OEM Trends | Automaker News
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, didn't mince words in a recent interview: range-extended electric vehicle (EREV) technology is "meaningless" in Europe. The comment comes as SAIC Volkswagen unveiled its first EREV SUV, the ID.ERA 9X, at a March 16 tech briefing. Set to open pre-orders on March 30, the car boasts 300 kilometers (186 miles) of pure electric range, with an on-board engine extending total travel by another 435 miles. Yet Volkswagen argues that while this setup suits China's smoother traffic, it struggles with Europe's complex road conditions and aggressive driving rhythms. On top of that, the cost of packing a large battery, motor, and internal combustion engine into one vehicle is simply too steep.
On March 26, Voyah CEO Lu Fang weighed in on the debate sparked by Great Wall Motor's WEY brand CEO, Zhao Yongpo, who recently suggested that "more LiDARs aren't necessarily better." Lu argued that visual perception is a form of "passive observation" vulnerable to environmental factors, whereas LiDAR actively detects physical distance; only by combining cameras and LiDAR can a reliable perception matrix be built. He noted that the "probabilities" calculated by pure-vision systems cannot replace the "truth" measured by LiDAR. Lu emphasized that while single or dual LiDAR units leave blind spots, a four-LiDAR setup provides a 360-degree view—a true safety net for users. Although adding sensors drives up costs, Lu insisted that safety isn't a cost-based multiple-choice question, but a mandatory answer regarding human life. For now, he considers four LiDARs the most responsible, optimal solution.
FAW Hongqi and Alibaba Cloud announced on March 26 that the Qwen Agent has been officially integrated into Hongqi's smart cockpit. The system will debut in the Hongqi HS6 PHEV. This milestone marks a substantive step in their partnership on AI large-model automotive applications, extending the Qwen Agent from lightweight terminals to the more complex environment of the vehicle, further driving the scaled adoption of full-scenario intelligent interaction.
IT Home: BAIC Motor Co. filed a notice with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange revealing that the company generated revenue of 164.05 billion yuan in 2025—a 14.8% drop from 2024—dragged down by fierce price competition and falling sales. Net profit attributable to equity holders slumped 87.2% year-on-year to 122.7 million yuan, while basic earnings per share came in at 0.02 yuan.
Supply Chain News
Gasgoo: Magna confirmed on March 26 that the GAC AION UT has officially entered production at its Graz plant in Austria. This marks the second GAC model to roll off the line there, following the AION V. The move deepens the partnership between GAC and Magna on localized European production, giving GAC fresh momentum as it expands its footprint in the European market.
Jiemian News: Pony.ai, autonomous mobility firm Verne, and global ride-hailing platform Uber announced a strategic partnership on March 26 to collaborate on commercial Robotaxi services. The alliance will integrate Pony.ai's autonomous driving system with Uber's global platform and Verne's service ecosystem. The trio is launching Europe's first commercial Robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, where initial deployment has already begun. The fleet is expected to grow to several thousand vehicles over the next few years. Road testing is already underway in Zagreb, utilizing BAIC Arcfox Alpha T5 Robotaxis equipped with Pony.ai's seventh-generation autonomous driving system.
Jiemian News: Corporate registry data from Tianyancha shows that Ganfeng Lithium Battery (Dongguan) Technology Co. has undergone a change in leadership and capital. Ge Qiaoyu stepped down as legal representative, replaced by Shen Haibo, while registered capital doubled from 200 million yuan to 400 million yuan. Founded in December 2015, the company—which handles battery manufacturing, sales, and energy storage services—is wholly owned by Ganfeng Lithium's Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Battery Technology Co.
Jiemian News: Tianyancha records indicate that GAC Components Co. has recently published a patent application for "an autonomous battery swapping system and method for humanoid robots." The abstract describes a setup using a robot and a mobile swapping cabinet to achieve unmanned, automatic battery replacement. The robot comprises a humanoid body and a mobile chassis housing the battery, while the cabinet features a mechanical arm. The invention aims to enable fully autonomous battery swapping and energy management in complex environments, enhancing the system's intelligence, adaptability, and ability to run continuously.
Industrial Economy Focus
IT Home: Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), wrote on March 26 that China's auto exports reached 1.55 million units in the first two months of 2026—a 61% surge from the same period in 2025. February alone saw 750,000 vehicles shipped overseas, up 79% year-on-year despite a 7% dip from January, indicating robust overall momentum. He also highlighted that new energy vehicle (NEV) exports hit 320,000 units in February 2026, jumping 120% from a year earlier, bringing the January-February total to 670,000 units—an 88% increase that underscores the sector's strong performance abroad.
CLS: At the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference on March 26, Chen Jianyu, founder of ROBOTERA, offered a timeline for when robots will enter households. He predicts that within 3 to 5 years, robots will be able to handle certain tasks, and within 5 to 10 years, they will manage most of them. "As for price, it needs to be acceptable to the general public. Like cars, there will be different tiers—high-end models with full functionality will cost more. But overall, the price range will be significantly lower than that of a car."
CLS: Data from the China Machinery Industry Federation shows a strong start to the year for the country's machinery sector, with production and investment picking up. Supply growth is accelerating, market demand is steady, and "new quality productive forces" are expanding, setting a robust tone for the economy. In the first two months of the year, value-added in all five major machinery categories increased year-on-year. General equipment manufacturing rose 8.9%, specialized equipment manufacturing climbed 8.8%, and auto manufacturing grew 3.4%. Electrical machinery and instruments posted gains of 8.7% and 7.8%, respectively. Overall, the equipment manufacturing sector saw value-added jump 9.3%, outpacing growth in all industrial enterprises above designated size by 3.0 percentage points.
Gasgoo: Shanghai OYMotion Technologies Co.,Ltd. announced on March 26 that it has closed a C1 financing round. The round was led by the Shenzhen Brain Science and Brain-Like Intelligence Industrial Investment Fund under CICC Capital, with participation from several existing shareholders.
Jiemian News: Tianyancha data reveals that Shanghai Roxintel, linked to the brand ROX, has increased its registered capital from roughly 1.7 billion yuan to 3 billion yuan—a rise of about 77%. Established in January 2021 with Chang Jing as legal representative, the company focuses on R&D for motor control systems, new energy vehicle sales, auto parts, and new materials. It is wholly owned by Roborock (Hong Kong) Limited.
Policy Updates
CLS: The General Office of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and the General Office of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government have issued the "2026 Action Plan for Promoting the Integrated Development of Manufacturing and Service Industries." The plan calls for cultivating cross-sector innovation scenarios, such as integrating marine engineering with marine ranching, renewable energy, and tourism to create "Marine Engineering+" applications. It also highlights an upcoming conference on AI and robotics application scenarios to explore human-machine collaboration in community and home settings, accelerate service robot iteration, and pilot smart elderly care robots. Furthermore, the plan outlines an "AI + Auto" strategy to expand internet-of-vehicles services. It encourages deep integration of light industries—textiles, furniture, and toys—with cultural creativity to boost branding and IP development, while promoting AIoT technology and full-scenario smart home solutions.
