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China Electric eMobility eV Nio NIO ET5 Nio ET5 Touring Tesla

Store visit: First impression of NIO ET5 Touring before official launch

The ET5 Touring offers more trunk space while improving the high driver's seat that the regular ET5 was complained about. The key now is the price.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

NIO (NYSE: NIO) will hold a launch event for the ET5 Touring starting at 19:00 Beijing time on June 15, and the model is already allowing visitors to experience it in its stores before then.

As of June 10, the ET5 Touring show cars are available at 248 NIO stores in 48 cities across China. In Shanghai, where NIO's global headquarters is located, the model is already available at 10 NIO Houses and 15 NIO Spaces.

I went to one of the NIO Houses in Shanghai's Pudong New Area on Sunday, June 11 at around 9 am to check out the model and left at around 10 am.

The store is located in a large shopping district and the office hour start time was 10:00 am. Even though I visited before then, the store staff allowed me to enter.

NIO is one of the strongest local car companies in terms of abilities to build beautiful models, and the ET5 Touring is clearly another well-designed one.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

It's worth noting that photos of a car give a very different feeling than seeing it in person, and this applies to all models of all brands.

The gray ET5 Touring in the NIO House I visited has very natural body lines. In fact, a non-offensive exterior design is already the basis for a car that is acceptable to most people.

I don't want to discuss too much about its appearance, but you can get a general impression through the pictures in this article.

It should be noted that just a few years ago, for the average Chinese consumer, family cars consisted only of sedans and SUVs, and derivatives of sedans were not considered. You also hardly ever saw a gasoline-powered touring or shooting brake model on the streets of Shanghai.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

's premium electric vehicle subsidiary is the first of the local brands to try to tap into the sedan derivative market, announcing the all-electric Zeekr 001 shooting brake on April 15, 2021, with deliveries starting in October 2021.

The Zeekr 001 is Zeekr's first model, and it is a brave move to target an unproven market. The model delivered 11,337 units last December, bringing full-year 2022 deliveries to 71,941 vehicles.

The ET5 Touring, a derivative of the regular ET5 sedan, is equipped with the same powerful assisted driving hardware as NIO's other NT 2.0 platform-based models, including a roof-mounted LiDAR, and four NVIDIA Orin SoCs capable of delivering a total of more than 1,000 TOPS of performance.

One of the biggest attractions of the ET5 Touring compared to the regular ET5 is the larger trunk space. Such models give consumers the same driving experience as a sedan while gaining load capacity close to that of an SUV.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

The ET5 Touring is not yet available for test drives, and NIO will officially launch the model on June 15, with test drives available on that day.

For the regular ET5, many owners have complained about the high seating position in the driver's seat, which may be a deterrent for some potential customers to choose this model.

I got into the driver's seat of the regular ET5 at that NIO House and found that this issue was indeed apparent, especially when compared to my own Model 3 Long Rang, a 2020 purchase.

The regular ET5 feels very much like the driver is sitting in an SUV, even with the seat position cranked all the way down. For the Model 3, on the other hand, the appropriate seating position for me is with the seat height cranked to the middle gear.

NIO has obviously learned this lesson from the regular ET5, and the ET5 Touring driver's seat has a significantly lower seating position. The feeling of sitting in the ET5 Touring driver's seat is almost the same as when I drove my own Model 3.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

The ET5 sedan seems to have been experiencing demand issues after China's purchase subsidies for new energy vehicles (NEVs) expired at the end of last year, and the price will be critical for the ET5 Touring to make the ET5 family shine again.

Earlier today, NIO announced an RMB 30,000 ($4,200) price cut for the entire new model lineup, effective immediately, but the previously free battery swap service several times a month has become a paid option.

Under the latest pricing system, the starting price of the ET5, including the battery, is reduced to RMB 298,000. If consumers choose to lease the battery using the BaaS (battery as a service) option, the starting price of the vehicle is RMB 228,000.

For the ET5 Touring, many expect that its starting price in China, including the battery, will likely be RMB 10,000 to 20,000 higher than the regular ET5.

In addition to targeting the new sedan derivative market in China, NIO also hopes to sell the ET5 Touring in Europe, where such models have a higher acceptance.

A few hours after the ET5 Touring's China launch, NIO will hold a European launch event on June 16 at 1:00 am Beijing time (June 15 at 1:00 pm US Eastern time) to launch the ET5 Touring, as well as the EL6, known as the ES6 in China.

BREAKING: NIO cuts starting prices by $4,200 for all models and makes battery swap benefits optional

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(Image credit: CnEVPost)

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China Deliveries Electric eMobility eV EV Data Monthly Data Tesla

Tesla delivers 42,508 vehicles in China in May, taking 7.3% share of NEV market

ranked third in the CPCA's NEV retail sales rankings, with and in first and second place with 38.1 percent and 7.8 percent shares, respectively.

Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) retail sales in China in May were 42,508 units, ranking third in the country's new energy vehicle (NEV) market with a 7.3 percent share, according to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) on June 9.

That's up 332.65 percent from 9,825 units in the same month last year and up 6.39 percent from 39,956 units in April, according to data monitored by CnEVPost.

BYD's retail sales in May were 220,735 units, up 94.0 percent year-on-year, placing it first in the NEV market with a 38.1 percent share, according to the CPCA's ranking.

Tesla has a factory in Shanghai, its largest in the world, producing the Model 3 and Model Y, with an annual capacity of more than 1.1 million units.

Model 3 and Model Y breakdown sales figures in China are not yet available. Tesla's pattern is to produce vehicles in the first half of each quarter primarily for export and in the second half for the local market.

China's new energy passenger vehicle retail sales in May were 580,000 units, including 388,000 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 192,000 plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), data released by the CPCA on June 8 showed.

This means that Tesla's share of the BEV market in China was 10.96 percent in May, slightly higher than April's 10.8 percent. It had a slightly lower share of the NEV market in May than the 7.58 percent it had in April.

Tesla's Shanghai plant exported 35,187 vehicles in May, considering the CPCA said on June 5 that Tesla sold 77,695 China-made vehicles in May.

That export figure was up 57.51 percent year-on-year but down 1.95 percent from April, CnEVPost's calculations show.

In the ranking released yesterday by the CPCA, GAC Aion came in second with a 7.8 percent share of May retail sales at 45,003 units, up 113.7 percent year-on-year.

SAIC-GM-Wuling ranked fourth with a 6.3 percent share of May retail sales, up 13.7 percent to 36,253 units.

ranked fifth with a 4.9 percent share of May retail sales, up 146.0 percent to 28,277 units.

ranked sixth with a 4.4 percent share, Changan Auto ranked seventh with a 4.2 percent share, Great Wall Motor ranked eighth with a 3.6 percent share, Leapmotor ranked ninth with a 2.1 percent share and Auto ranked 10th with a 1.9 percent share.

CPCA rankings: Top-selling automakers in China in May

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China Electric eMobility eV Zeekr Zeekr X

Zeekr sees 1st production cars of Zeekr X roll off line as delivery nears

The first production vehicles of the X rolled off the production line today and will be shipped to stores in various cities, with first deliveries expected to begin in the middle of this month.

(Image credit: Zeekr)

Zeekr, 's premium electric vehicle (EV) brand, saw the first production vehicles of its third model, the Zeekr X, roll off the production line as deliveries approach.

The first production vehicles of the Zeekr X rolled off the production line today and will be shipped to stores in various cities, with first deliveries expected to begin in the middle of this month, Zeekr said.

On April 12, Zeekr launched the Zeekr X, a model it hopes will become the benchmark for luxury compact cars.

The Zeekr X comes in three versions, with one starting at RMB 189,800 ($26,670) and the other two at RMB 209,800.

The Zeekr X has been available for pre-order since its launch, and the model aims to deliver 40,000 units this year.

Zeekr was officially launched as a separate company in March 2021, and models currently on sale include the Zeekr 001 hatchback and the Zeekr 009 MPV, both of which are built at the company's plant in Ningbo, Zhejiang province.

The Zeekr X is not built in Ningbo, but at a Geely plant in Chengdu, Sichuan province, which CnEVPost visited in April and saw the highly automated production line.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

The plant that produces the Zeekr X incorporates advanced manufacturing technologies including 5G, AI, and industrial big data to drive product development with a digital twin, Zeekr said in a press release today.

The factory's smart manufacturing system has a rigorous, comprehensive, and high standard of quality testing to ensure the quality of the Zeekr X, the company said.

As the delivery of the Zeekr X enters its countdown phase, Zeekr's channel touchpoints are in full swing, it said.

(Image credit: CnEVPost)

As of May 31, Zeekr's direct stores are opening at an average rate of one store every two days and now cover 73 cities, including 304 stores, the company said.

Zeekr delivered 8,678 vehicles in May, up 100.42 percent from 4,330 vehicles in the same month last year and up 7.12 percent from 8,101 vehicles in April.

This is the fourth sequential increase in monthly deliveries for Zeekr, after a big drop in deliveries in January due to the shutdown of the Ningbo plant for upgrades.

Zeekr launches Zeekr X SUV to gain further share from market dominated by German luxury automakers

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China Electric eMobility eV Industry News Product Launch Smart Smart #3

Smart #3 launched in China, starting at $29,600

The Smart #3 is available in three regular versions and a limited edition, with a price range of RMB 209,900 to 289,900.

(Image credit: Smart)

Smart Automobile, 's joint venture with Mercedes-Benz, is making its second model since its electrification transition available in China, as it ramps up its efforts in the world's largest electric vehicle (EV) market.

Smart officially launched the Smart #3 in China at an event Thursday evening, with first deliveries set to begin this month.

The car is available in three regular versions -- Pro+, Pulse, and Premium -- with starting prices of RMB 209,900 ($29,586), RMB 239,900, and RMB 255,900, respectively.

In addition to these three versions, the Smart #3 is also available in a Brabus Performance version for RMB 289,900, but is limited to only 1,999 units.

The Smart #3 is a coupe SUV with a length, width and height of 4,400/4,542 mm, 1,844 mm and 1,556 mm respectively, and a wheelbase of 2,785 mm.

For reference, the Smart #1, the first production model after the electrification of the Smart brand, measures 4,270 mm in length, 1,822 mm in width and 1,636 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,750 mm.

This means that the Smart #3 will be longer and wider than the Smart #1, but lower.

The Smart #3 has two powertrain options, a single-motor version with 200 kW of peak motor power and a dual-motor version with 115 kW and 200 kW of peak front and rear motor power, respectively.

Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km/h is 5.4 seconds for the single-motor version and 4.3 seconds for the dual-motor version, and 3.6 seconds for the Brabus Performance version.

There are three range versions, with CLTC ranges of 520 km, 555 km and 580 km. The battery pack is a ternary lithium battery from CALB and Sunwoda.

The Smart #1 went on sale in China on April 25, 2022, with deliveries starting on September 24.

The model was designed by Mercedes-Benz, with the Smart R&D team leading the engineering development, and is based on Geely's SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) architecture.

Smart delivered 2,624 vehicles in China in May, down 40.23 percent from 4,390 in April, according to data it released yesterday.

Smart has delivered a total of 28,923 electric vehicles in China since last September, according to data monitored by CnEVPost.

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China Deliveries Electric eMobility eV EV Data Monthly Data Zeekr

Zeekr delivers 8,678 vehicles in May, up 7.12% from Apr

In the January-May period, delivered 32,013 vehicles, up 117.66 percent from a year earlier. The company is targeting about 140,000 deliveries this year.

Zeekr, 's premium electric vehicle (EV) brand, delivered 8,678 vehicles in May, up 100.42 percent from 4,330 in the same month last year and up 7.12 percent from 8,101 in April, according to data released today.

This is Zeekr's fourth sequential increase in monthly deliveries, after a big drop in deliveries in January due to a plant shutdown for upgrades.

In the January-May period, Zeekr delivered 32,013 vehicles, up 117.66 percent from 14,708 units in the same period last year, and the company is targeting to double its full-year deliveries this year to about 140,000 units compared to 2022.

By the end of May, Zeekr's cumulative deliveries since its inception stood at 109,961 vehicles, data monitored by CnEVPost showed.

Zeekr is currently delivering the Zeekr 001 shooting brake as well as the Zeekr 09 MPV, for which the company does not release breakout figures.

The average order amount for the Zeekr 001 is RMB 336,000 ($47,290) and RMB 527,000 for the Zeekr 009, it said.

The Zeekr 001 is currently offered in four versions with starting prices of RMB 300,000, RMB 300,000, RMB 349,000 and RMB 386,000, respectively. The Zeekr 009 is currently offered in two versions with starting prices of RMB 499,000 and RMB 588,000, respectively.

Zeekr was officially established as an independent company in March 2021, and its first model, the Zeekr 001, was launched on April 15, 2021, with deliveries beginning in October 2021.

On November 1, 2022, Zeekr's second model, the Zeekr 009 MPV, was launched, and its deliveries began on January 15.

On April 12, Zeekr launched its third model, the Zeekr X, which it hopes will become the benchmark for luxury compact cars.

The Zeekr X comes in three versions, one starting at RMB 189,800 and the other two at RMB 209,800.

The Zeekr X is taking reservations and deliveries will begin in June, with the model aiming to deliver 40,000 units this year.

($1 = RMB 7.1057)

Zeekr releases Europe strategy, 2 models to debut in Sweden and Netherlands in Q4

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China Electric eMobility eV Geely Geely Galaxy Geely Galaxy L7

Geely Galaxy launches 1st model L7 to gain share in hybrid market

The Galaxy L7 is available in five versions with a starting price of RMB 138,700, or about $19,500.

(Image credit: Geely Galaxy)

Geely Galaxy, the new energy vehicle (NEV) sub-brand of Geely Auto Group, has made its first model, the L7, available to gain share from the plug-in hybrid market.

Geely Galaxy officially made the L7 available in China at a launch event yesterday, offering five versions with starting prices of RMB 138,700 ($19,500), RMB 143,700, RMB 153,700, RMB 163,700, and RMB 173,700, respectively.

The Geely Galaxy L7 is a hybrid SUV with a length, width and height of 4,700 mm, 1,905 mm and 1,685 mm, respectively, and a wheelbase of 2,785 mm.

Based on the e-CMA architecture, the vehicle is powered by a 1.5T four-cylinder engine with a combined maximum system power of 287 kW and a combined maximum torque of 535Nm and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds.

The Geely Galaxy L7 has two battery range options, with a CLTC pure electric range of 55 km and 115 km respectively. The model has a combined range of up to 1,370 km on full fuel and full charge.

The car is powered by a 1.5T engine with a thermal efficiency of 44.26 percent, ranking first among known production engines, said Geely Galaxy.

The Geely Galaxy L7 supports fast charging and external discharge, taking 30 minutes to replenish energy from 30 percent to 80 percent.

The vehicle uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, the cockpit chip currently used in mainstream flagship electric vehicles in the Chinese market.

First deliveries of the L7 will begin on June 13, Geely Galaxy said.

Geely Auto Group officially launched the new Geely Galaxy brand on February 24 and unveiled its first production model, the L7.

Geely Galaxy plans to launch a total of seven models by 2025, including four plug-in hybrids in the L-series and three all-electric models in the E-series.

Geely Galaxy will launch the L6 in the third quarter of 2023, the L5 in the second quarter of 2024, and will launch the L9 in 2025.

In the all-electric product sequence, Geely Galaxy will launch the Galaxy E8 in the fourth quarter of 2023, the Galaxy E7 in the second quarter of 2024, and the Galaxy E6 in the third quarter of 2024.

Geely Auto Group CEO Gan Jiayue said in January that the group's sales target for 2023 is 1.65 million vehicles, including 600,000 NEVs.

Geely Auto Group sold 1.43 million vehicles in 2022, up 8 percent from a year earlier, including about 330,000 NEVs, according to data monitored by CnEVPost.

In April, the group sold 113,642 vehicles, up 3 percent from 110,300 in March, according to data it released last month.

($1 = RMB 7.1116)

Geely Galaxy brand officially launched, to roll out 7 models by 2025

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China Electric eMobility eV Geely Geely Thailand

Geely reportedly plans to enter Thailand EV market

is in the early stages of planning its entry into Thailand's EV market, including weighing imported and locally made models, Reuters reported.

(A car displayed by Geely's Livan brand at the Shanghai auto show in April 2023. Image credit: CnEVPost)

Thailand is a key stop for Chinese automakers as they expand internationally, with Geely reportedly becoming the latest to target that Southeast Asian market.

Geely is in the early stages of planning its entry into Thailand's electric vehicle (EV) market, including weighing imported and locally built models, Reuters reported today, citing two people familiar with the matter.

Considerations include whether to sell entry-level EVs in Thailand, as well as an electric pickup truck under its new Radar brand, the people said.

Thailand's Board of Investment held discussions with five major Chinese automaker makers, including Geely, during a road show in China in April, the report said, citing Narit Therdsteerasukdi, the board's secretary general.

The other companies are , Changan Automobile, JAC Motors and Jiangling Motors, according to the report.

Discussions with Geely have faced additional complications because the company has given working-level autonomy to brand-level operating groups such as Geometry and Radar, the report said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Geely needs to decide what models to bring to Thailand, and its review includes the possibility of building a plant in Thailand, according to the report.

Geometry, an EV brand Geely launched in 2019, sold 57,877 units in the January-April period, up 73.54 percent year-on-year, according to data monitored by CnEVPost.

Radar, Geely's outdoor lifestyle brand unveiled in July 2022, launched its first model, the RD6 electric pickup, in China in November 2022.

The Thai government's goal is that EV production is expected to account for 30 percent of total vehicle production by 2030.

The country hopes to become a major EV hub in Southeast Asia, which provides an opportunity for Chinese automakers.

On March 10, BYD broke ground on its plant in Thailand, when the company held a ceremony to deliver the 9,999th and 10,000th BYD Atto 3s.

BYD's plant is expected to start production in 2024 with an annual capacity of about 150,000 units.

Hozon Auto's brand also broke ground on a plant in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 10, which will be its main manufacturing base for building right-hand drive electric vehicles for export to ASEAN.

In addition to car companies, major suppliers in China's EV industry chain are also targeting the Thai market.

Gotion Singapore, a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen-backed Chinese power battery giant Gotion High-tech, signed an agreement with Thailand's Nuovo Plus Company Limited on December 15, 2022, to set up a joint venture, according to a bourse announcement at the time.

The two parties plan to establish a joint venture company, NV Gotion Co Ltd, in Thailand to build a power lithium-ion battery pack production base, according to Gotion's announcement.

On May 13, 2022, announced that it had signed a strategic cooperation memorandum with Thailand's Arun Plus to cooperate on battery-related businesses in the ASEAN region.

On May 3 of this year, a Reuters report said that Thailand was in talks with CATL and other battery manufacturers to build production facilities in the Southeast Asian country.

Geely Holding becomes 3rd largest shareholder of Aston Martin, increases stake to 17%

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Astroinno Battery Battery News Battery Tech China Electric eMobility eV Gotion

Gotion unveils new battery based on LMFP chemistry with range up to 1,000 km

The pack is based on Gotion's new L600 LMFP cells with an energy density of 240 Wh/kg and will be in mass production in 2024.

(Astroinno Battery. Image credit: Gotion High-tech)

Several Chinese power battery makers have previously announced batteries with ranges of up to 1,000 km, but all are based on nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) ternary materials.

Now Gotion High-tech has unveiled a new battery technology, which claims to be able to achieve a range of 1,000 km even without the use of expensive ternary materials.

Hefei, Anhui-based Gotion unveiled its L600 LMFP battery cells based on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and a battery pack called Astroinno Battery at its 12th technology conference today.

The L600 LMFP cells have an energy density of 240 Wh/kg, or 525 Wh/L. The cells support 4,000 cycles at room temperature and 1,800 cycles at high temperature, according to the company.

A battery system based on the L600 LMFP cell could have an energy density of 190 Wh/kg, which is higher than the energy density of packs based on ternary chemistry systems that are in mass production now, Gotion said, adding that the new cell will be in mass production in 2024.

The energy density growth of mass-produced LFP cells has faced a bottleneck, and further improvements require chemical system improvements, so the LFP solution with manganese addition was born, said Cheng Qian, Gotion's executive president of international operations.

Gotion unveiled the Astroinno Battery based on L600 LMFP cells, saying that the pack uses a sandwich structure with double-sided liquid cooling technology and minimalist design, resulting in a 45 percent reduction in the number of structural components and a 32 percent reduction in the weight of structural components.

The minimalist electrical design thinking makes the pack's wiring harness length only 26 percent of the previous one, from the original 303-meter harness down to 80 meters, with a volumetric grouping efficiency of 76 percent, according to the company.

The pack has an energy density of 190 Wh/kg, surpassing the energy density of ternary batteries currently on the market, Gotion said.

Gotion is not the first manufacturer to release a 1,000-km range battery pack, but it is the first to achieve that range based on the LFP chemistry system.

, China's largest power battery maker, unveiled Qilin Battery, or CTP (cell to pack) 3.0, on June 23, 2022, claiming an energy density of up to 255 Wh/kg to support a vehicle with a 1,000km range.

The Qilin Battery is an innovation in battery structure, not a chemical system, and a 1,000 km range battery pack requires NCM chemistry.

The first Qilin Battery with a 1,000 km range is the 001 of Zeekr, a premium electric vehicle brand of , and deliveries of the model with this range have already started on May 16.

On April 21, Svolt Energy, which was spun off from Great Wall Motor, made the real-life debut of its Dragon Armor Battery at the Shanghai auto show.

Dragon Armor is also an innovation in battery pack structure without involving battery chemistry.

Svolt Energy said that the Dragon Armor Battery with LFP cells could have a range of more than 800 kilometers, while such batteries with ternary cells could have a range of more than 1,000 kilometers.

Gotion installed 1.18 GWh of power batteries in China in April, ranking fifth with a 4.68 percent share, according to the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA).

In the LFP market, Gotion ranked fourth with a 6.17 percent share in April.

Gotion posts 135% year-on-year profit growth in Q1, site for US battery plant nears finalization

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Aston Martin China Electric eMobility eV Geely

Geely Holding becomes 3rd largest shareholder of Aston Martin, increases stake to 17%

In September 2022, Holding spent about £66 million to acquire a 7.60 percent stake in Aston Martin.

(Image credit: Aston Martin)

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding), China's largest private automaker, has increased its stake in Aston Martin, becoming the third largest shareholder in the ultra-luxury car brand.

Geely Holding has committed to contribute about £234 million to acquire about 42 million existing ordinary shares in Aston Martin from Yew Tree Consortium at a price of 335 pence per share and to subscribe for about 28 million new shares at the same price, according to an announcement made by the ultra-luxury British performance brand on the London Stock Exchange today.

The transaction price represents a 45 percent premium to Aston Martin's closing price per ordinary share on May 17.

Upon completion of the transaction, Geely Holding's stake in Aston Martin will increase to about 17 percent, making it the third largest shareholder behind Yew Tree Consortium's 21 percent and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund's 18 percent.

Geely Holding has agreed to cease acquiring any ordinary shares that would result in its total holding in Aston Martin exceeding 22 percent by August 1, 2024, according to the announcement.

"Geely Holding, who initially became a shareholder last year, sees tremendous potential for Aston Martin's long-term growth and success. They offer us a deep understanding of the key strategic growth market that China represents, as well as the opportunity to access their range of technologies and components," said Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin's executive chairman of the board.

In September 2022, Geely Holding spent about £66 million to acquire a 7.60 percent stake in Aston Martin.

Geely has completed a number of acquisitions of foreign automakers in recent years.

In 2006, Geely acquired a 19.97 percent stake in Manganese Bronze, the maker and owner of classic black cabs in London, and in 2013, Geely acquired the business and core assets of the company.

In 2010, Geely acquired Volvo, and in 2017, Geely acquired a 51 percent stake in Lotus Cars, a British luxury sports and racing car brand.

"Our decision to increase our shareholding in Aston Martin reflects our confidence in the company's growth prospects, its technologies and its management team," said Eric Li, Geely Holding Group chairman, according to Aston Martin's announcement.

Aston Martin sold 6,412 vehicles globally in 2022, up about 4 percent from a year earlier, with about 50 percent of those being the four-door crossover DBX line.

It currently has four models on sale in China, including the coupe Vantage, DB11 and DBS, as well as the DBX.

Chinese auto giants Geely and Changan sign strategic cooperation deal

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CATL China Electric eMobility eV Qilin Battery Zeekr Zeekr 001

Zeekr starts delivery of Zeekr 001 with CATL Qilin Battery, CLTC range up to 1,032 km

Deliveries of the Zeekr 009 MPV with Qilin Battery had begun on April 17.

(Image credit: Zeekr)

Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle (EV) brand of , started the delivery of the Zeekr 001 shooting brake model with CATL Qilin Battery, after starting the delivery of the Zeekr 009 MPV with the battery pack a month ago.

Deliveries of the WE version of the Zeekr 001 with the optional 140 kWh Qilin Battery began today, and the 1,032 km CLTC range makes the model the longest production EV in the world, Zeekr said in a press release.

The Zeekr 001's range addresses the mileage anxiety that plagues users and will allow them to enjoy a hassle-free travel experience, Zeekr said.

Zeekr was officially launched as an independent company in March 2021, with its first model, the Zeekr 001, launched on April 15, 2021, and deliveries beginning in October 2021.

On November 1, 2022, Zeekr's second model, the Zeekr 009 MPV, was launched, and its deliveries began on January 15.

On April 12 of this year, Zeekr launched its third model, the Zeekr X, which it hopes will become the benchmark for luxury compact cars.

CATL launched the Qilin Battery, or CTP (cell to pack) 3.0 battery, on June 23rd last year, claiming that its energy density can reach 255Wh/kg and can support the vehicle to achieve a range of 1,000 km.

On August 27 last year, Zeekr and CATL announced that the Zeekr 009 will be the world's first vehicle to be equipped with the Qilin Battery, while the Zeekr 001 will use the ultra-long range version of the Qilin Battery and will be the world's first production vehicle to be equipped with the 1,000 km range Qilin Battery.

On January 1, Zeekr launched the 2023 Zeekr 001, offering four base versions, including two WE versions, one ME version and one YOU version.

Zeekr offers a 140-kWh Qilin Battery option for the single-motor WE version with a 100-kWh battery pack, allowing the CLTC range to reach 1,032 km.

However, the Qilin Battery option is limited to only 1,000 units, and consumers will have to pay an additional RMB 103,000 ($14,790), meaning the Zeekr 001 with a range of more than 1,000 km will start at RMB 403,000.

On April 17, Zeekr announced that deliveries of the Zeekr 009 MPV with the CATL Qilin Battery begun.

Zeekr delivered 8,101 vehicles in April, up 279.08 percent from 2,137 in the same month last year and up 21.58 percent from 6,663 in March, according to data released earlier this month.

($1 = RMB 6.9653)

Zeekr begins delivery of Zeekr 009 MPV powered by CATL Qilin Battery

The post Zeekr starts delivery of Zeekr 001 with CATL Qilin Battery, CLTC range up to 1,032 km appeared first on CnEVPost.

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