??important news

First Electric reported on September 23 that according to the end point sales (insurance volume) data, China’s automobile end point sales reached 1,936,766 units in August, an increase of 9.4% month-on-month and a slight increase of 0.9% year-on-year. This is the first time that China’s automobile market has achieved a year-on-year slight growth after six consecutive years of year-on-year decline.

Among them, the end point sales of new energy vehicles exceeded 1 million for the first time, reaching 1,011,360 units, up 14.3% month-on-month, up 49.8% year-on-year, and the penetration rate reached 52.2%. China’s new energy vehicle end point sales and penetration rate both hit a record high in August. The end point sales of fuel vehicles in August 925,000, up 4.4% month-on-month, down 25.5% year-on-year, which is already the fuel vehicle market for 7 consecutive months year-on-year decline.

In the TOP20 models in August, the sales of the M7 and M9 in the world fell sharply month-on-month, especially the sales of the M7 in the world fell by 41% month-on-month, and the two have all fallen off the list. The sales of the Yuan UP and Tesla Model 3 end point rose by more than 70% month-on-month. The former was on the list for the first time, and the latter was on the list again. In addition, Wuling’s two small models, Hongguang MINI and Colorful Fruit, returned to the list. In the August brand list, thanks to 9 super popular cars, BYD’s end point sales exceeded 360,000, setting a new record high. The BBA that withdrew from the price war fell into the top ten, and BMW’s end point sales nearly halved, falling to 16th, but today there are media reports that in order to complete the sales target, BMW restarted the price war.

??Mercedes-Benz end point discount big bloodletting, the highest price reduction of the whole line of models 170,000

On September 24th, Blue Whale coverage, the end point promotion of the Mercedes-Benz brand in Guangzhou has increased. Popular fuel models such as A-Class, C-Class, E-Class and other preferential rates are between 100,000 and 120,000 yuan. The landing price of the top version of Mercedes-Benz A-Class is about 192,300 yuan after being discounted at some dealers, and some dealers can even drop to about 170,000 yuan. Other fuel models such as C-Class and E-Class also have discounts of more than 100,000 yuan. Although the preferential rate in the new energy vehicle market is also large, and some models can be discounted up to 140,000 yuan, Mercedes-Benz still faces the pressure of falling sales. BMW also returned to the price war due to the slump in sales. Mercedes-Benz adjusted its performance guidance for 2024. It is expected that the annual adjusted return on sales of automobiles will In the first half of the year, global sales fell by 6% year-on-year, and sales in the Chinese market decreased by 9% year-on-year. The China Automobile Dealers Association reported that dealers are facing the risk of capital chain rupture, and the phenomenon of inversion of sales and sales is serious. As of August, the highest data of dealers’ sales and sales inversion has reached -22.8%.

??Baojun Yunhai intelligent SUV debuts, DJI high-end intelligent driving reveals its true face

First Electric September 23rd news, SAIC General Motors Wuling announced the launch of a new intelligent long-endurance SUV – Baojun Yunhai, the price range is 109,800 yuan to 133,800 yuan. The model offers plug-in hybrid and pure electric power options, all standard Lingmu Smart Drive 2.0 Max system, jointly developed by Baojun Automobile and Zhuoyu Technology under DJI Technology, aiming to improve safety and convenience.

The Lingyu Smart Driving 2.0 Max system uses a "two-stage end-to-end" architecture to optimize universal obstacle recognition. Although the sales of Baojun’s previous models equipped with the system have not met expectations, SAIC-GM-Wuling still regards intelligent driving technology as a priority, and plans to include high-end smart driving systems in all products in the future.

At present, the high-end intelligent driving system is mostly used in models above 200,000 yuan, but with technological progress and cost reduction, more and more car companies are beginning to apply it to models below 200,000 yuan. Zhuoyu Technology expects that its high-end intelligent driving system will become the standard configuration of 8-150,000 yuan class models. SAIC-GM-Wuling hopes to increase its brand influence and market share with the help of Baojun Yunhai, but faces fierce market competition, including traditional independent brands and new power car companies. The market performance of Baojun Yunhai remains to be seen.

??domestic

??Huawei Xu Zhijun talks about the intelligent strategic layout of Insight

First Electric September 23rd news, Huawei’s rotating chairperson Xu Zhijun recently explained the strategic layout of Shenzhen Insight Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. in detail for the first time in an interview with the media. Huawei’s establishment of Insight aims to become a provider of incremental components for the smart electric vehicle industry, rather than directly manufacturing cars. Xu Zhijun believes that focusing on providing key technologies and solutions can better serve the entire industry and promote the overall progress of China’s automotive industry. Insight currently focuses on three major areas: intelligent driving, intelligent cockpit and intelligent vehicle control, and has received investment from Avita and Cyrus. Insight is not only seeking financial investors, but also hopes to establish long-term strategic partnerships with like-minded partners to jointly promote the development of intelligent connected vehicle technology.

Huawei Car BU currently has a R & D team of more than 7,000 people and has invested more than 40 billion yuan. With the successful listing of several cooperative models, Huawei’s influence in the smart electric vehicle industry is increasing day by day. Xu Zhijun said that as the business gradually gets on the right track, it is expected to usher in a broader development space.

??Wuling Global New Energy Concept Vehicle Launches on 24th, Gull Wing Door Design Attracts Attention

On September 23, SAIC-GM-Wuling announced that its first global new energy concept car will be launched globally on September 24 and hold an ASEAN strategy conference. This concept car adopts a new design language and is equipped with a large-size gull wing door, which is positioned as a new energy car. The vehicle headlight group is similar to Baojun Yunhai. It adopts a through-type design, and there is a lighting effect under the front surround. The large-size double gull wing door on the side of the body is designed to be similar to a spaceship door. The interior is simple, highlighting the sense of sports and technology. The rear line is smooth, the tail light group adopts a through shape, the internal light source matrix diverges, and the visual effect is excellent. At present, more concept car information has not been officially announced.

SAIC-GM-Wuling’s first global new energy concept car is about to debut, with a novel design and a full sense of technology.

??Chery 2025 Tiggo 9 series pre-sale opens, 155,900

On September 23rd, Chery Automobile announced that the 2025 Tiggo 9 and its plug-in hybrid version Tiggo 9 C-DM officially started pre-sale, with pre-sale prices starting from 155,900 yuan and 169,900 yuan respectively. The two models are expected to be listed on September 25th. The 2025 Tiggo 9 has been slightly adjusted in appearance, and the interior is equipped with a 24.6-inch curved screen and an 8155 chip to support AI intelligent interaction functions.

??Dongfeng Automobile Autumn Conference: New Energy Technology Breakthrough, New Chapter for Smart Vehicles

First Electric September 23rd news, Dongfeng Motor brand autumn conference and the 9th Science and Technology Innovation Week opened in Wuhan, at which Dongfeng Motor showcased the latest scientific and technological achievements in the field of new energy vehicles, and launched a number of forward-looking technologies and platforms. Deputy General Manager You Zheng released the "New Car, New Life" Technology Leap 3.0 plan, proposing the concept of "embodied intelligence", which aims to improve the intelligent driving ability, energy management and interactive experience of smart cars through eight technology engines.

??Buick GL8 family sales break through 2 million units, Sun Yangcheng new owner

First Electric September 24th news, Buick GL8 family ushered in its 2 million vehicle – GL8 Lu Zun PHEV off the production line, marking the series to become the first high-end MPV market in China to break through the production and sales of 2 million models. Sun Yang became the owner of the 2 million GL8. Buick announced that to celebrate this milestone, it will give "2 million Championship Commemorative Gift" to users who order GL8 Lu Zun PHEV from September 23rd to October 31st.

??Great Wall Motor independently developed RISC-V car grade chip Bauhinia M100 successfully lit up

First Electric September 23rd news, Great Wall Motors announced that its jointly developed RISC-V car-grade MCU chip – Bauhinia M100 has been completed and successfully lit. Bauhinia M100 is the first domestic car-grade chip based on RISC-V architecture, filling the gaps in domestic related fields and laying the foundation for Great Wall Motors’ future intelligent strategy. The chip adopts modular design, reconfigurable core, 4-level pipeline design, fast processing speed, low time consumption, and meets the functional safety ASIL-B level requirements, supports national security, and complies with ISO21434 network information security standards.

??Geely Galaxy E8 OTA upgrade, a new leap in intelligence

First Electric September 23rd news, Geely Galaxy officially announced that its medium and large sedan Galaxy E8 will launch an OTA update to improve the level of vehicle intelligence. This update will introduce a new Galaxy Flyme Auto car system, adding functions such as AI Galaxy Elf and Xingrui AI big model. The Galaxy E8 adopts the design of "Ripple of Light, Rhythm Grid" and is equipped with the world’s first mass-produced integrated luminous front face. The body size is 5010mm/1920mm/1465mm and the wheelbase is 2925mm. The interior is equipped with a 45-inch 8K screen and integrated full-scene AI intelligent voice interaction function. Equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip and Galaxy N OS – Unbounded Edition car system. Power provides rear-drive version and dual-motor four-wheel drive version, with a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.49 seconds. The group capacity is 62kWh and 76kWh, and the cruising range is 550km, 665km and 620km.

Abstract: The Geely Galaxy E8 sedan will undergo an OTA update, introducing new vehicle system and AI features. The vehicle features a unique exterior design, equipped with a 45-inch 8K screen and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip. Rear-drive and four-wheel drive versions are available, with excellent acceleration performance. The battery pack offers different range options.

??BYD’s new Sea Lion 05 and Song Pro are on the market, priced from 112,800

On September 23, BYD announced the official launch of two A-class SUVs, the Sea Lion 05DM-i and the second-generation Song Pro DM-i, with an official price guide of 11.28-14 2,800 yuan. These two models have been fully upgraded in terms of design, configuration, safety and energy consumption. Both models are equipped with DiLink intelligent cockpit, DiPilot intelligent driver assistance system, full scene digital key and original ETC, which improves the level of intelligence.

??Dongfeng Fengshen L7 pure electric version listed: after 119,900, battery life 518km

Fast Technology September 23rd news, Dongfeng Fengshen L7 pure electric version officially launched, providing two configuration models, the price range is 109,900 yuan to 139,900 yuan. To celebrate the listing, the official provides 10,000 yuan trade-in subsidy and 10,000 yuan Dongfeng 55th anniversary special subsidy, 518Pro version subsidy price 119,900 yuan. Users ordered before October 31, 2024 can enjoy up to 35,999 yuan car purchase rights.

??Lantu’s new Dreamer will break 8,600 units in 72 hours

On September 23, Autohome reported that the new 7-seat medium and large MPV Dreamer of Lantu Automobile had a total of 8637 units within 72 hours of listing. The new car launched a total of 8 models, the price range is 32.99-44 9,900 yuan, and the first sale period can enjoy a high-value 68,000 yuan car purchase gift. The dry version is expected to start delivery in November.

??Soho New Energy completes tens of millions of yuan in angel round financing to promote the commercialization of solid-state battery technology

First Electric September 23rd news, Zhejiang Rouhe New Energy Materials Co., Ltd. recently announced the completion of tens of millions of yuan angel round financing. Investors include Juntong Capital, ASRock Capital, Jinxing Capital, A Lingchun Technology and Mr. Xu Nan. The funds will be used for the construction of a new factory and the construction of a mass production line of flexible ceramic solid electrolyte thin film materials, fireproof and thermal insulation ceramic fiber materials and an all-solid-state battery experimental line. Rouhe New Energy focuses on the research and development of high-performance flexible ceramic solid electrolyte thin films and battery thermal runaway fireproof and thermal insulation ceramic nano-fiber materials, and has applied for more than 20 national invention patents. The company adopts the oxide technology route to realize the roll-to-roll and ultra-thin continuous production technology of flexible solid electrolyte membranes, which improves the safety and energy density of all-solid-state batteries. This financing will advance the commercialization of its high-performance materials and all-solid-state battery technologies.

??Geely Star is willing to debut a pure electric small car: Space Master, listed in the fourth quarter

On September 23rd, Geely Automobile released detailed configuration information of the new small pure electric model Xingyuan. Xingyuan is known as a "space master" for its flexible storage space and rich configuration. The new car is equipped with lithium iron phosphate battery and 11-in-1 electric drive system. It comes standard with Galaxy Flyme Auto smart cockpit, independent rear suspension, 70L front trunk and 3.3kW external power discharge function. Xingyuan is based on Geely’s new pure electric platform, with a wheelbase of 2650mm. It is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter.

??Changan Qiyuan E07 pre-sale opens, starting from 249,900

Yidian Express reported on September 23rd that Qiyuan E07, a new medium and large SUV under Changan Automobile, officially opened pre-sale, with a pre-sale price range of 249,900-319,900 yuan. The new car offers an extended range version and two pure electric versions, focusing on digital and intelligent features. Qiyuan E07 is built on Changan SDA architecture and is positioned as a "panoramic intelligent variable SUV", which can realize the versatility of "one car to multiple cars".

??NIO’s new model "Firefly" will be launched in 2025 and will adopt the power exchange mode

Fast Technology reported on September 23rd that spy photos of the interior of the first model of NIO internally codenamed "Firefly" have been exposed, and it is expected to be launched in the first half of 2025. The interior of the new car is equipped with an LCD instrument panel and a floating central control screen, and the steering wheel is a two-color design, which is thick and square-like. In terms of exterior design, the front of the car is short, the front windshield is tilted at a large angle, the rear line is full, and the C-pillar is wide, equipped with a wide rear spoiler. "Firefly" will adopt the NIO power exchange mode, which will not only be sold in the Chinese market, but also enter the European market and meet the European five-star safety collision standard. This strategy aims to save costs while ensuring high safety and Quality Standards.

??The price of Xingtu 2025 Star Era ES remains unchanged, and the configuration is upgraded.

First Electric September 23rd news, Xingtu Marketing Center general manager Huang Zhaogen recently clarified the rumors about the 2025 Star Era ES price adjustment on social media. He pointed out that since the model went on sale on August 21, the pricing strategy and market feedback are good, and there is no price adjustment plan at present. 2025 Star Era ES launched 4 configurations, the guide price is 215,900 to 299,900 yuan. 2025 Star Era ES has been upgraded in technical configuration, such as laser radar technology down to the middle version, some models have added advanced functions. Xingtu brand hopes to attract more consumers through flexible price strategy. Although there are rumors of price adjustment in the market, the official has made it clear that there is no price adjustment plan at present.

??Zhijie R7 pre-sale 24-hour small order over 10,000

First Electric reported on September 23rd that at Huawei’s autumn full-scene new product launch conference, Zhijie R7 new energy SUV will open Dading. The model started pre-sale on September 10th, with a pre-sale price of 268,000 yuan, and the number of small orders exceeded 10,000 units within 24 hours. Zhijie R7 is positioned as a high-end medium-sized SUV, with a body size of 4956/1981/1634mm and a wheelbase of 2950mm, competing with Tesla Model Y.

??Avita 11/12 upgrade ADS 3.0

First Electric September 23rd news, Avita Technology recently announced that its models Avita 11 and Avita 12 have undergone AVATR. OS 4.0.0 OTA software upgrades. This upgrade introduces Huawei Smart Driving ADS 3.0 system, which enhances the ability of urban navigation to assist driving, enhances the accuracy of road information recognition and driving decision coherence. At the same time, the urban smart driving pilot assist roadside start function has been added, which simplifies the operation process and adds a number of safety measures, such as forward collision warning and emergency braking. The parking function has also been significantly improved, adding a number of functions such as off-vehicle parking and parking attitude adjustment to optimize the parking experience.

??Denza Z9GT luxury D-class sedan launched, priced from 334,800

First Electric September 23rd news, Tengshi Automobile announced its latest flagship model Tengshi Z9GT officially launched, priced from 334,800 yuan to 414,800 yuan. The launch of Tengshi Z9GT, with its unique design language, advanced intelligent technology and excellent performance, is expected to cause a new trend in China’s luxury car market.

??Ledao L60 owners enjoy NIO thousand stations for power replacement at the end of the year

First Electric September 23rd news, the official account of Ledao Automobile announced that the L60 model will share more than 1,000 substation stations with the NIO brand by the end of this year, including the third and fourth generation stations. Since June, NIO has started the third-generation transformation of the substation, and Ledao L60 will be able to use the modified stations. From July, NIO’s new substation stations are all fourth-generation stations, and Ledao L60 will be seamlessly connected. By the end of next year, NIO plans to achieve county-level coverage of substation stations in 27 provinces across the country, and the new site will also be the fourth generation site.

??Xiaopeng X9 sales exceeded 10,000, and the new model was unveiled on September 25

First Electric September 23rd news, XPeng Motors announced that its pure electric MPV model X9 has delivered more than 15,000 units in 8 months since its launch, becoming the sales champion of pure electric MPV and pure electric large 7-seat models in the market. XPeng X9 is favored by consumers for its excellent performance and unique design. In order to consolidate its market position, XPeng plans to release the new X9 series models on September 25th, which are expected to be optimized and upgraded to improve the driving experience.

??international

??The US Department of Commerce has proposed banning Chinese hardware and software from being used in internet-connected cars in the United States

Reuters reported on September 23 that after months of media release, the US Department of Commerce officially announced on the same day that it would propose to ban the use of key hardware and software from China in smart connected vehicles in the United States, and hoped to finalize the rules by January 20 next year to ensure national security.

The Department of Commerce hopes that the regulations proposed by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) will apply to all wheeled vehicles such as cars, trucks, and buses operating on public roads, but will not affect agricultural or mining vehicles operating on private roads.

According to a statement from the US Department of Commerce on the 23rd, the ban on the software and hardware of China’s intelligent connected vehicles will take effect in the 2027 model year and the 2030 model year respectively. For cars without a model year, the ban will take effect on January 1, 2029.

A senior administration official told Reuters the proposal would effectively ban all existing light vehicles and trucks in China from entering the US market, but added that it would also allow Chinese carmakers to seek "specific authorizations" to obtain exemptions.

??BMW partners with Redwood to promote electric vehicle battery recycling in the United States

First Electric September 23rd news, BMW North America and battery recycling company Redwood Materials has reached an exclusive cooperation agreement, aiming to advance the recycling of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, plug-in vehicles and mild hybrid vehicles in the US market. Redwood will work with about 700 dealerships and distribution centers of the BMW Group to recycle used batteries. In the recycling process, more than 95% of key mineral components such as nickel, cobalt, lithium and copper can be recovered, and re-invested into the battery supply chain. BMW plans to set up a factory in South Carolina to produce at least six electric vehicles and assemble battery packs. Redwood has previously signed an agreement with Tesla battery supplier Panasonic to provide cathode and anode materials. Toyota has also joined the cooperation with Redwood to jointly test and recycle batteries.

??General Motors’ Fairfax plant will lay off 1,695 employees

September 23 US auto coverage, General Motors plans to cut jobs at its Fairfax assembly plant in Kansas. According to the US federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, General Motors has filed documents with Kansas to announce that it will cut 1,695 jobs in two rounds. The first round of layoffs will begin on November 18 and involve the temporary layoff of 686 full-time employees and 250 temporary workers; The second round of layoffs is planned to start on January 12 next year, and 759 full-time employees will be temporarily laid off. The first production shift at the Fairfax plant is expected to last until January next year, when production of the Cadillac XT4 compact crossover will be suspended. The factory will then be renovated, and the next generation of Chevrolet Bolt EV and gasoline version XT4 models will be produced in the future.

??SpaceX plans to launch five unmanned starships within two years, and a manned mission to Mars within four years

First Electric September 23rd news, SpaceX CEO Elon recently announced on its social platform that the company plans to send about five starships to Mars in the next two years. He pointed out that the schedule of the first manned mission will depend on the success of the unmanned mission. If all goes well, the manned mission is expected to be launched within four years. Musk stressed the importance of planetary positions, arguing that Mars missions can only be carried out when the earth is in the best relative position to Mars. He also expressed concerns about the bureaucracy of the US government, which may hinder the progress of the Mars program. SpaceX’s starship has made significant progress. The fourth test flight successfully achieved the test goal. The fifth test flight mission is planned for late August or early September.

??Volkswagen Group Transformation: Pamplona plant discontinues Polo, launches new electric SUV in 2026

Volkswagen Group announced on September 23rd that its plant in Pamplona, Spain has stopped production of Polo small cars and will shift its focus to the field of pure electric small cars that are affordable. The Pamplona plant has been the main production base for Polo models since 1984, and has cumulatively produced more than 8.40 million Polo cars. From 2026, the plant will start production of two new pure electric small SUV models, respectively, under the Volkswagen brand and Skoda brand. Both models are based on the adjusted MEB platform and are designed to be sold at prices closer to traditional gasoline vehicles.