Automotive Makers
Sources from Tesla China revealed on April 7 that the Shanghai Gigafactory saw deliveries climb past 85,600 units in March — a 46% surge from the previous month. In the first quarter, the Shanghai plant handed over 213,000 electric vehicles, a 23.5% annual increase. Tesla announced on April 2 that global production topped 408,000 EVs in the first quarter of 2026, with deliveries exceeding 358,000, while energy storage deployments hit 8.8 GWh. Based on these figures, the Shanghai Gigafactory accounted for nearly 60% of Tesla's global deliveries in the first quarter of 2026.
Geely Galaxy recently announced that the first production-ready Xingyao 7 has rolled off the assembly line. The model sticks to the Galaxy design language, sporting a vertical grille with a light-up mesh and headlights that mirror its full-width taillights. Measuring 4,958 x 1,915 x 1,505 mm with a 2,852 mm wheelbase, and riding on 19-inch multi-spoke wheels, the overall profile is notably sleek.
Japanese automaker Mazda has stopped producing vehicles for Middle Eastern exports as cargo ships struggle to traverse the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports. The cars bound for Saudi Arabia, Israel, and other regional markets are mainly built at Mazda's Hiroshima and Yamaguchi plants, which ship roughly 30,000 units annually. However, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively blocked, deliveries have ground to a halt.
Intellectual property data from Tianyancha reveals that Seres Automobile Co., Ltd. has recently published a patent for an "anti-collision control method, device, electronic equipment, and medium." The abstract describes a system for the vehicle's anti-collision beam assembly, which features an actuating mechanism. The method detects whether the mechanism is extended or retracted; when extended, it identifies the type of object about to be hit—distinguishing between vulnerable targets and others—while monitoring braking deceleration. Based on these factors, the system controls the actuator. This approach allows for flexible adjustments, enabling the beam assembly to adapt to diverse crash scenarios while improving protection for both occupants and pedestrians, which aids in the optimization of the assembly.
Supply Chain News
GLP announced on April 7 that its asset operations arm, ASP, has signed an IFM contract with the Mercedes-Benz Group to provide Integrated Facility Management services for its national supply chain centers. The services cover multiple regions including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Chengdu, and Guangzhou, managing a total area exceeding 300,000 square meters. IFM provides integrated, professional management of assets—buildings, equipment, environment, energy, and security—centered around a company's core business operations.
UBTech's smart logistics subsidiary, UQI, has entered a strategic partnership with Honda Trading (China) Co., Ltd. The two will explore applications for embodied AI humanoid robots and autonomous logistics vehicles in industrial manufacturing and warehousing. Once conditions allow, they plan to roll out pilot projects and scale successful practices across Honda Trading's supply chain.
Wuhu Beterli Automotive Safety Systems Co., Ltd. recently released its 2025 annual business report, revealing revenue of 12.014 billion yuan—a 20.91% annual jump that officially pushes the firm into the 10-billion-yuan revenue bracket. The results highlight the success of its core strategy. During the period, sales of Beterli's core products rose across the board. Smart electronic control products stood out, with sales climbing 34.84% to 7.03 million sets, while disc brakes, lightweight braking components, and mechanical steering products also posted year-on-year gains.
Industrial Economy
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) announced on April 7 that international crude oil prices have swung wildly since the last domestic adjustment on March 23. To cushion the domestic market from these surges, the state is continuing to regulate refined oil prices. Under the standard pricing mechanism, gasoline and diesel prices should have risen by 800 yuan and 770 yuan per ton, respectively, starting from 24:00 on April 7. However, after government intervention, the actual increases were capped at 420 yuan and 400 yuan.
On April 7, new energy vehicle travel surged during this year's Qingming Festival holiday. Data from the State Grid Smart Vehicle Interconnection Platform shows charging volume hit 59.57 million kWh in the first two days of the break—a 26.98% jump from the same period last year.
Latest data released on April 7 shows that driven by multiple factors, sales of used electric vehicles have surged in the U.S. recently. While some analysts argue it's too soon to tell if higher gas prices will boost new EV sales, others remain optimistic about mass adoption. Estimates from Cox Automotive suggest U.S. used EV sales climbed 12% year-on-year in the first quarter and jumped 17% from the previous quarter.
Spirit AI announced on April 7 that it has closed a new funding round worth 1 billion yuan. The round was co-led by Shunwei Capital and Yunfeng Capital, with significant participation from Fortune Capital, a leading RMB fund, Galaxy Source & Sink, Turing Fund, Xinding Capital, and Gengxin Capital.
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) recently released its "2025 Economic and Market Report." It shows the market share of Chinese-made vehicles in the EU has risen to 7% from 5% in 2022. Over the same period, imports from China surged 30.7% to 1,006,188 units, crossing the million-unit threshold for the first time. In value terms, imports reached 13.72 billion euros, further cementing China's status as the EU's largest source of automotive imports.
ModelBest has recently secured a funding round worth several hundred million yuan. The round was co-led by Shenzhen Capital Group and InoVance, with participation from Daohe Long-term Investment, GTJA Innovation Investment, and Wuyueshan Sci-Tech Innovation.
Personnel Changes
Yijing Auto, the new energy vehicle brand jointly developed by Dongfeng Motor Group and Huawei Qiankun, officially named its core management team on April 7: Wang Junjun has been appointed chairman, while Zeng Qinglin will serve as general manager. The move signals the brand is entering a critical phase of commercial operations.
Dieter Lorenz, Tesla's former senior manager for delivery operations in Central and Eastern Europe, announced on social media on April 7 that after six years with the company, he has joined Xiaomi EV as Head of European Delivery and Logistics earlier this month.
