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BYD China Electric Electric cars eMobility eV Toyota bZ3 Toyota China

Toyota’s second pure EV started deliveries in China. bZ3 offers a 65 kWh battery and 241 HP, starting at 24,500 USD

bZ3 is Toyota outside and BYD inside. Price at dealer start even lower at 22,300 USD.

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China Electric eMobility eV Fund Raising Nio NIO Capital

NIO Capital invests in Chinese SiC chip maker

Qingchun was founded in March 2021, and the core team members have been involved in SiC semiconductor technology for over 20 years, according to NIO Capital.

(Image credit: NIO Capital)

NIO Capital has invested in a local Chinese silicon carbide (SiC) chip maker as it continues to expand its investments in the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry chain.

The company recently co-led a several hundred million yuan Series A+ round of financing for Qingchun Semiconductor (or SICHAIN), which will be used to improve the SiC chip maker's supply chain layout, expand its team and build mass production labs, according to a press release today.

Founded in March 2021, Qingchun's core team members have been involved in SiC semiconductor technology for more than 20 years and are one of the few companies in China currently capable of achieving world-class performance and reliability of SiC devices, according to NIO Capital.

The SiC chip maker is also one of the companies able to mass produce automotive SiC MOSFETs based on its production line in China, and its products have been used in new energy power generation and NEVs, according to the release.

Since its inception, Qingchun has made a series of significant advances in SiC device technology and product development, including the maturation of its 1200V SiC MOSFET platform technology and the mass production of multiple products.

The company launched the first 15V drive SiC MOSFET to be mass-produced in China, shipping nearly one million units to various industries, particularly photovoltaics and energy storage, according to the release.

Qingchun also launched the 1200V 14mΩ SiC MOSFET, which has the lowest on-resistance and is currently being validated by several vehicle companies, according to NIO Capital.

The SiC market is spacious and growing fast, with a wide range of application scenarios in areas such as NEVs, and Qingchun is one of the best startups in China for that, said Ian Zhu, managing partner of NIO Capital.

Earlier today, 's electric vehicle brand announced a long-term supply agreement with US chip maker Onsemi involving silicon carbide power devices.

Zeekr will use Onsemi's M3E 1200V EliteSiC MOSFET products to complement its expanding lineup of high-performance all-electric models, according to a press release.

The SiC module is an upgrade to the IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor chip) module, a third-generation power semiconductor with higher efficiency, higher temperature resistance and higher voltage characteristics.

The module will help upgrade the electrical architecture of NEVs from 400V to 800V and enable NEVs to charge from 0 to 80 percent in 10 minutes.

NIO Capital leads latest funding round in US-based suspension startup ClearMotion

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China Electric eMobility eV Fund Raising Nio NIO Capital

NIO Capital invests in Chinese SiC chip maker

Qingchun was founded in March 2021, and the core team members have been involved in SiC semiconductor technology for over 20 years, according to NIO Capital.

(Image credit: NIO Capital)

NIO Capital has invested in a local Chinese silicon carbide (SiC) chip maker as it continues to expand its investments in the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry chain.

The company recently co-led a several hundred million yuan Series A+ round of financing for Qingchun Semiconductor (or SICHAIN), which will be used to improve the SiC chip maker's supply chain layout, expand its team and build mass production labs, according to a press release today.

Founded in March 2021, Qingchun's core team members have been involved in SiC semiconductor technology for more than 20 years and are one of the few companies in China currently capable of achieving world-class performance and reliability of SiC devices, according to NIO Capital.

The SiC chip maker is also one of the companies able to mass produce automotive SiC MOSFETs based on its production line in China, and its products have been used in new energy power generation and NEVs, according to the release.

Since its inception, Qingchun has made a series of significant advances in SiC device technology and product development, including the maturation of its 1200V SiC MOSFET platform technology and the mass production of multiple products.

The company launched the first 15V drive SiC MOSFET to be mass-produced in China, shipping nearly one million units to various industries, particularly photovoltaics and energy storage, according to the release.

Qingchun also launched the 1200V 14mΩ SiC MOSFET, which has the lowest on-resistance and is currently being validated by several vehicle companies, according to NIO Capital.

The SiC market is spacious and growing fast, with a wide range of application scenarios in areas such as NEVs, and Qingchun is one of the best startups in China for that, said Ian Zhu, managing partner of NIO Capital.

Earlier today, 's electric vehicle brand announced a long-term supply agreement with US chip maker Onsemi involving silicon carbide power devices.

Zeekr will use Onsemi's M3E 1200V EliteSiC MOSFET products to complement its expanding lineup of high-performance all-electric models, according to a press release.

The SiC module is an upgrade to the IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor chip) module, a third-generation power semiconductor with higher efficiency, higher temperature resistance and higher voltage characteristics.

The module will help upgrade the electrical architecture of NEVs from 400V to 800V and enable NEVs to charge from 0 to 80 percent in 10 minutes.

NIO Capital leads latest funding round in US-based suspension startup ClearMotion

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BYD BYD Stock China Electric eMobility eV

BYD applies for dual counter trading on Hong Kong exchange

The dual-currency counter model will provide BYD shareholders and potential investors with a new trading currency option that could further enhance the liquidity of its shares, BYD said.

BYD applies for dual counter trading on Hong Kong exchange-CnEVPost

BYD Company Limited (1211.HK) has applied to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) for a dual-currency counter that would allow investors to trade its shares in RMB in addition to the Hong Kong dollar, according to a stock exchange announcement.

The move is intended to express support for the HKEX's introduction of a dual Hong Kong dollar-RMB counter model and the nationalization of the yuan, the new energy vehicle (NEV) giant said in the announcement today.

The HKEX said in December it would introduce the new dual-counter trading model starting in the first half of 2023.

Other companies listed in Hong Kong, including Baidu, Tencent, JD.com, and have also applied to the HKEX for dual currency counters.

The HKEX said last month that the dual-currency counter was introduced to further promote the internationalization of the yuan.

The dual-currency counter model will provide BYD shareholders and potential investors with a new choice of trading currency, enhancing trading convenience and flexibility while further enhancing the liquidity of its shares, BYD said.

With the launch of the dual-currency counter model, it will be possible for investors to purchase Hong Kong shares directly in RMB.

Previously, for investors participating in the Hong Kong-mainland stock connect mechanism, they had to bear the risk of exchange rate movements of RMB against Hong Kong dollar during their holding of Hong Kong stocks.

Introducing yuan pricing in the stock connect mechanism could reduce some of the exposure to exchange rate fluctuations in Hong Kong stock investments, CICC said in a research note last month.

It is also expected to allow the trading facility to attract more yuan funds, which in turn would boost trading activity and volume, CICC said.

BYD officially launches Seagull to expand its presence in China's EV market

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BYD BYD Seagull China Electric Electric cars eMobility eV

BYD Seagull hits the market for 10,700 USD, 6% less than what was announced last week

The price war continues in China; even hot&budget cars are not omitted. It's basically a 5000 yuan discount before deliveries even start.

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Electric eMobility eV

Tesla Model Y Now Priced Below US Average For New Car

The myth that EVs are very expensive is slowly but surely going away.
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Electric eMobility eV

Watch Hyundai Ioniq 5 Prototype Perform Crab Walk, 360-Degree Turn

Made possible by Hyundai Mobis' e-Corner System all-in-one package module of brake by wire, steer by wire, damper, and in-wheel motor.
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BYD BYD Seagull China Electric eMobility eV Product Launch

BYD officially launches Seagull to expand its presence in China’s EV market

BYD has officially launched the Seagull with a starting price of just RMB 73,800, after starting pre-sales of the Yangwang U8, which costs over RMB 1 million, last week.

BYD officially launches Seagull to expand its presence in China's EV market-CnEVPost

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

The price range covered by BYD's product array is seeing an unprecedented expansion, with the official launch of a new model priced as low as RMB 73,800 ($10,660), after the Yangwang U8 started pre-sales for more than RMB 1 million.

The Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) giant officially launched the micro battery electric vehicle (BEV) model BYD Seagull, the latest addition to its Ocean series, at a launch event today.

The car is available in three versions with starting prices of RMB 73,800, RMB 78,800 and RMB 89,800 respectively.

BYD unveiled the Seagull and started its pre-sales on the first day of the Shanghai auto show on April 18, with the three versions priced at RMB 78,800, RMB 83,800 and RMB 95,800 respectively.

The company's final pricing announced today means that the starting prices for all three versions are RMB 5,000, RMB 5,000 and RMB 6,000 lower than the pre-sale prices.

BYD officially launches Seagull to expand its presence in China's EV market-CnEVPost

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

The Seagull is an A0-class EV based on BYD's e-Platform 3.0 with a length, width and height of 3,780 mm, 1,715 mm and 1,540 mm, respectively, and a wheelbase of 2,500 mm.

The model is powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a maximum power of 55 kW and peak torque of 135 Nm, accelerating from 0 to 50 km/h in 4.9 seconds.

The vehicle is available in two range versions with blade battery capacities of 30.08 kWh and 38.88 kWh, which provide a CLTC range of 305 km and 405 km, respectively.

The BYD Seagull supports fast charging, taking 30 minutes to charge from 30 percent to 80 percent.

For BYD, the Seagull will likely be a model of strategic importance, especially when compared to the high-end Yangwang models.

Prior to 2020, BYD was targeting mainly the RMB 100,000 to RMB 200,000 NEV market, as there were huge barriers for local Chinese car companies to enter the mid- to high-end market at the time.

With the launch of the BYD Han in the second half of 2020, BYD began to gradually expand its presence in the RMB 200,000 to 300,000 range.

In the fourth quarter of last year, the BYD Han, which primarily targets the RMB 200,000 to 300,000 yuan range, sold more than 30,000 units each month.

As BYD gradually gained a foothold in the mid- to high-end market, the company began to move into the higher price range, announcing the Yangwang brand and the brand's first two models, the U8 off-road SUV and U9 supercar, on January 5.

On April 18, Yangwang started the pre-sales of the U8 at the Shanghai auto show, with a pre-sale price of RMB 1,098,000.

In addition to the Yangwang brand, BYD also has the Denza and the yet-to-be-launched F brand, targeting a market with prices above RMB 300,000.

The importance of the Seagull is that it allows BYD's products to cover a lower price range and thus a broader market than these premium models.

In 2022, the price range of RMB 100,000 to RMB 150,000 accounted for 6.68 million retail sales in China, contributing 33 percent of all passenger car sales, according to data released last month by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).

Models in the price range of RMB 50,000 to RMB 100,000 sold 3.84 million units at retail in China last year, ranking second with a 19 percent share, according to the CPCA.

The Seagull, currently BYD's lowest-priced model, is targeting a market that the NEV maker has not previously entered but has extensive space.

BYD officially launches Seagull to expand its presence in China's EV market-CnEVPost

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

The BYD brand's product array includes the Dynasty and Ocean series, with the former's lowest-priced model being the Qin, which starts at RMB 99,800, and the latter's Dolphin, which starts at RMB 116,800, before the Seagull was launched.

BYD sold 207,080 NEVs in March, including 40,850 units of the Qin family and 30,077 units of the Dolphin, data monitored by CnEVPost showed.

The Seagull's lower prices are expected to meet the demand of younger demographics as well as some families for a second vehicle, helping BYD reach its aggressive sales target this year.

BYD sold 1,868,543 vehicles in 2022, including 1,863,494 NEVs. The company discontinued production and sales of vehicles powered entirely by internal combustion engines in March 2022.

BYD aims to sell at least 3 million vehicles this year and will strive to reach 3.6 million, the company's chairman and president Wang Chuanfu said at an investor conference late last month.

BYD aims to become the No. 1 automaker in China by the end of this year, Wang said at the time.

The Seagull is expected to be another hot seller in the Chinese EV market, judging by its pre-sale performance.

The model received more than 10,000 orders 24 hours after pre-sales began, BYD said on April 19.

($1 = 6.9212 RMB)

BYD aims to sell at least 3 million vehicles this year

BYD Seagull key specs

Launch Price (RMB)73,80078,80089,800
Pre-sale Price78,80083,80095,800
Dimensions3,780×1,715×1,540 mm
Wheelbase2,500 mm
Max Motor Power55 kW
Max Motor Torque135 Nm
0-50 km/h4.9 seconds
CLTC Range305 km305 km405 km
Battery Capacity30.08 kWh30.08 kWh38.88 kWh
30%-80% Charging30 minutes

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China Electric eMobility eV Pony.ai Robotaxi Self-driving

Pony.ai starts offering robotaxi service in Guangzhou without safety officer in vehicles

This is the first such permit issued in Guangzhou, where Pony.ai's 17 robotaxis have been approved to provide robotaxi service without safety officers.

Pony.ai starts offering robotaxi service in Guangzhou without safety officer in vehicles-CnEVPost

(Image credit: Pony.ai)

Pony.ai, a Chinese self-driving startup backed by Toyota Motor and NIO Capital, has been granted a permit for robotaxi service without safety officers in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, after receiving a similar permit in Beijing last month.

This is the first such permit issued in Guangzhou, where Pony.ai's 17 robotaxis were approved to provide the services, according to a press release today.

Within 803 square kilometers of Guangzhou's Nansha district, passengers will have the opportunity to call a real driverless vehicle via the mobile app PonyPilot+, Pony.ai said.

During the ride, passengers who need remote assistance can communicate in real-time with backstage personnel in the vehicle by voice, the company said.

On March 17, Pony.ai announced that it had received a permit in Beijing to operate a fully unmanned robotaxi service within 60 square kilometers of the Yizhuang Economic Development Zone.

Founded in late 2016, Pony.ai has set up R&D centers in Silicon Valley, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai, and is running robotaxi operations locally.

In late 2019, NIO Capital said it invested in Pony.ai when it announced the completion of more than $200 million in fundraising. In February 2020, Pony.ai announced it had raised $400 million from Toyota.

Pony.ai starts offering robotaxi service in Guangzhou without safety officer in vehicles-CnEVPost

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

Pony.ai launched the robotaxi app PonyPilot in December 2018 and received a permit to operate the robotaxi service for a fee in Beijing in November 2021.

To date, Pony.ai has accumulated 21 million kilometers of autonomous driving, more than 1 million kilometers of fully unmanned testing and nearly 200,000 paid orders, it said today.

Baidu's robotaxi platform Apollo Go gets permit to offer fully driverless rides in Beijing

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Electric eMobility eV

From A V8 Camaro To A Nissan LEAF

Glenn Groves from regional Victoria shares his journey from a V8 Chevrolet IROC-Z Camaro to a fully electric Nissan LEAF via a Toyota Prius hybrid. He contacted me through the Nissan LEAF Facebook page. I have written about people’s love of the V8 Camaro previously. Glenn covers it from a previous owner’s perspective, and now […]