With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.
BMW, CATL sign MoU on sustainable battery supply
On February 25, BMW Group signed a memorandum of understanding(MoU) with Chinese battery giant CATL during Chairman Oliver Zipse's visit to China alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The two sides will focus on reducing carbon emissions across the power battery supply chain, aiming to systematically lower the lifecycle carbon footprint of electric vehicles and deepen their sustainability cooperation.
Zipse emphasized that openness and innovation are key to industry development. China remains central to BMW's global strategy, with the company adhering to its“In China, For China, and Advancing with China”approach. To date, BMW has invested more than RMB 120 billion in its Shenyang production base and established four R&D and innovation centers along with three software companies in China, forming a comprehensive localized system covering R&D, production, and supply.
The agreement also marks another milestone in BMW’s localization strategy. The first locally produced Neue Klasse model, the long-wheelbase BMW iX3, will make its global debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2026.
XPENG to build full-process mass production base for humanoid robots
On February 25, Chinese EV maker XPENG announced at the Guangzhou High-Quality Development Conference that it will build the industry's first full-process mass production base for humanoid robots in the Guangtang Sci-Tech Innovation City Embodied Intelligence Industrial Park, located in Tianhe District. The move marks XPENG's transition from technical validation to large-scale industrialization in the humanoid robotics sector.
The Guangtang project will cover a total construction area of approximately 110,000 square meters. The facility will be developed to high industrial standards and equipped with infrastructure tailored for robot R&D and manufacturing, including specialized power supply, load-bearing capacity, and floor height. Leveraging Tianhe District’s location and industrial ecosystem, the park aims to create an integrated “AI + intelligent manufacturing” innovation hub.
Phase I will include high-standard robot production facilities and supporting infrastructure, providing a key manufacturing platform for the industrialization of XPENG’s advanced humanoid robot, IRON. On the same day, XPENG also signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with the Tianhe District government to jointly promote the development of the embodied intelligence industry.
Bethel Automotive plans to acquire controlling stake in Yubei Steering
On February 26, Chinese automotive components manufacturer Bethel Automotive Safety Systems announced plans to acquire a 50.9727% stake in Yubei Steering System (Xinxiang) Co., Ltd. for a total consideration of no more than RMB 1.1214 billion. Upon completion of the transaction, Bethel will become the controlling shareholder, with ultimate control transferred to Yuan Yongbin.
The acquisition involves multiple counterparties, including Junhong Industrial and several investment partnerships. All parties agreed on a valuation for Yubei Steering of no more than RMB 2.2 billion. The final transaction price will be determined after the completion of the company's 2025 audit.
The sellers have committed that Yubei Steering's attributable net assets will not be less than RMB 930 million by the end of 2025, with R&D expenses accounting for at least 3% of revenue.
Bethel focuses on providing chassis systems and body components for global automakers and has established leading technological capabilities in mechanical braking, electronic braking, intelligent driving, and lightweight solutions. Yubei Steering specializes in automotive steering systems, including electric power steering and hydraulic steering products. The acquisition is expected to generate strong synergies in technology, market access, and production scale between the two companies.
