OEM Trends | Auto Movers
IT Home: On January 25, Xiaomi founder, chairman, and CEO Lei Jun posted that the company is striving to get some demonstration units of the new SU7 Capri Blue into showrooms before the Chinese New Year holiday, giving customers a chance to experience them firsthand.
Gasgoo: Nissan recently announced it has reached an agreement with Chery Automobile South Africa, which will acquire its plant in Rosslyn, South Africa. Chery confirmed in a separate statement that it is acquiring the land, factory buildings, and supporting assets at the Rosslyn facility, including a nearby stamping plant that produces body components like doors.
Jiemian News: BAIC BluePark recently announced that its subsidiary, BAIC BJEV, plans to invest in the industrialization of high-end models at the Stelato super factory and upgrade the production line's digital intelligence. By upgrading key processes and equipment, the company aims to gain production capacity for the BE22 3.0 high-end platform while boosting flexibility, efficiency, quality, and smart manufacturing levels. The project carries a total estimated investment of 1.99 billion yuan.
Fast Tech: Press releases comparing the Arcfox T5 with the Deepal S07 have flooded various platforms recently, bearing the clear hallmarks of AI generation. Deepal CEO Jiang Hairong pledged to use legal channels to secure evidence and crack down on paid trolls. Meanwhile, Qiao Xinyu, deputy general manager of Arcfox's user operations center, stated that the brand has never engaged in malicious attacks. He warned that online bandwagoning and unverified reposts have damaged Arcfox's reputation, adding that the company reserves the right to seek accountability. Arcfox remains committed to Cyberspace Administration regulations, resists "black PR," and urges the industry to focus on product and technology.
Jiemian News: Tesla has rolled out a new purchase incentive. Customers who order a Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive, Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive, or Long Range All-Wheel Drive before February 28, 2026, and take delivery as per their order terms, qualify for a limited-time insurance subsidy of 8,000 yuan, which can be deducted from the final payment. The offer requires buyers to agree to the terms of the "Insurance Activity Subsidy Notice" upon delivery and purchase the required coverage from a partner insurer.
Zhongxin Jingwei (Economic View): A Li Auto insider revealed that the company plans to shutter inefficient outlets opened during its expansion phase, including unprofitable stores in shopping malls. "We are currently in the assessment phase, so the specific number of closures isn't clear yet," the source said. The closures will target retail centers, sparing after-sales service centers and authorized body and paint shops.
21st Century Business Herald: SAIC Volkswagen's first REEV model, the ID.ERA 9X, is rolling off the lines at its Ningbo plant—the hub responsible for its mid-to-high-end models. Currently in pre-production, progress has outpaced expectations. General Manager Tao Hailong recently visited the site for a personal inspection. The model is slated for a March launch, with export plans simultaneously in motion. In a separate move, SAIC Volkswagen has decided to discontinue further development of the Viloran, its flagship luxury MPV.
Components News | Supply Chain
Cailian Press: XPENG Vice President Gu Jie recently led a core team to Dong'an Auto Engine, where they were met by Deputy General Manager Zhao Xingtian and heads of R&D, marketing, quality, and sales. The two parties held in-depth discussions on advancing mass production projects and developing next-generation engine technology, ultimately reaching a consensus.
Cailian Press: Fujian Automobile Transportation Group Co., Ltd. and CATL have officially signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement in Ningde, Fujian. The partnership will focus on deep collaboration in vehicle aftermarket services, the construction of city-level battery-swapping networks, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology.
Gasgoo: Faurecia's smart cockpit project for new energy vehicles has officially landed in Changshu, Jiangsu province. The move marks a critical step for Forvia in deepening its presence in China and anchoring its position in the NEV race, set to accelerate the localization of smart cockpit technology. Once operational, the facility will focus on supplying high-quality complete seats to Chery New Energy, with annual output value expected to see a significant boost.
Gasgoo: At its annual technology exchange, EYOU Robot Technology unveiled three new product lines: the PHU enhanced harmonic integrated joint, the RHU humanoid harmonic integrated joint, and the RP humanoid planetary joint. Building on the PH series—which has seen over 100,000 units produced—the PHU is optimized for collaborative robotic arms and industrial automation. It features a Safe Torque Off (STO) function, compatibility with high-precision force control modules, and supports both CAN and EtherCAT communication protocols.
Industrial Focus | Economy
Cailian Press: Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), recently said that national passenger vehicle inventory stood at 3.65 million units at the end of December 2025. While this marks a drop of 140,000 from the previous month, it is an increase of 600,000 compared to December 2024, continuing a trend of year-end inventory drawdowns. The CPCA's forecasting team has grown increasingly pessimistic since February; pre-December optimism sat at 24%, with post-December satisfaction at 29%. Optimism for the January market has dipped to 14%—a low figure for manufacturers, who are hoping for stronger local subsidies. Based on inventory levels at the end of December 2025 and projected sales, the current stockpile covers 66 days of sales. Compared to 70 days in December 2023 and 46 days in December 2024, inventory pressure this December is relatively high.
Policy Dynamics | Policy Update
Beijing Daily: The fourth session of the 16th Beijing Municipal People's Congress opened at the Beijing Conference Center, where Mayor Yin Yong delivered the government work report. The report calls for the vigorous development of high-end industries. Plans include consolidating the real economy, expanding mass production for key integrated circuit projects, and building a high-level international pharmaceutical innovation park. The city will push forward key projects across the entire ecosystem—spanning green advanced energy, new energy vehicles, robotics, and commercial spaceflight. Additionally, Beijing aims to accelerate its development as a global digital economy benchmark, fully implement an "AI+" initiative, and establish a national AI application pilot base. The report also emphasizes building pilot zones for future industries, cultivating growth areas like 6G, quantum technology, and biomanufacturing, and upgrading traditional industries to drive digital and intelligent transformation in manufacturing.
Personnel Changes | Executive Moves
Jiemian News: NVIDIA disclosed in a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that Persis Drell resigned from the company's board of directors on January 20, 2026. Her departure from the board and its compensation committee is effective immediately. NVIDIA stated that Drell is stepping down to pursue new professional opportunities and emphasized that her resignation is not due to any disagreement with the company's operations, policies, or practices. Drell, a professor of materials science and engineering and physics at Stanford University, joined NVIDIA's board in 2015. The board currently consists of 10 members, including CEO Jensen Huang.
