OEM Trend
Cailian Press: On September 13, Hyundai Motor announced it is partnering with U.S. autonomous driving company Waymo to combine its vehicle manufacturing prowess with Waymo's Level 4 self-driving technology. Hyundai plans to begin delivering specially modified IONIQ 5 robotaxis equipped with the Waymo system in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Cailian Press: On September 13, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that Ford is recalling 223,472 vehicles in the U.S. due to fuel tanks that may leak or become unsecured, potentially detaching while the vehicle is in motion. The report indicates the recall affects certain 2023 to 2027 Ford F-150 pickups. A detached fuel tank could obstruct roadways and increase collision risks, while fuel leaks could lead to engine stalling or fire. Dealers will inspect the fuel tank straps and replace them if necessary, free of charge.
Cailian Press: Neta Auto's bankruptcy restructuring is gaining traction. Recently, the fourth creditors' meeting for Hozon New Energy (Neta Auto's parent company) was held online. The "Draft Reorganization Plan" reveals that Zhejiang Taiyi Shanglian Enterprise Management Partnership (Limited Partnership) plans to invest 3 billion yuan to take a controlling stake, acquiring roughly 70.62% of Hozon New Energy. Business registration records show that "Taiyi Shanglian" was registered in April 2026 and formed as a partnership between Zhejiang Shanzi Holding and Zhejiang Shanzi Yuxu Technology. The former is controlled by Ye Ji, chairman of the SENSTEED HI-TECH, while the latter is controlled by Yu Shuxin, head of Shanzi High-Tech's board office.
MyDrivers: Recently, Vietnamese EV maker VinFast announced a leadership shakeup, with founder Pham Nhat Vuong handing over the top management of two core affiliated companies to his two sons. Pham Nhat Quang Anh, the 33-year-old eldest son, has officially taken over as Global CEO of VinFast and will also serve as Chairman and CEO of VinFast Vietnam. He previously held several senior positions within the group. Pham Nhat Vuong will remain on the board but step back from day-to-day operations. His second son, Pham Nhat Minh Hoang, born in 2000, has been appointed Global CEO of GSM, an affiliated pure-electric ride-hailing platform.
IT Home: According to reports, General Motors plans to develop next-generation battery technology in the U.S. using domestically sourced materials. Kurt Kelty, GM's vice president of battery and sustainability, remarked: "We are developing a battery supply chain and hope to achieve localized production in two or three years. By the time our products hit the market, we will have local U.S. supply sources." Reports indicate the vice president was referring to cells for energy storage systems, which can be used in scenarios such as homes and data centers. A GM spokesperson later added that the company also plans to produce battery cells for pure electric vehicles in the U.S. in the future.
Supply Chain News
Jiemian Global: Recently, a UWB near-field sensing fusion solution jointly created by Desay SV, Li Auto, and NXP has entered mass production on Li Auto's new embodied intelligent flagship SUV, the L9 Livis.
Cailian Press: At a recent 2026 first-half earnings briefing, RAYNEN TECH stated that its automotive water pump solution has passed automotive-grade certification for several leading manufacturers and entered a stage of stable bulk supply.
MyDrivers: Recently, Uber announced it is cutting about 3,300 internal staff this month, representing 10% of its global workforce, while simultaneously exiting the Nigerian and Ugandan markets. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi stated that savings from layoffs and reduced insurance costs will be used to lower fares and expand service options. He also mandated that remote work be reduced to less than 1%, pushing employees back to the office. The company's second-quarter 2026 earnings report, released on August 5, showed multiple profitability metrics significantly beating analyst expectations. On September 10, Khosrowshahi spent approximately $10 million to purchase 141,000 shares of company stock. Following the news, Uber shares rose by about 2%. Currently, Uber is collaborating with several companies to integrate autonomous vehicles into its service network and advance its Robotaxi business layout.
Industrial Economy
Cailian Press: Recently, Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), wrote that auto retail sales in August 2026 rebounded 5.5% month-over-month—a result of intersecting factors including high oil prices, weak macroeconomic sentiment, rising policy expectations, and the boost from the Chengdu Motor Show. Ongoing geopolitical conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz are keeping international oil prices elevated. Domestic gasoline prices in China have been hiked by over 1,720 yuan per ton so far this year, rising by 180 yuan alone since late July. This has significantly increased ownership costs for internal combustion engine vehicles, leading to a continued sharp contraction in consumer demand for traditional fuel passenger cars.
Cailian Press: Recently, the China Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) released the results of its August 2026 "Auto Dealer Inventory" survey: The comprehensive inventory coefficient for auto dealers stood at 1.58 in August, up 6.8% month-over-month and 20.6% year-over-year. Although the market showed signs of repair in August, the foundation for terminal demand remains unstable, and dealer inventory pressure is mounting. The industry as a whole is still in a bottoming-out and adjustment phase. Data from the CADA's passenger car branch shows national retail sales reached 1.541 million units in August. Based on this, total dealer inventory at the end of August was approximately 2.44 million units, a slight increase from the end of July.
Gasgoo Embodied Intelligence: Kinetix AI has recently completed an angel-plus financing round exceeding 500 million yuan, with investment from Vertex Ventures (a VC firm under Singapore's Temasek), FG Venture, Wanshi Capital, and others. The funds will be used to accelerate the iteration of "data-model-body" integration and drive the commercialization of embodied intelligence products.
Policy Situation
Cailian Press: Recently, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly issued the "High-Quality Digital Village Development Action Plan (2026–2030)" to expand digital consumption in rural areas. The plan aims to improve the quality and efficiency of county-level commercial systems and develop convenient services such as online ordering with in-store pickup, direct fresh food delivery, and agricultural supply bookings. It supports the promotion of new energy vehicles and green smart home appliances in rural areas, encouraging companies to develop intelligent hardware and software products suited to rural life. The initiative will continue to carry out "Digital Consumption Boosting Rural Revitalization" events in counties and districts. Additionally, the plan seeks to improve county-level digital consumer rights protection mechanisms to create a safe and secure environment for rural digital consumption.
MyDrivers: Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) held a press briefing to outline the development of China's intelligent connected new energy vehicle industry. A representative stated that irrational competition in the auto sector is a persistent obstacle to high-quality industrial development. Previously, the MIIT worked with other departments to formulate and implement standardization plans, adopting a multi-dimensional approach to governance. Governance efforts have already yielded positive results: corporate behavior is becoming more rational, related online chaos has been initially curbed, payment cycles for suppliers have improved, and industry competition order is returning to rationality. Moving forward, the MIIT will advance work in four areas: standardizing competition order, leveraging the guiding role of standards, holding the line on quality and safety, and refining institutional mechanisms to safeguard the high-quality development of the auto industry.
