OEM Trend | Auto Movers
Gasgoo: On May 14, Lu Fang, chairman of Voyah Automotive Technology Co., took to Weibo to highlight two market shifts grabbing attention: the historic breach of 60% in new-energy passenger vehicle penetration this April, and price hikes announced by more than 15 NEV makers. In Lu Fang's view, these converging trends validate a long-held prediction—that 2026 will be the decisive showdown between new-energy vehicles and internal combustion engines. The rapid replacement of traditional fuel cars is now an irreversible tide.
Gasgoo: On May 14, Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (FF) announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with RobotShop, a leading robotics e-commerce platform in North America. The company's Embodied AI (EAI) robots have officially launched on RobotShop's global platform.
Jiemian News: May 14. Honda Motor Co. reported sales of 21.80 trillion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2026, up 0.5% year-on-year, but booked an operating loss of 414.3 billion yen. Stripping out 1.45 trillion yen in losses related to its electric vehicle business, operating profit stood at 1.04 trillion yen. Looking ahead, Honda has projected EV-related losses of 500 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 2027, and expects operating profit—excluding EV losses—to hit 1 trillion yen in fiscal 2026.
Gasgoo: Recently, Xiong Tianbo, general manager of BYD's Fangchengbao, announced that the SHARK pickup will go on sale in China this year and be officially integrated into the Fangchengbao brand lineup, completing a "reverse import" strategy for this global model. As BYD's first global new-energy pickup, the SHARK isn't exactly new. It made its global debut in Mexico in May 2024, positioned as a luxury intelligent off-roader, before rolling out to markets like Australia and Brazil.
Gasgoo: Dongfeng Motor and COSCO SHIPPING recently signed a new strategic cooperation agreement in Wuhan, marking a step up in their partnership. The two sides will deepen strategic coordination in areas such as overseas logistics and autonomous port container trucks. This marks a significant upgrade from their initial collaboration in 2017, aligned with Dongfeng's global expansion goals.
IT Home: Reports suggest Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA), JAC Motors, Stellantis, and its Maserati brand are in talks to jointly develop new-energy vehicles under the Maserati marque. The proposed four-way partnership mirrors HIMA's existing "Five Realms" model: Huawei would lead product definition and supply core technologies, JAC would handle joint R&D and manufacturing, while Maserati would provide styling design and brand endorsement. The vehicles would be split into domestic and overseas versions—the former sold under the Zunjie brand, the latter wearing the Maserati badge. The first model is currently in the design phase, with mass production slated for the second half of next year.
Supply Chain News | Components
Jiemian News: Tenchen Controls said on May 14 that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Wuhan Tenchen, has been named the designated supplier for a passenger vehicle seat frame project by a renowned joint venture automaker. Production is set to begin in July 2027 with a five-year lifecycle and a total volume of 315,000 units. While the deal stands to boost the company's share in the passenger seat market, it does not yet constitute a binding order and carries risks of delay or modification.
Yicai: On May 14, Chen Qi, co-CEO of Qianli Intelligent Driving, took to WeChat Moments to quash rumors of his departure: "I'm still at the company, still fighting for Qianli. Thanks for the concern." Recent media reports had suggested Chen was preparing to leave to launch a startup in the embodied intelligence sector.
Gasgoo: On May 14, SiEngine and SEER Robotics, a platform-based embodied intelligence robotics company, formally signed a strategic partnership agreement. The two plan to build an integrated platform combining "automotive-grade computing power with industrial robot algorithms" for industrial automation and embodied intelligence. Their goal: to launch high-performance, reliable intelligent robot solutions for the global market that can be deployed rapidly.
Gasgoo: The first batch of prototypes for InfiMotion's smart high-voltage, high-integration e-drive project recently rolled off the production line. The project, formally signed in August 2025, is a joint effort between InfiMotion and Huishan Economic and Technological Development Zone. It represents a total investment of 3.3 billion yuan, with a planned construction area of approximately 60,000 square meters.
Industrial Economy | Focus
Cailian: On May 14, the China Automobile Dealers Association released data showing that used-car transactions in China reached 1.67 million units in April 2026, down 6.73% from March and 1.76% from a year earlier. Transaction value stood at 113.48 billion yuan. For the first four months of 2026, cumulative used-car sales hit 6.49 million units—a 2.93% year-on-year increase, adding 184,600 units compared to the same period last year. Cumulative transaction value reached 426.36 billion yuan.
Gasgoo: Zenbot, an embodied intelligence infrastructure provider, has recently closed an angel round nearing 100 million yuan. The round was co-led by family offices of precision manufacturing leaders—including Shenzhen Everwin Precision Technology Co.,Ltd., Kedali, and HAJIME TECHNOLOGY—with participation from L2F and Sirius Capital. Capital will be used primarily to iterate on its general embodied intelligence world model, scale mass production of third-generation GaN-driven core joint modules, and strengthen full-stack system design capabilities for large-scale product deployment.
Personnel Changes | Management Moves
Gasgoo: BMW Group announced a major leadership shake-up: Chairman Oliver Zipse is stepping down from the Board of Management as planned. Effective May 14, 2026, Milan Nedeljković will officially assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW Group, with a term set to run through 2031.
Gasgoo: On May 14, Pateo announced that Stefan Ortmanns, a veteran expert in conversational AI, has officially joined the company as Head of European Operations. He will be responsible for Pateo's strategic layout and business expansion in Europe, leading the local team to deepen localized operations and accelerate the company's globalization push.
