Gasgoo Daily: Volvo Cars celebrates 500,000th vehicle production milestone at Tāizhōu plant

With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Volvo Cars celebrates 500,000th vehicle production milestone at Tāizhōu plant

Volvo Cars' Tāizhōu manufacturing plant recently rolled its 500,000th vehicle off the production line — a milestone marked by the production of an all-new Volvo XC70 vehicle, according to a post the carmaker issued on Oct. 30 via its WeChat account.

Officially launched on September 26, the all-new XC70 is priced between 416,900 yuan and 496,900 yuan, with a limited-time promotional range starting at 269,900 yuan.

Volvo Cars emphasized that its Tāizhōu plant plays a crucial role in the company's global manufacturing network. Guided by the principles of safety, personalization, and sustainability, the facility operates under Volvo's unified VCMS production system, serving as a benchmark for intelligent, green, and high-quality vehicle manufacturing. The plant has also become a key hub for the implementation of Volvo Cars's global new energy vehicle strategy.

In terms of intelligent manufacturing, the Tāizhōu plant boasts 100% automation in its stamping line and operates 442 robots in its welding workshop. The paint shop achieves a 96% automation rate, while the final assembly line exclusively uses electric tightening tools that ensure every bolt's torque data is traceable for the vehicle's lifetime. The facility implements a seven-tier quality inspection system—from procurement to final assembly—employing advanced techniques such as ultrasonic weld testing, tear testing, and blue-light inspection to maintain world-class standards. Its adaptive welding system automatically adjusts parameters based on sheet thickness, guaranteeing consistency across all joints.

On sustainability, the plant achieved 100% carbon-neutral electricity use in 2021 and reached climate-neutral operations in 2024. It also pioneered closed-loop recycling for aluminum and steel without quality degradation and earned a three-star zero-landfill certification, becoming the first automaker in Zhejiang Province to do so.

Leapmotor C16 cumulative deliveries surpass 100,000 units

On October 30, Leapmotor announced that deliveries of its C16 SUV have now exceeded 100,000 units, maintaining its lead for 14 consecutive months among mid-to-large SUVs priced under 200,000 yuan.

The Leapmotor C16 made its market debut in June 28, 2024, and within the first 48 hours, pre-orders reportedly topped 5,200 units. Leapmotor rolled out the refreshed C16 of 2026 model year this June, offering both five-seat and six-seat configurations. The new model focuses on improving driving range, assisted-driving tech, and cabin comfort — core areas of competition in the Chinese EV market. Priced between 151,800 yuan and 181,800 yuan, the update brings more than 70 enhancements as the new model continued to target China's competitive mid-size SUV segment. 

Design-wise, the 2026 C16 keeps a familiar look that blends common EV styling cues — including a full-width light bar and flush door handles. It measures 4,915mm long, 1,905mm wide, and 1,770mm high, with a 2,825mm wheelbase. Most trims now feature roof-mounted LiDAR paired with Qualcomm's 8,650 driving-assist chip, replacing the Nvidia Orin-X used in the 2024 version. Leapmotor claims the system supports navigation-based cruise functions and memory parking in complex lots.

Gotion High-Tech launches Slovakia's first battery gigafactory

On the morning of October 28 local time, Gotion High-Tech officially broke ground on its battery gigafactory in Šurany, Slovakia — the country's first-ever project of this kind, according to a post on the company's WeChat account.

The Gotion Slovakia Battery Gigafactory, covering an area of 65 hectares in Šurany's strategic industrial park, is designed with an initial capacity of 20 GWh. Trial production is expected to begin in 2026, followed by full-scale operations in 2027. Most of the plant's battery output will be supplied to the European Union market. During its first phase, the facility is set to create approximately 1,300 new jobs for the region.

Cai Yi, President of Gotion High-Tech's Europe and Africa division, said the new gigafactory will supply batteries for the next generation of electric vehicles, strengthening the company's operational reach and market presence in Europe. He emphasized that leveraging local resources will enhance production efficiency and competitiveness, while providing critical support for Europe's net-zero transition and accelerating the development of a sustainable mobility ecosystem.

As one of the most significant new energy investments in Slovakia's history, the project is expected to attract a cluster of NEV supply chain companies to establish operations in the country. Gotion High-Tech's Chairman Li Zhen described the plant as a cornerstone for regional industrial growth, saying the company aims to make "Made in Slovakia" batteries a driving force for sustainable development and a symbol of harmony between technology and ecology.