OEM Trends | Automaker News
Jiemian News: On June 9, Avatr issued a statement addressing a rival's branding. "Today, we see a brand name on the market designed strikingly similar to ours," the company wrote. "We view this as an honor, but even more so as a warning: Chinese automakers cannot rely on 'Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V' tactics or return to the flawed path of 'reverse engineering.' Being imitated is the original creator's privilege, but driving the industry forward together is the duty Chinese brands must shoulder."
Cailian Press: On June 9, NIO-SW acknowledged that the U.S. Department of Defense had added it to the "Chinese Military Company" (CMC) list. The company stated it believes this inclusion lacks justification, emphasizing that it is neither a military enterprise nor a contributor to civil-military integration in China's defense industrial base. NIO noted that the CMC list is not a sanctions list; related U.S. government procurement restrictions will not impact its operations, nor does the listing restrict trading of its securities. The company said it will actively engage with the U.S. Department of Defense to correct the error, including taking legal action if necessary, to protect the interests of the company and its shareholders.
Gasgoo: On June 9, Saidou Technology announced its new automotive brand will be named "AIVA," with a launch event held later that evening. Saidou Technology was formerly known as Landian Technology, which completed a capital expansion and introduced multiple new shareholders in late May before rebranding.
IT Home: On June 9, ZEEKR announced that cumulative deliveries of its flagship ZEEKR 9X SUV have topped 60,000 units. The company noted that for every three vehicles sold in the 500,000 yuan price bracket, one is a ZEEKR 9X. The ZEEKR 9X launched in September 2025 with a starting price of 465,900 yuan.
Cailian Press: BYD Company Limited held its 2025 annual shareholder meeting. Chairman Wang Chuanfu stated that the company expects to maintain steady growth over the next three to five years. Bolstered by its second-generation Blade Battery, flash-charging technology, and new innovations launching next year, BYD aims to drive a dual-engine growth strategy at home and abroad, creating a virtuous cycle that brings Chinese technology to the world. Wang projected "significant growth" by 2030, adding that "five years from now, BYD will be truly number one globally in scale."
Fast Tech: A Xiaomi spokesperson recently addressed a fire involving a Xiaomi SU7 Ultra. On June 7, 2026, a SU7 Ultra caught fire on the Yingxiong Bridge in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province. Firefighters brought the blaze under control, and no injuries were reported. Xiaomi stated it contacted the vehicle owner immediately and will assist with the follow-up handling, having already reported the incident to regulators. On-site investigations and data analysis show the power battery was operating normally prior to the incident with no thermal runaway signals, initially ruling out battery self-ignition. The exact cause awaits confirmation from the fire department. Xiaomi said it will continue to monitor the situation and urged the public not to spread rumors.
Supply Chain News | Components
Gasgoo: Global industrial technology firm Aptiv recently unveiled its Advanced Occupancy Classification (AOC) system. It is the industry's first occupant detection solution powered entirely by in-cabin cameras. By eliminating traditional hardware embedded in seats, the system simplifies vehicle architecture while enabling a new generation of intelligent cabin features.
Gasgoo: Black Sesame Intelligent Technology recently signed a strategic partnership agreement with Shanghai SITIC Technology Venture Capital. Under the agreement, the two parties will integrate their strengths in R&D, capital deployment, industrial ecosystems, and cross-border resources. They will collaborate extensively on building an embodied intelligent robotics ecosystem and establishing a "World Robot Super Accelerator," aiming to create a Shanghai-Hong Kong innovation hub for embodied intelligence.
Cailian Press: Cao Cao Mobility plans to establish an independent AI division to fully implement its AI strategy and complete a critical transformation from a mobile internet company to an AI-native enterprise. Observers also noted that the company recently posted a job opening for a "Chief AI Officer," with responsibilities including formulating AI strategy and technical roadmaps, building core AI capabilities, and driving AI empowerment across the entire business chain.
Industrial Economy | Focus
Cailian Press: On June 9, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index closed down 0.37%, while the Hang Seng Tech Index rose 0.29%. Semiconductor stocks gained ground, with Hua Hong Semiconductor up more than 2%, SMIC climbing over 3%, and Iluvatar CoreX surging more than 11%.
Fast Tech: Data from Saudi Arabia's Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority shows the country imported approximately 1.9 million vehicles over the past two years, with China overtaking Japan as the largest source of imports. In 2025 alone, Saudi imports approached 960,000 vehicles. While U.S., Japanese, and Korean automakers historically dominated the top three import spots, Japan has now slipped to second place, and American brands have fallen to sixth with significantly shrinking market share. To reduce reliance on imports, Saudi Arabia is developing the King Salman Automotive City to localize manufacturing. The factory for Seer, the first local EV brand, and Lucid Motors' international factory have both settled there, with over half of locally produced vehicles exported to GCC member states.
Cailian Press: On June 9, CITIC Securities noted that the trend of democratizing smart driving continued throughout 2025. Estimates show the penetration rate of city and highway NOA in China's passenger vehicle market reached 14% and 15%, respectively, driving a surge in shipments of high-compute smart driving chips, LiDAR, and domain controllers—and boosting revenue for leading companies. Meanwhile, the commercialization of L4 autonomous driving accelerated, with multiple firms realizing economic benefits in benchmark projects as they work to scale operations and expand business models. Looking ahead to 2026, the supply chain is expected to further advance R&D and product launches, positioning the intelligent driving sector for continued gains.
Cailian Press: Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), recently stated that the auto market is expected to stabilize and improve in the third quarter before returning to a growth trajectory in the fourth. The decline in full-year retail passenger vehicle sales is projected to narrow to 11%, suggesting the market still holds recovery potential. "If the global situation stabilizes, commodity and oil prices return to reasonable ranges, and logistics costs fall, consumer confidence will gradually recover, leading to a sustained warming of the auto retail market," Cui analyzed.
Policy Dynamics | Regulations
Cailian Press: The Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce recently released an announcement adjusting the lottery method for the city's 2026 car trade-in subsidy program. The notice states that from June 9, 2026, to September 30, 2026, eligible individual consumers can register for an instant lottery daily between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. via the "Shanghai Commerce" WeChat account under the "Government Services - Car Trade-in Subsidy Application" portal.
Personnel Changes | Management
Gasgoo: Data from Qichacha shows that Seres Automobile Co., Ltd. recently underwent business registration changes, with Zhang Xinghai stepping down as chairman and Zhang Zhengping taking over the role. Several other key personnel changes also occurred. Notably, Zhang Zhengping had already delivered a speech as chairman of Seres Auto at the Future Automotive Pioneer Conference on May 29, where he outlined the philosophy, achievements, and future plans of the AITO brand.
