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.
Electric cars are seen on the production line in a Nio factory in China. Chinese customs data shows US exports made up less than 1 per cent of total EV exports in 2023, even before the Biden administration slapped 100 per cent tariffs on Chinese EVs in 2024. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

My Take | China’s green tech firms largely insulated from latest tariff war

With their reliance on the US market already limited, these battle-worn companies are better equipped to weather the coming decoupling storm.

Electric & new energy vehicles

EVs | China to crack down on EV self-driving technology, ‘autonomous driving’ claims

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV makers face tariff dilemma as Beijing intervenes in go-global plans

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Electric & new energy vehicles

SAIC Motor to join Huawei in new smart EV project to stem multi-year sales slump

SAIC, which assembles petrol cars with GM and VW, has been left trailing as Chinese consumers switch to EVs sold by Tesla, Xpeng, Nio and Li Auto.

A vehicle inside a factory operated by SAIC-GM-Wuling in Liuzhou, southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in July 2024. Photo: Xinhua
Hong Kong transport

EV licence fee in Hong Kong to be raised in 3 years to 70% that of petrol cars

Proposed fees, to be discussed in Legco next Friday, could be increased more than three times to a minimum of about HK$3,550.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

EVs | Xpeng eyes Toyota’s Alphard, Europe sales with its X9 electric MPV

More Chinese EV brands will enter the global market in the future, notwithstanding the current tariff turmoil, CEO He Xiaopeng says.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s CATL joins with Sinopec to build EV battery-swapping network

World’s top maker of EV batteries and oil giant aim to build a ‘battery-swapping ecosystem across the whole nation’.

A sign of battery manufacturer CATL is pictured at its booth at the Beijing International Automotive Exhibition in Beijing on April 25, 2024. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

Exclusive | Xpeng to use own Turing AI chip to power its self-driving cars this quarter

Xpeng’s Turing AI chip is three times more powerful in computing power than the Nvidia chip installed in its existing EVs.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla halts importing Model S and X in China as buyers balk at tariffs

Tesla has stopped taking orders to import the US-made models to China; to persuade buyers to consider the Shanghai-made Model Y and Model 3.

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Hong Kong economy

Editorial | Hong Kong’s premium cabs are far too slow off the mark

Hong Kong trial run of high-end taxi service marred by cancellations and shortage of drivers.

Problems plaguing the JOIE taxi fleet have raised eyebrows in Hong Kong. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s lidar sensor firms Hesai, RoboSense stand to gain after fatal EV crash

Adoption of the laser-based sensors will increase as consumers demand safe self-driving systems, analysts say.

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A long-range automotive lidar (light detection and ranging) sensor made by Hesai. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

China EVs: Tesla’s quarterly deliveries lag BYD for the second time

Output from the Shanghai Gigafactory dropped to 172,754 units in the first three months of the year from 220,876 a year earlier.

Electric & new energy vehicles

‘Millions of drivers need to be educated’ after fatal Xiaomi crash: analysts

Autonomous-driving features carry high safety risks amid a lack knowledge about how the systems work, leader of industry body says.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Top Chinese EV makers power ahead thanks to subsidies, tax incentives

BYD’s first-quarter deliveries rose 59.8 per cent to more than 1 million vehicles.

People check a BYD electric vehicle in Shanghai. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

Xiaomi car crash involving self-driving feature sparks concerns in China

Company says it submitted the driving data and relevant operational information to the police and deeply regrets the tragedy.

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Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun unveils the SU7 Ultra in Beijing on October 29, 2024. The car model was involved in an accident on the mainland on Saturday, which claimed three lives. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong transport

Launch of Hong Kong’s newest premium taxi fleet plagued by cancellations

Reporters, lawmaker try to hail ride via Joie app without success. Transport expert asks why premium taxis aren’t using centralised app.

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Hong Kong transport

Fleet of 200 new premium taxis hit the streets of Hong Kong

Company confident a higher level of service for its targeted customer base will be worth the longer wait times.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

China to crack down on unfair EV price cuts to stabilise industry

China vows to combat unfair pricing and misinformation by EV players, as it aims to stabilise growth and profitability of the sector.

People visit the Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in April 2023. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Self navigating to the top: why China leads the global autonomous-driving race

After stamping their authority on EV technology, Chinese firms make strides in adding self-driving features.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV industry pressed to accelerate global expansion amid tariffs

Companies should balance exports and overseas production while seeking to achieve win-wins with foreign partners, former vice-minister says.

Science

EV expert Xu Fuguo returns to China after leaving US$30 million project in Japan

Engineer returns as professor at Dalian university as Japan’s auto industry struggles to keep up with Chinese innovation and market momentum.

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Xu Fuguo, whose research has focused on EV control engineering, started as a professor in the mechanical engineering school at Dalian University of Technology after spending years researching in the Japanese auto sector. Photo: Xinhua
Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD out-earns Tesla after out-making, outselling Model 3 producer

Chinese EV maker is forecast to widen its lead over Tesla in 2025 and 2026 global sales, according to consensus compiled by Bloomberg.

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The BYD logo is displayed at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2024. Photo: AFP
China-EU relations

Unaffected by EU’s tariffs on EVs, China’s hybrid-vehicle exports surge to bloc

With Brussels’ tariffs not a problem, China’s plug-in hybrid EVs have become the fastest-growing Chinese export item to the 27-nation bloc.

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Science

China aims to deploy maglev rocket launch pad by 2028, challenging SpaceX

Advances in rocket acceleration to supersonic speeds before ignition are part of plan to create hub of private rocket manufacture.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD launches a ‘Model 3 killer’ at half the price of Tesla’s top seller

The Qin L and Xpeng’s Mona M03, which are priced around US$16,500, arrive as the US company’s mainland sales are dropping.

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BYD Qin L EV starts at 119,800 yuan (US$16,526). Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD’s Denza unveils N9 SUV to challenge Mercedes, BMW in premium EV segment

The N9 starts from 389,800 (US$60,860), equipped with BYD’s autonomous driving systems and can support on-vehicle drone systems.

BYD’s premium brand Denza launches its most expensive model called N9 in Shenzhen on March 21, 2025. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV maker Nio’s fourth-quarter loss widens, revenue outlook underwhelms

‘This year marks the beginning of a new product cycle for our three brands,’ says founder, chairman and CEO William Li Bin.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng sets up first self-branded EV supercharging station in Hong Kong

Fierce competition among auto manufacturers is extending to charging technologies.

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