Electric Vehicles

NIO CEO William Li believes range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) owners will ultimately switch to pure EVs, citing their appreciation for electric driving. This follows NIO’s completion of its battery swap network along the G318 Sichuan-Tibet route, enabling EV owners to travel the difficult route. Some REEV owners, impressed by NIO’s battery swapping convenience, have expressed intentions to order NIO vehicles. NIO now has over 8,159 charging and battery swapping stations in China, highlighting its leadership in charging infrastructure and addressing range anxiety.

BYD’s Zhengzhou Speedway opening highlighted China’s dominance in NEV technology. CAIC rankings show Chinese companies, particularly BYD, leading in new energy, hybrid, and pure electric patent authorizations. BYD’s R&D (over 120,000 employees, averaging 45 daily patent filings) drives innovation, including the Blade Battery and advanced hybrid tech. This technological prowess fuels BYD’s sales, with significant domestic and overseas growth, solidifying China’s rising influence in the global NEV market.

*Fortune* magazine’s “100 Most Influential Business Leaders Globally” list for 2025 is topped by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Chinese business leaders made a strong showing, with 11 representatives, including BYD’s Wang Chuanfu (5th). Xiaomi’s Lei Jun (16th) is highlighted for Xiaomi’s successful entry into the EV market with the SU7, surpassing Apple in this domain. Xiaomi aims to ship 350,000 cars this year, driven by a significant investment following their brief inclusion on a U.S. trade blacklist in 2021.

Faraday Future (FFAI) will unveil its strategic “Dual-flywheel, Dual-bridge Eco Strategy” on August 16, 2025. Key updates include expanding into Massachusetts via a partnership with Bos Auto, securing a deposit agreement for 100 FX Super One units. Safety testing of the Super One is underway in Detroit for FMVSS certification. FF has launched a global co-creation campaign for the FX Super One and will showcase both the FF 91 and FX Super One at Monterey Car Week. The company acknowledges addressing VLE industrialization gaps.

Bollinger Innovations (BINI) announced a $7,500 price cut on Mullen ONE and THREE commercial EVs. Combined with federal incentives, customers can save up to $15,000 before Sept 30, 2025. The Mullen ONE is now $27,000 and the THREE is $61,000. Formerly Mullen Automotive, the company rebranded to Bollinger Innovations and will transition these vehicles to the Bollinger Motors brand in 2026. They also plan to launch a Class 5 truck in 2027.

A recent Chinese autonomous driving assist system test by Dongchedi, involving 36 vehicles, has sparked controversy and conspiracy theories. The test revealed limitations, even in Tesla’s systems, and polarized reactions. Some criticize the methodology, while others allege bias, suggesting a foreign-backed plot to undermine Chinese automakers and delay Level 3 standards. Skeptics dismiss these claims, viewing the test as highlighting real-world limitations. More balanced views see the controversy as a necessary step towards accurately representing autonomous driving capabilities and avoiding public misinformation.

Weibo is cracking down on online “malicious attacks” and misinformation targeting entrepreneurs and EV brands. Several users, including @不严肃的克拉拉, @猪倌玩电车不养猪, and @Remi雷米侃电车, have been suspended for violating platform guidelines, such as product disparagement and personal attacks. Weibo aims to promote objective reviews and industry analysis, warning against defamatory tactics, citing similar action against blogger @Blood旌旗 for attacking companies and energy policies.

Xiaomi enthusiasts await CEO Lei Jun’s annual address; however, the timing is uncertain. Redmi’s Wang Teng suggests Lei needs a break after a busy June. Lei’s annual speeches since 2020 have been highly anticipated, with last year’s focusing on the challenges of Xiaomi’s entry into the electric vehicle market. He attributed the success of the Xiaomi SU7 to collective courage.

A potential ban on gasoline-powered vehicles for ride-hailing in Beijing, allegedly effective July 20th, has sparked significant reactions. News of the policy, attributed to the China Urban Public Transportation Association, caused EV drivers to rejoice while gasoline car drivers expressed concerns over vehicle depreciation and loans. The used car market reportedly saw a drop in prices for gasoline-powered ride-hailing vehicles.

China’s Ministry of Finance has revised consumption tax regulations for luxury vehicles priced at 900,000 yuan (approximately $125,000 USD) or higher, impacting both traditional and electric vehicles. The new rules take effect on July 20th, 2025, prompting a surge in demand for high-end cars, particularly brands like Porsche. Dealerships report tight inventory and a buying frenzy as consumers rush to purchase vehicles before the tax hike, potentially saving thousands of yuan.