Focus on the Two Sessions
The Paper: On March 4, the 2026 Two Sessions opened. In an interview, Geely Chairman Li Shufu said the new energy vehicle industry must avoid cutthroat competition and focus on substantive growth.
Interface News: At the 2026 Two Sessions, XPENG Chairman and CEO He Xiaopeng submitted multiple proposals. He noted that the autonomous driving sector is a key track for cultivating "new quality productive forces" and driving the industry's transformation. As large models and high computing power are applied more deeply, AD technology is accelerating from a software-defined era to an AI-driven one. Meanwhile, UN and US regulations for L3+ autonomy are landing faster. China has a first-mover advantage in L2 combined assisted driving and is advancing ICV access and road pilots. He proposed pushing policy frameworks to leap from L2 to L4, converting China's L2 edge into a winning position in the L4 era.
Interface News: At the 2026 Two Sessions, Xiaomi Founder, Chairman, and CEO Lei Jun submitted five proposals, including optimizing vehicle driving tests. He hopes authorities will guide automakers to extend test coverage to intelligent features and steadily increase the weight of smart car content in exams, instilling a "human-machine collaboration" safety mindset in drivers.
OEM Trends
Interface News: On March 4, Volvo Cars said it will increase 2026 production of its all-electric EX60 SUV, citing strong demand in its home market Sweden and key markets like Germany.
Yicai: BYD will release its second-generation Blade battery and flash-charging tech on March 5. The first-gen, launched in 2020, fueled a high-growth cycle. With the second-gen coming, attention turns to whether BYD can again secure a first-mover tech advantage.
Gasgoo: On March 4, Avita PR Deputy Director Gao Quanli released February 2026 sales data. Sales hit 4,033 units that month, with overseas volume jumping 177% year-on-year, accelerating its globalization.
Fast Tech: Audi CEO Gernot Döllner recently confirmed the Concept C electric sports car will launch within two years. Breaking the industry's obsession with large screens, the interior returns to physical controls and features an infotainment system that folds into the dash. Audi also pledged to use higher-quality materials to address recent quality criticisms.
Fast Tech: Honda recently announced plans to import EVs made in China to Japan, starting as early as spring 2026. The exports will be based on the e:N brand launched in China in 2022, adapted for Japan. The first batch will be SUVs from Honda's Chinese joint ventures.
Supply Chain News
Gasgoo: At a HarmonyOS Mobility tech event on March 4, Huawei Qiankun launched a new dual-optical-path, image-grade LiDAR. It features the highest line count among mass-production sensors globally at 896 lines, debuting on the Zunjie S800 and AITO M9. Using a proprietary dual-optical-path architecture, it integrates receivers with different focal lengths for wide-angle and telephoto fusion. Vertical resolution is 4x higher, leaping from "point cloud" to "image grade" perception.
Gasgoo: On March 4, Schaeffler signed a strategic agreement with Leju Robotics in Suzhou. Leju becomes Schaeffler's first Chinese partner in embodied intelligence. They will collaborate on industrial applications, data training, and R&D to scale humanoid robots in manufacturing.
Gasgoo: TE Connectivity recently reached a deal to acquire strategic assets from Phoenix Contact E-Mobility. TE will buy the core business of Phoenix Contact's e-mobility unit, including EV charging interfaces.
Industrial Economy
CLSA: On March 4, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index dropped over 3%, and the Tech Index fell 2.5%. China Nuclear International slumped over 5%, Alibaba fell nearly 5%, and Bilibili, JD.com, XPENG, and NIO all dropped more than 4%.
CLSA: On March 4, MMLC battery-grade lithium carbonate (morning session) prices fell 7,000 yuan per ton from the previous day, with the midpoint at 152,700 yuan per ton.
Personnel Changes
Gasgoo: JJG Automotive Technology recently announced a management shake-up, appointing Liu Junshan as GM. Founder, Chairman, and Chief Engineer Yu Ping will step down as GM. Yu remains the controlling shareholder and will focus on strategy and R&D, while Liu takes charge of execution and daily operations.
