtaking, etc.

In terms of power, the Geely Galaxy Star 8 EM is the first model equipped with Geely Thor EM-P super electric hybrid. It is equipped with a 1.5T hybrid-specific engine with a thermal efficiency of 44.26%, matched with a 3-speed DHT Pro gearbox, and the WLTC fuel consumption is 4.2L/100km.

The battery has two options: 18.4kWh and 27.69kWh, with corresponding pure electric ranges of 104km and 161km, and supports 3.3kW external discharge function.

According to Geely's plan, the Galaxy Star 8 EM will be launched in May, and the price range may be between 150,000 and 200,000 yuan, which is highly comparable to the BYD Han model.

The pre-sale price of the 2025 M9 is 478,000-578,000 yuan. Users who make reservations now can enjoy a 5,000 yuan deposit to offset the final payment of 10,000 yuan.

According to previous reports, the 2025 M9 will have a new Jinrui Red paint, which looks very stylish. At the same time, the current Danxia Orange paint will be cancelled. In addition, the new car will also be equipped with a new 21-inch multi-spoke star/star wheels.

In terms of configuration, the new car will also provide 3 high-precision solid-state laser radars, electric trailer hooks, 0-50℃ compressor refrigerator, second-row LCD control screen, main driver streaming media rearview mirror, privacy glass, electric retractable leg rest, double quilted seats and intelligent laser projection system 2.0, etc.

In terms of power, the extended-range version will be equipped with a new 1.5T range extender, with a maximum power of 118kW, a thermal efficiency of 44%, and a ternary lithium battery with a capacity of 52kWh. The WLTC comprehensive fuel consumption is reduced to 0.64L/100km, the power-feed fuel consumption is 6.8L/100km, and the maximum speed is 200km/h. For more news about the new car, Chezhi.com will continue to pay attention to and report.

This technology platform will be first installed on the two flagship models, Han L and Tang L, which are about to start pre-sale. It will be equipped with a 1000V high-voltage platform and supercharging capabilities of more than 5C.

As BYD continues to update its products and steadily advance its product line positioning strategy, its latest high-voltage charging technology will, on the one hand, be applied to more vehicle models and benefit a wider range of consumers; on the other hand, it will also empower high-end models and further enhance the market competitiveness of high-end products.

The new car has undergone a number of upgrades in appearance and interior, added a variety of new colors, and optimized the interior space layout, combining high appearance and practicality.

In terms of appearance design, the 2025 Wuling Bingo is inspired by popular dessert colors and offers four new car colors: taro purple, sea salt blue, cheese white, and milk coffee white. The paint uses a seven-coat spraying process to enhance the texture.

In terms of interior, the new car has added a caramel coffee interior color, while retaining the classic nutshell brown color, providing two color matching designs for users to choose from.

The interior space layout has also been optimized. The new car is equipped with a newly upgraded floating island double-layer central armrest. The upper storage compartment has added double cup holders and a dedicated mobile phone slot for convenient placement of milk tea, mobile phones, keys and other items.

The lower storage compartment effectively prevents the co-driver from accidentally stepping on the accelerator or brake, while also meeting the user's storage needs and can hold daily necessities such as tissues and small shopping bags.

In addition, the new car also introduces a hand-shift design, allowing users to complete gear shifting operations without leaving the steering wheel.

Since its launch, the cumulative sales of Wuling Bingo family has exceeded 450,000 units.

The suggested retail price range of the 2024 Wuling Bingo is 56,800 to 84,800 yuan, and it is expected that the 2025 model will further enhance product competitiveness on this basis.

It is understood that Geely Auto Group has been committed to promoting innovation and development of the global automotive industry, and has won wide recognition and praise from domestic and foreign markets by continuously improving product quality and technical level. This entry into the Australian and New Zealand markets is an important step in Geely Auto Group's globalization strategy and a concrete practice of its "global manufacturing" concept.

In the Australian and New Zealand markets, Geely Auto Group will rely on its own technological advantages and brand influence to launch a variety of high-quality models that meet local market needs, providing consumers with more diversified and personalized choices. At the same time, Geely Auto Group will also strengthen close cooperation with local partners to jointly promote the development and upgrading of the automotive industry.

It is worth mentioning that Geely Auto Group has established a complete manufacturing and sales network around the world, and its product quality and technical level have reached the international leading level. This entry into the Australian and New Zealand markets will not only further consolidate Geely Auto's position in the global market, but will also bring more high-quality, cost-effective automotive products to global consumers.

Geely Auto Group said that it will continue to uphold the development concept of "innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing" in the future, constantly improve its core competitiveness and innovation capabilities, and promote the sustainable development of the global automotive industry. At the same time, Geely Auto Group will continue to strengthen communication and contact with partners and consumers around the world to jointly create a better future.

Geely Auto Group's entry into the Australian and New Zealand markets is not only an important supplement to its globalization strategy, but also a positive contribution to the development of the global automotive industry.

Judging from the exposed pictures, the headlights of the car have a projection function, which can project high-definition images within a certain distance, and can project a "light carpet", which has both width indication and ceremonial functions. It is very likely that it is equipped with Huawei's car language system.

Combined with the declared drawings, the extended-range version of the Xingjie S9 continues to use the appearance design of the pure electric version. The front of the car is equipped with through-type daytime running lights and the rear is equipped with through-type taillights. The body size is 5160×2005×1486 mm and the wheelbase is 3050 mm, which is wider than the pure electric version.

Two high-precision solid-state laser radars may be added to the front fender area to form a three-laser radar intelligent driving solution. It is expected to be equipped with Huawei Qiankun Intelligent Driving ADS system, and equipped with new 20-inch rims and electronic exterior rearview mirrors.

In terms of power, the extended-range version of the Xiangjie S9 is equipped with a 1.5T engine as a range extender, with a maximum power of 118 kilowatts and a peak power of 227 kilowatts for the drive motor. It provides two types of batteries: ternary lithium and lithium iron phosphate, but the endurance information has not been announced.

As a mid-to-large sedan, the extended-range version of the Xingjie S9 is positioned at the high end, and its main competitors include the Denza Z9 DM and Volvo S90 PHEV.

Indonesia's auto sales have been facing challenges due to weak spending power and a tendency for people to postpone car purchases during last year's national election, officials from the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) told local media.

However, the situation has improved now. Jo, co-chairman of the Indonesian Automotive Industry AssociationNgkie D. Sugiarto said that in addition to the improving economic situation this year, the increasingly affordable prices of electric vehicles are also seen as a key driver of the growth in vehicle sales.

In addition, in February, Indonesia held a major auto show, during which car sales increased 19% year-on-year to 8 trillion rupiah (about US$490 million), according to Indonesian business news website Bisnis.com.

In recent years, several Chinese electric vehicle brands have entered the Indonesian market after the Indonesian government offered a wide range of incentives to electric vehicle manufacturers investing in the country.

Among them, BYD and Chery Automobile were among the brands with the highest sales growth in Indonesia in February. BYD, which has been increasing its layout in the Southeast Asian market, started selling cars in Indonesia in June 2024. As of November 2024, the company accounted for about 36% of the market share in Indonesia's pure electric vehicle sales.

Meanwhile, Japanese automakers such as Toyota, Daihatsu, Honda and Mitsubishi Motors still dominate Indonesia's auto market.

Indonesia's automotive industry association expects vehicle sales to reach 900,000 units in 2025, up slightly from 865,723 in 2024.