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.
ZF LIFETEC launches Inflator Capacity and Production Expansion Program in Xi'an
1. Who: ZF LIFETEC; ZF Group; Manfred Hughes (global head of ZF LIFETEC inflator production lines).
2. What: On March 17, ZF LIFETEC held a launch ceremony for a capacity expansion project at its Xi'an inflator base in Xi'an Economic and Technological Development Zone, marking an expansion of its China and Asia-Pacific strategy.
3. Investment & construction: Total investment is €150 million; the project will build an approximately 3,636 m² industrial facility.
4. When (build plan): In 2026, the project will prioritize construction of SHI2/SHI3 hybrid inflator production lines and supporting equipment.
5. Output targets (after full ramp-up): Expected additional annual capacity of 4.10 million SHI2/SHI3 hybrid inflator and 1.80 million hood lifters; total annual inflator output at the Xi'an base is expected to exceed 21.00 million units.
6. R&D (how): The project will also establish a comprehensive R&D laboratory leveraging 60+ years of ZF LIFETEC's passive safety technology, covering material testing, structural strength testing, and prototyping, with a focus on next-generation hybrid inflator innovation.
7. Strategic role: The Xi'an base, established in 2010, is described as ZF's only production base in the Asia-Pacific region for this type of product, and will coordinate with 9 production bases and 5 R&D sites across Asia-Pacific.
Xiaomi HAD driver assistance upgraded with XLA cognitive large model
1. Who: Xiaomi Auto; Lei Jun (Xiaomi founder); Xiaomi intelligent driving team.
2. What: On March 18, Lei Jun said Xiaomi's HAD driver assistance system has been upgraded with the XLA cognitive large model, and the new SU7 will have it standard upon delivery across the lineup.
3. How (technical framing in the article): The upgrade is described as Xiaomi's first time connecting two task domains—driver assistance and embodied robotics—by introducing multimodal inputs and integrating Xiaomi's self-developed MiMo-Embodied foundation model to improve learning and understanding of complex scenarios.
4. Timeline claim: Lei Jun stated that over the past two years, Xiaomi's AD team has released three major versions of the HAD system, and that the iteration pace has covered what many peers took 5 or even 10 years to achieve.
5. Product timing: The new SU7 is scheduled to launch on March 19; Lei Jun said it is the result of two years of refinement and is improved in safety, driving control, intelligent experience, and luxury feel.
6. Other disclosed items: Xiaomi announced a high-performance intelligent chassis system named "Jiaolong Chassis" to debut on the new SU7, and said athlete Su Bingtian has become a Xiaomi Auto brand ambassador.
7. Upgrades mentioned (figures): Adds Capri Blue paint option (in addition to Gulf Blue); new 20-inch wheel design; tire specs adjusted to 245 mm front / 265 mm rear with wider rear tread; braking system includes standard front four-piston fixed calipers across the lineup, while the Max version adds Brembo calipers, drilled brake discs, and low-metal brake pads.
Chery posts RMB 300.287 billion 2025 revenue; net profit jumps 34.6%
1. Who: Chery Automobile.
2. What: On March 18, Chery released its 2025 annual results announcement.
3. Financials (figures): 2025 operating revenue was RMB 300.287 billion, up 11.3% year-on-year; profit attributable to owners of the parent was RMB 19.019 billion, up 34.6%. Gross profit was RMB 41.443 billion and gross margin was 13.8%, slightly higher than the prior year.
4. Sales (figures): 2025 cumulative sales were 2,631,381 vehicles, up 8%. By passenger-vehicle brand: LUXEED 90,493 (+56%), iCAR 96,989 (+47%), Jetour 622,590 (+10%), Chery 1,700,940 (+6%), Exeed (Xingtu) 120,369 (−15%).
5. Capital markets: The company said it listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Main Board on September 25.
6. Technology & roadmap: On October 18, Chery held a global innovation conference and released technology results including all-solid-state batteries, with a plan to complete the first batch of in-vehicle validation in 2027. It also announced plans to establish 26 overseas R&D centers in coming years.
7. Overseas business (figures): 2025 vehicle exports were 1.344 million units, up 17.4%, and the company said it ranked No. 1 among Chinese brands in complete-vehicle exports, while entering 15 European markets including the UK, Spain, and Italy.
