Latest from 42HOW
Auto · AUTONOMOUS DRIVING8:20Can the New AVATR 12 Climb Chongqing's 'Akina' Mountain Roads at Night?
42HOW Auto tests the new AVATR 12 on Chongqing's winding 'Akina' mountain routes after dark, evaluating its handling and autonomous driving capabilities with the newly introduced 896-line LiDAR.
Auto · NEW CARS & MARKET SIGNALSLotus For Me: A 'Compromise' for the Obsessive?
Lotus has launched the For Me, a plug-in hybrid SUV featuring a 2.0-liter turbo engine and dual motors producing 952 Ps. Priced at RMB 528,000 to RMB 588,000, it introduces plug-in hybrid power to the brand’s current electrification strategy.
Auto · CHINA EVNIO Reports First Quarterly Profit After Seven Years, Revenue Hits Record High
NIO posted a net profit of RMB 283 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking its first quarterly profit since listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The company also reported record revenue of RMB 34.65 billion and a gross margin of 17.5%, while setting an annual Non-GAAP profitability target for 2026.
Robotics · ROBOTICSXiaomi Robots Begin Factory Internships; Magic Atom Founder Departs; PI Unveils Memory Model
Xiaomi robots begin factory internships with 90.2% success rates; Magic Atom founder Wu Changzheng resigns as the company restructures leadership; PI releases MEM to extend robot task duration; Galactic Robotics secures 2.5 billion RMB in new funding.
Robotics · INDUSTRYSimplexity Robotics Raises RMB 2 Billion in Six Months to Become Embodied AI's Youngest Unicorn
Simplexity Robotics has completed 5 rounds of financing totaling 2 billion RMB in under six months, becoming the youngest unicorn in the embodied AI sector. Backed by Tencent and Alibaba, the team features ex-Li Auto executives focusing on mass production.
Auto · CHINA EV9 Minutes to Full Charge, 20,000 Self-Built Stations by Year-End: How BYD Is Disrupting Electric Vehicles
BYD has launched its second-generation Blade battery with flash charging technology, claiming a 97% charge in just nine minutes. The company also announced plans to build 20,000 flash-charging stations by year-end to support the rollout of ten new models.
Auto · VIDEO & ROAD TESTS12:10Helicopter Versus Car Race: Which Reaches the Finish Line First?
A comparison of a helicopter and a car in a speed challenge to determine which vehicle arrives at the destination first.
Auto · NEW CARS & MARKET SIGNALSHuawei's 2026 Start: 896-Line LiDAR Goes to Production, SAIC SHANGJIE Z7 Launches This Month
Huawei has officially released its new 896-line dual-optical path image-level LiDAR, available as an option on the Maextro S800 and Aito M9. The company also unveiled the SAIC SHANGJIE Z7 and Z7T shooting brake models, which are scheduled for official launch at the end of the month.
Robotics · INTERVIEWSFigure CEO predicts robot industry consolidation into few giants, claims two-year lead
Figure CEO Brett Adcock discusses the necessity of closed-loop control, vertical integration, and mass production in his first comprehensive interview since releasing the Helix 2 model.
Auto · NEW CARS & MARKET SIGNALS1:39Dreame's 'Starry Sky Plan' for Automotive Entry: The Logic Behind Its Global Marketing Blitz
Amid its aggressive global marketing strategy described as a 'blitzkrieg,' Dreame is advancing its automotive ambitions through the Starry Sky Plan, raising questions about the business logic driving this expansion.
Auto · AUTONOMOUS DRIVING47:48What Defined the 2025 Driver Assistance Landscape?
An overview of the key developments and technological shifts that shaped the driver assistance sector in 2025.
Auto · AUTONOMOUS DRIVING10:15From Driver Assistance to Automatic Parking, the Hongqi HS6 Has Plenty of Surprises
From Driver Assistance to Automatic Parking, the Hongqi HS6 Has Plenty of Surprises
Auto · CHINA EV2:58Why Battery Swapping Is the Preferred Winter Charging Solution
An analysis of why battery swapping technology offers superior convenience and efficiency for electric vehicle owners during cold weather conditions compared to traditional charging methods.
Auto · NEW CARS & MARKET SIGNALSChina’s Auto Market Slows in Early 2026: Why Buyers Are Waiting
Most Chinese automakers reported month-on-month sales declines in January 2026, a typical seasonal pattern exacerbated by consumers delaying purchases due to new tax policies, anticipated price cuts, and upcoming model launches.
Robotics · ROBOTICSTesla’s Third-Generation Humanoid Robot to Debut; Figure AI Uses Buttocks to Close Drawers; LimX Dynamics Closes USD 200 Million Series B
This week's highlights include Tesla's Optimus V3 debut, Figure AI's Helix 02 model enabling full-body autonomous tasks, Unitree's open-source UnifoLM-VLA-0, and LimX Dynamics' $200 million Series B financing.
Auto · AUTONOMOUS DRIVING14:39Huawei ADS 4.1 Arrives for Chinese New Year: What Has Improved?
What improvements does Huawei ADS 4.1 bring for Chinese New Year?
Auto · NEW CARS & MARKET SIGNALSLi i8 Tops C-IASI Safety Ratings: Engineering a Short-Overhang EV for Maximum Protection
Li Auto's i8 achieved top marks in the China Insurance Automotive Safety Index, overcoming the structural challenges of its short-overhang design through advanced body engineering and standard-fit safety systems.
Auto · VIDEO & ROAD TESTS5:16AITO Drift Test Conducted at Minus 20 Degrees Celsius
A winter driving demonstration of AITO vehicles featuring drift maneuvers in sub-zero temperatures.
Robotics · ROBOTICSOptimus Sales Expected Next Year; Li Auto Resumes Humanoid Robot R&D; Microsoft Unveils VLA+ Model
Key updates: Unitree reports 2025 shipments exceeding 5,500 units; Musk anticipates public sales of Optimus by end of next year; Li Auto restarts humanoid robot development; Microsoft unveils the Rho-alpha VLA+ model for robotics.
Robotics · INDUSTRYUnitree Reports 5,500 Humanoid Shipments as Li Auto Reboots R&D Amid Industry Scaling
Unitree Tech revealed its 2025 humanoid robot shipments exceeded 5,500 units, while Li Auto has restarted R&D for humanoid robots by urgently hiring staff. This marks the industry's transition from early-stage validation to large-scale manufacturing.