Yi Song
Articles by this author on 42HOW Auto, including co-authored stories.
NIO and Geely Holding Group Announce Strategic Charging and Battery Swap Partnership
On September 28, 2026, NIO and Geely Holding Group announced a comprehensive strategic partnership in the charging and battery swap sector. Geely will acquire a 30% stake in NIO Energy through equity and cash investment, while NIO will take a 10% stake in Haohan Energy, with both parties agreeing to interconnect their charging resources and develop unified standards for consumer-facing battery swap services.
NIO ES9 Pre-Prices Start at RMB 420,000 for Battery-as-a-Service Version
With pre-prices starting at RMB 420,000 for the battery-as-a-service (BaaS) version and RMB 528,000 for the buyout version, NIO’s new ES9 flagship SUV aims to bring full active suspension technology below the RMB 500,000 mark while showcasing the company's integrated hardware and design strategy.
Is Anyone Else in the Autonomous Driving Industry Pursuing Cost Efficiency Besides Tesla?
Zhuoyu has launched the first mass-produced cabin-driving integration solution based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8775 platform on the Arcfox Alpha T5. The system reduces bill-of-materials costs to under RMB 10,000 while maintaining automotive-grade safety standards through QNX and AUTOSAR architecture.
Former Flyme Auto PM Xiao Shuai on CarPlay Ultra’s Impact at Aston Martin
Aston Martin and Apple unveiled CarPlay Ultra, but early adoption in the DBX reveals limitations in dashboard customization and data access. Former Flyme Auto product manager Xiao Shuai discusses whether this next-generation system can drive innovation in China's competitive smart vehicle market.
Changan and Dongfeng Parent Companies Plan Restructuring as China Imposes Tariffs on U.S. Imports
State-owned automakers Changan and Dongfeng announced on February 10 that their parent companies are planning a restructuring, while China imposed new tariffs on select US imports including large-displacement vehicles. Meanwhile, multiple Chinese carmakers have integrated the DeepSeek AI model into their smart cockpits.
Lynk & Co Z10 Launches at RMB 196,800 to Define Brand's Electric Future
Lynk & Co has launched the Z10 electric sedan with a starting price of RMB 196,800, featuring an 800V architecture, advanced driver assistance, and a new AMD-based infotainment platform. The model aims to establish Lynk & Co's presence in the competitive mid-size EV market.
NIO Unveils County-Wide Charging and Swapping Network Plans at Wuhan Energy Day
At its first 'Charging Day' in Wuhan, NIO announced the 'County-to-County' infrastructure strategy and a partner program to expand charging and battery-swapping stations nationwide, supported by a new manufacturing hub and strategic investment from Wuhan.
2025 Zeekr X Launches; World Artificial Intelligence Conference Opens; All-New Electric MINI Cooper Arrives | E Week Highlights
Zeekr has launched the 2025 Zeekr X starting at RMB 179,000 with updated design and performance. At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, SenseTime demonstrated its DriveAGI autonomous driving model, while NIO presented its vehicle-to-grid energy strategies.
Jiyue 01 Cabin Review: Voice Control and SR Navigation Lead 42Mark Rankings
The Jiyue 01 achieves top rankings in 42Mark's cabin evaluation, distinguished by industry-leading voice response times and innovative SR-based navigation fusion, despite a limited third-party app ecosystem.
Li Auto Reports Q3 Revenue Growth With Zero Cash; Huawei Launches Zhijie S7 Pre-sale; AVATR 12 Goes Global; Volvo Unveils EM90
Li Auto posted Q3 revenue of RMB 34.68 billion but reported zero cash reserves. Huawei started pre-sales for the Zhijie S7 at RMB 258,000, while AVATR 12 launched globally from RMB 300,800 and Volvo unveiled its first electric MPV, the EM90, priced at RMB 818,000.
September Deliveries Released; AITO M7 Daily Orders Surge; DENZA N7 High-Speed NOA Package Available | E-Week Highlights
AITO M7 recorded over 7,000 daily orders following a price adjustment, while BYD, Li Auto, and NIO reported strong September deliveries. DENZA announced that the N7 can now be equipped with a highway-focused autonomous driving package powered by NVIDIA DRIVE Orin.
Li Auto Reports Record Q2 Revenue and Deliveries; Baojun Cloud Debuts; Tesla Cuts Prices
Li Auto posted second-quarter revenue of RMB 28.65 billion and record deliveries exceeding 30,000 units for the first time. Meanwhile, Baojun unveiled its new Cloud EV model, and Tesla announced limited-time price reductions on Model 3 and Model Y.