OEM Dynamics | OEM Trend
Kuai Technology reported on May 28 that Denza has delivered over 10,000 units of its all-new Z9GT in just two and a half months. Launched on March 5, the lineup offers five configurations priced between 269,800 and 369,800 yuan — a significant price cut from the previous generation, paired with comprehensive technological upgrades.
Sina Finance: XPENG Chairman He Xiaopeng revealed in a recent interview that the company has executed a major strategic pivot in autonomous driving. Concluding that a "patchwork" approach merging software engineering with AI algorithms cannot deliver true driverless capability, He scrapped the old system last year — despite billions in investment — to bet on a new "Physical AI" architecture. He believes this path positions XPENG to achieve Level 4 autonomy within 18 to 24 months, roughly by the end of 2027. He emphasized that autonomous driving is just one application of Physical AI; the company is building its next decade around three growth curves: vehicles, robotics, and global operations.
Cailian Press: Data released by Toyota on May 28 shows global sales slipped 3.1% year-on-year in April to 849,300 units, marking the third straight monthly decline. Conversely, global output rose 2.0% to 832,000 vehicles — a second consecutive increase and a record high for the month. Exports from Japan to the Middle East plummeted 91.7% to just 2,418 units. This marks the second month of declining exports to the region, with the drop accelerating from March's 46.4% slump.
IT Home: Chery Automobile and Japanese auto accessories giant AUTOBACS SEVEN announced plans to launch light electric vehicles in Japan. The partners established a new EV brand called "EMTA." He Xiaoqing, CEO of EMT, the entity developing and selling the brand, emphasized at a briefing that this is a brand built specifically for Japanese consumers.
Gasgoo: NIO CEO William Li recently told attendees at the "NIO ES9 Media Roundtable" that rising costs for raw materials like nickel, cobalt, and lithium carbonate have added over 10,000 yuan to the price of a single vehicle this year. Li noted that since commodities and memory chips also affect faster-growing, wealthier sectors, automakers lack bargaining power. Memory prices haven't retreated since their surge, and raw material costs are unlikely to ease anytime soon — meaning manufacturers have to absorb these pressures themselves.
Cailian Press: Data from Tianyancha shows Anhui Xidian Energy Technology Co., Ltd. was recently established, with Li Zhongbing as legal representative and a registered capital of 500 million yuan. Its business scope covers battery manufacturing, sales, and energy storage technology services. The entity is wholly owned by Chery Automobile Co., Ltd.
Supply Chain News | Supply Chain News
Gasgoo: On May 28, semiconductor manufacturer ROHM unveiled the "AG16xFNxx series," an 80V MOSFET designed for the increasingly common 48V automotive power systems. The new components utilize HPLF5060 and DFN3333 packages, offering significant miniaturization compared to the standard TO-252 packaging typically found in automotive MOSFETs.
Gasgoo: China Taiwan Province's solid-state battery maker ProLogium Technology announced on May 28 that it will go public in New York via a merger with SPAC Translational Development Acquisition Corp. (TDAC). The deal values the company at $3.8 billion.
Gasgoo: CATL recently disclosed plans to issue 5 billion yuan in green technology innovation bonds, its third tranche for 2026. The notes carry a "3+2" year maturity, with proceeds earmarked for lithium-ion battery production operations and supply chain payments. This issuance falls under the company's 40 billion yuan registered quota for green bonds.
Gasgoo: RoboSense released its first-quarter earnings report, showing revenue climbed roughly 40% year-on-year to 460 million yuan. Total LiDAR shipments surged 204.1% to 330,300 units. Even more striking, sales in the robotics sector skyrocketed 1,458.8% to 185,500 units. That segment's share of total volume jumped from 11% a year ago to 56%, overtaking automotive ADAS business for the first time to become the company's largest revenue driver.
Industrial Economy | Industrial Economy
Gasgoo: Data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) on May 28 shows UK car and commercial vehicle production fell 1.2% year-on-year in April. The decline was driven by lower commercial vehicle output and sluggish exports to China.
Cailian Press: The China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) reported that retail passenger vehicle sales reached 989,000 units from May 1 to 24 — a 24% drop from the same period last year, though up 10% from April. Year-to-date retail sales totaled 6.594 million units, down 19%. In the new energy sector, retail sales came in at 619,000 units for the same period, an 11% annual decline but a 13% monthly increase. Year-to-date NEV retail sales hit 3.377 million units, down 16%. The NEV retail penetration rate for the period stood at 62.5%, while the wholesale penetration rate reached 63.6%.
Gasgoo: A joint report by the China Automobile Dealers Association and Jingzhengu on April residual values shows online used-car supply recovered steadily last month, with resale values rising across multiple segments. Yet, beneath the surface, tensions are rising: joint-venture brands are seeing a widening split, luxury values have stabilized, and the used EV market is finally hitting a turning point in acceptance after early concerns over depreciation.
Policy Updates | Policy Situation
Cailian Press: Work on the "Roadmap for the Application and Promotion of Renewable Materials in Vehicles (2026–2030)" officially kicked off in Beijing, led by the China Automotive Strategy and Policy Research Center and the China Association of Circular Economy. The roadmap will outline targets, implementation paths, and support measures for the next five years, focusing on using recycled materials in frames, bodies, wheels, glass, and trim to drive a greener, circular auto industry. Experts note that recycled plastics and aluminum are already finding their way into interiors, structural components, and functional parts. As technology improves, further breakthroughs are expected. Given the industry's strict demands for performance and safety, the roadmap will also prioritize research into material standards, quality certification, application validation, and supply chain coordination.
Personnel Changes | Change of personal
Gasgoo: Volkswagen (Anhui) Digital Sales Service Co., Ltd. announced on May 28 that current COO Liu Zhanshu will become Chief Executive Officer effective July 1, 2026. The company stated the appointment is part of its long-term talent pipeline strategy, aimed at reinforcing organizational stability and driving sustainable business growth.
