Gasgoo Daily presents a selection of the latest developments from China's automotive industry. Here are the key stories in this edition.
BYD Brings Flash Charging to Indonesia with New DENZA Models
BYD introduced its second-generation Blade Battery and Flash Charging technology in Indonesia, marking the technology's overseas debut. The announcement coincided with the launch of two new DENZA models, the D9 and the Z9GT, as BYD expands its electric vehicle lineup and charging services in the Southeast Asian market.
According to BYD, its Flash Charging technology can charge a battery from 10% to 70% in as little as five minutes, and from 10% to 97% in nine minutes under normal conditions. The system integrates energy storage with charging equipment and features a lightweight charging connector designed to make plugging in easier, as well as a plug-and-charge function.
To support the rollout, BYD plans to install Flash Charging equipment at 10 DENZA dealerships in Indonesia in the initial phase. The stations will be open to the public, providing an initial charging network before the company expands coverage further.
The new DENZA D9 comes equipped with the second-generation Blade Battery and Flash Charging technology, alongside upgrades to powertrain performance, driving range and comfort. The Z9GT, meanwhile, is built on BYD's e³ platform, extending the brand's premium electric vehicle offering in Indonesia.
Huawei-Backed Yinwang Teams Up with CATL on Automated Battery Swapping
Yinwang Intelligent Technology, a Huawei-affiliated smart vehicle company, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with CATL and its battery-swapping subsidiary, Contemporary Amperex Energy Service Technology, to develop an intelligent battery-swapping ecosystem for autonomous vehicles. The agreement was signed on October 19 and covers vehicle integration, swappable batteries and network development.
The three companies plan to connect vehicles, battery-swapping stations and cloud systems, using real-time battery data and drivers' travel patterns to predict energy needs and coordinate services. The proposed system would allow vehicles to determine when a battery swap is needed, locate a station, enter and align automatically, complete the swap in just 99 seconds, and drive away without human intervention.
The partnership brings Yinwang into CATL's Choco-Swap ecosystem. The companies will adapt participating vehicle models to work with the network, with the aim of expanding access to battery-swapping services for vehicles equipped with Huawei's Qiankun intelligent automotive solutions.
CATL's Choco-Swap network had 2,520 stations across 200 Chinese cities as of September 29. The company plans to expand the network to 30,000 stations and connect urban and highway coverage, although the announcement did not specify a timeline for reaching that target.
The deal highlights how Chinese companies are working to integrate automated driving with energy replenishment. By linking vehicle intelligence, cloud-based service coordination and battery-swapping infrastructure, the partners aim to make battery replacement faster and more convenient while extending the service network available to intelligent vehicles.
Schaeffler Opens Humanoid Robot Factory in China
Schaeffler opened a humanoid robotics factory in Taicang, Jiangsu province, on October 20, bringing robot-component manufacturing, robot training and industrial applications together under one roof. Spanning approximately 7,500 square meters, the facility is designed to help move humanoid robots from experimental projects into real-world manufacturing.
Six humanoid robots are already working on an assembly line producing joint modules for other humanoid robots. Across five workstations, they handle tasks including material handling, parts sorting, press-fitting, inspection and packaging. The setup marks a step toward a closed manufacturing loop in which humanoid robots help produce components for the next generation of robots.
The factory also includes dedicated training environments for industrial tasks such as visual inspection, material picking and component assembly. A digital-twin system connects robot training with production validation and process optimization, allowing Schaeffler to test and refine processes virtually before implementing changes on the actual production line.
The opening comes as Schaeffler expands its humanoid robotics business in China. The company said it secured orders from two new Chinese customers in the third quarter of 2026, bringing its cumulative global order intake in humanoid robotics to approximately €400 million. The Taicang facility will also serve as a platform for collaboration with Chinese robotics companies.
