Geely is another car company from China that makes different types of vehicles, including cars and SUVs. They are also growing quickly in the car market.
FAW is a major car manufacturer in China that makes many types of vehicles, including cars and trucks. They also team up with other car brands from different countries.
Chang'an is another important car company in China that makes different kinds of vehicles, like cars and SUVs. They are also growing their business outside of China.
The Tesla Model Y is a type of electric car that looks like a small SUV. It's known for being very high-tech and can drive long distances without needing to recharge often, which makes it a popular choice for many drivers.
NEVs are vehicles that use new energy sources like electricity instead of just gasoline. They include electric cars and hybrids that can be plugged in to recharge.
A supply chain is how a company gets the materials it needs to make its products and how those products are delivered to customers. It involves many steps and different companies working together.
Car
Laffer 5
The Laffer 5 is a small car you can buy in China. It's known for being inexpensive and having a good driving range on a single charge.
CLTC is a way to test how far electric cars can go on a single charge in China. It's usually easier than tests used in other countries, so the numbers might look better.
The Leap 3.5 platform is like the base or framework that helps build different versions of a car. It allows manufacturers to create various models while keeping some parts the same.
The MG4 is an electric car from the brand MG. It's designed to be affordable and practical for people who want to drive electric without spending too much.
Car
NEO's Firefly EV
NEO's Firefly EV is a small electric car made by NEO. It's designed for city driving and is part of the trend of electric vehicles.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a new electric van that looks a lot like the old VW buses people loved in the past. It's made to be roomy and comfortable, perfect for families or anyone who needs a lot of space.
The Volkswagen Golf is a small car that many people like because it's easy to drive and has a lot of space inside. It's been around for a long time and comes in different versions.
A kilowatt is a way to measure how much power something uses or produces. In cars, it's often used to talk about how strong the electric motor is or how much energy the battery can hold.
LiDAR is a technology that helps cars see their surroundings by using lasers. It creates a 3D map of everything around the car, which is important for self-driving features.
Perception sensors are like the car's eyes and ears. They help the car understand what's around it, which is important for safety and self-driving features.
A digital cluster is a screen in the car that shows important information like how fast you're going and how much gas you have. It's different from the old-fashioned dials that used to be in cars.
A touchscreen is a screen that you can touch to control things, like music or navigation, instead of using buttons. Many modern cars have these screens instead of traditional controls.
A Snapdragon chip is a small computer part that helps run the car's technology, like the touchscreen and other smart features. It's similar to the chips used in many smartphones.
Heated and ventilated seats are special seats in a car that can get warm in the winter or cool in the summer. They make driving more comfortable no matter the weather.
The Chevrolet C10 is an older model of pickup truck that people really like because it's tough and can be used for many different jobs. Many people enjoy fixing them up and making them look nice, which is why they are popular among car lovers.
Car
Leap Motor C10
The C10 is a big electric SUV made by Leap Motor. It's one of their new cars that they are selling in South America.
The Alpina B10 is a special version of a BMW car that is made to be faster and more luxurious. It's like a fancy sports car that also feels comfortable to drive, which is why some people really want to own one.
Car
Leap Motor B10
The B10 is a smaller electric sedan made by Leap Motor. It's designed for people who want a compact car.
The Renault Wind is a small car that can have its roof opened up like a convertible, letting you feel the wind while you drive. It's designed to be fun to drive and is great for sunny days.
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Welcome back to the podcast.
Today, China EVs join Global Top 10.
Leap Motors Laffer 5 and Tesla forced to deny a China story.
Plus, stay tuned.
Later in the show, I'll tell you why one Chinese battery maker has a grand vision
for zero carbon cities.
Welcome to EB News China.
The podcast dedicated to the world's largest electric vehicle market.
Each day, I bring you the latest headlines, insights and analysis from the heart of China's
booming EV industry and decode how fast moving developments in the east are shaping the
global EV landscape.
China's electric vehicle makers are no longer chasing the global giants, they're closing
in on them fast.
New forecasts from McKinsey say that as many as five Chinese groups could sit in the
global top 10 car makers by the end of the decade, displacing long dominant Western
and Japanese brands, BYD and Geely, they're on sales already.
The rest of the decade will show whether others can follow them into the Premier League.
McKinsey expects up to three more Chinese assemblers to join the top tier by 2030, though
it does not name names.
State groups such as SAIC, FAW and Chang'ang have a strong case.
They already run huge plants, know how to export cars and trail only BYD and
Geely on volume.
That scale gives them room to cut costs, fund new models and move faster into overseas markets.
But the threat doesn't come only from the old state champions, smart EV upstarts like
Xiaomi, X-Pong and LeapMotor are also growing fast.
Their latest cars have pulled thousands of buyers away from Tesla's Shanghai-built
Model 3 and Model Y, proof that Chinese brands can now win on software, design
and price in their home market.
If they can repeat that trick in Europe, Southeast Asia and beyond, today's league
table will not survive the decade in its current form.
The outlook for 2030 hinges on a few things.
I think China's EV makers must keep export growth rolling, build brands that mean
something outside their home market and navigate policy pushback in places like
Europe and the United States.
On the other side, Western and Japanese incumbents need to speed up their own
EV shift or risk sliding down the rankings.
How's this year looking in China?
Well, China's on track to sell 16 million new energy vehicles, almost half its
light vehicle market and far more than any other country.
That pace would lock in China's lead in electrification, even as its wider
car market starts to cool.
The country's auto lobby expects total sales for vehicle sales to be 34 million
units this year, up from 31.4 million last year.
Of that, 16 million will be NEVs, vehicles with a plug socket on the side, and more
than 6.8 million vehicles will be shipped overseas.
That implies overall growth of around 8%, but a far faster rise, 24% in new
energy vehicles and 16% growth rate in exports from China.
The current year shows how strong the shift already is.
From January to October, China sold 27.7 million vehicles, roughly 12% more than
last year.
NEVs were almost 13 million of those sales, up 32%.
Exports reaching 5.5 million units, up 15%.
Then within that figure, almost 2 million NEVs now go abroad and outside of
China's shores.
That's an 87% jump on 2024.
The final stretch of the year may look different from the past, though.
The industry group warns that the usual year-end rush could fade, as policy
support now steps down.
China's nationwide exemption from purchase tax for EVs ends this year.
From 2026, buyers will pay a 5% purchase tax, that's half of the usual 10%
standard rate, but it's no longer zero.
That change is likely to pull some demand into the fourth quarter, then smooth
growth into the next year, rather than producing spikes.
Let's move on.
Tesla has been forced to deny reports that it's planning a clean break from
using Chinese bits inside its cars, at least its US-made cars.
A senior executive in China denied claims this week that Tesla will
strip China-made components from its American production lines.
Grace Tao, Tesla VP, posting a rebuttal on Weibo after a Wall Street
Journal story on November 15th, said Tesla is now asking suppliers to phase
out China-made parts for US production within one to two years.
She said Tesla does not rule out parts based on where they come from and
instead uses the same standards everywhere – quality, cost, tech
readiness and long-term security.
Tao also made a broader point.
Tesla's sharp pricing in China, she said, depends on its made-in-China
plan around the Shanghai Gigafactory.
The company now works with more than 400 Chinese suppliers and over 60
already feed into its global network.
That context matters because Tesla's supply chain is already shifting.
Earlier this year, reports said it had begun to swap out China-made
components.
Those parts now come from places like Mexico, Canada and other
North American sites and selected plants in Europe and Asia.
At the same time, Tesla's pushed some Chinese suppliers to set up
factories overseas.
All this plays out against a bigger trade backdrop.
Last year, China shipped 13 to 20 billion dollars worth of
auto parts to the United States.
That's about 16% of its total auto component exports.
Those exports are things like body panels, alloy wheels,
drivetrain chassis parts, tires, glass, electronics and of course
chips.
Analyst Chen Bing telling the Shenzhen television network that
firms want to guard against tougher US trade moves and a
stronger made-in-America feel within Donald Trump's
administration.
So far, Tesla's message is that it will keep on buying on
merit, not on flags.
But its sourcing map has already been tilting.
Leap motor, and next, they are betting that budget buyers want
big specs.
That's why the new B-05 or Laffer 5, depending on where you buy
the vehicle, the compact hatchback now on sale in China
starts at the equivalent of about 13,100 US dollars in
early bird form, but 605 kilometers of range on CLTC
which is slightly more forgiving, but packing hardware
seen in far higher priced vehicles.
So it will be sold within China's borders as the Laffer 5.
Otherwise, the B-05 will be the outside China name and it
comes in five trims on the Leap 3.5 platform.
It's quite a large vehicle, it's still compact in the grand
scheme, but it's 4.4 meters long, 1.9 meters wide and 1.5
meters tall with a 2.735 meter wheelbase.
Prices start from 97,800 yuan for the 515 plus trim up to 122,000
yuan, that's 17,000 US dollars equivalent for the 605 Max
trim. A sportier Laffer 5 Ultra is coming in 2026.
Buyers who want performance in a small car.
The car lines up against other vehicles in this segment
like the Volkswagen ID3, the MG4, BYD Dolphin, NEO's Firefly EV.
Then what is fast becoming the electric version of the classic
Volkswagen Golf Class? All versions use a rear motor, 132 or
160 kilowatts of power, battery choices either 56 or 67 kilowatt
hours. Higher trims add a roof mounted LiDAR with very
high computing power, 27 perception sensors. The cabin
leans hard on screens, but also comfort kit as well. A 9 inch
digital cluster sits ahead of the driver. A 14.6 inch 2.5K
central touchscreen runs the operating system which is Leap
Motor 4 on a Snapdragon chip. Depending on the trim, you add
heated and ventilated seats. A full panoramic roof, 256
colour ambient lighting, napper leather, faux suede. An
outside frameless doors, flash handles, a smooth nose on this
and a fast back roof line. The car looks clean, sharp and
bright paint options include what they call electric yellow,
Starsky blue, I suppose that is and Hutch, I don't know,
Scar Starsky blue and Morgan pink. Making clear that Leap
Motor is also aiming at younger Chinese buyers. The Laffer
name, they say, stands for something. Lifestyle, attitude,
freedom and art, hence LAFA. Tenuous. And it marks a new
series that the firm plans to take global in 2026. Leap Motor
is our second story from them today is talking about their
global growth. Actually, they're no longer a quiet upstart.
The Chinese EV maker smashed their 2025 sales goal
very early this year and using momentum to push hard now
into places like South America and Europe. On November 25th,
the brand took the stage at the Sao Paulo International
Motor Show, its first big outing in South America. It's
rolling out both purebevs and range extenders for their
big SUV, the C10 and their slightly smaller sedan, the
B10 in Brazil and Chile. By the end of the year, Leap
Motor wants 36 retail and service sites in 27
Brazilian cities and five sites in Chile with Argentina,
Colombia and Ecuador lined up next. The global push
rests on a clear domestic milestone. Earlier this year,
Leap Motor said its cumulative sales had already passed
500,000 units hitting a target set for 2025 in 2024.
Back in 2019, the founder and CEO laid down that marker.
So coming good, five years after the prediction was made,
we will sell half a million vehicles every single year
by 2025 and they did hit that target by the beginning of the year.
Then they had the news that Stellantis became a partner
some time ago. Leap Motor taps into the global sales and service backbone
of 700 locations. Leap Motor EVs now reach buyers in 35 countries and
regions and in the first 10 months of this year,
exports topped 44,000 units putting Leap Motor near the front
of Chinese EV startups helping it build early scale
in countries like Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
One of those big EV makers that needs to turn a profit
soon is NIO. We'll talk about that plus Mercedes Benz
and Denza in the news today. Stick around back in a moment.
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On top of that, it also sends you alerts when subscription prices go up
so you always know the price you're paying. If you decide you no longer want
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How did I get here? I invested to make my dream home, home.
Get where you're going with MDY, the original mid-cap ETF from State
Street Investment Management. Getting there starts here.
Before investing, consider the fund's investment objectives, risks,
charges and expenses. Visit statestreet.com slash im for
prospectus containing this and other information. Read it carefully.
MDY is subject to risk similar to those of stocks.
All ETFs are subject to risk, including possible loss of principle. Alps
distributors ink distributor. Welcome back to the podcast.
Now, NEO is under huge pressure to deliver their first profit by the end of the year.
NEO set itself a stark target. Deliver its first profitable quarter by the end of 2025
with no plan B. The bet comes as China's shifting EV policies
sap some demand. At a briefing in Shanghai, the founder and chief executive William Lee
said NEO is currently focused solely on vehicle sales and achieving its first quarterly profit
by the end of this quarter. Ask what happens if they slightly miss the target he was blunt.
There is no plan B. He said the company will spare no effort to meet the target and embrace
all possibilities. Beyond this first break-even push, Lee is still aiming for a broader, more durable
turn into the black in 2026 with higher margins. Lee tied today's slowdown directly to policy
from Beijing. The abrupt withdrawal of trade in subsidies has impacted the market. He said
something the industry had not anticipated, leading to a decline in new orders across
the sector. He said those incentives nudging drivers out of older cars in the past and into
new EVs somewhat propped up sales. Let's talk about Mercedes-Benz and China's first zero-carbon
car factory. China's EV capital now hosts its first certified zero-carbon factory
and it belongs to Mercedes-Benz. They build six models there, including the new CLA. The
first car in China on the Mercedes-Benz MMA, the modular architecture platform. In 2024,
the plant already cut its emissions by 22,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared to 2023.
You'd need about 1.2 million trees to absorb that, they say. The company that claim that the zero
carbon factory status rests on four pillars, making its power on site with things like
renewables and solar using less energy by being more efficient, buying certified green electricity
and offsetting what is left with carbon credits. So a bit of paperwork there being done with
carbon credits to hit the target, but still interesting nonetheless. Denzer,
which is BYD's premium brand and next in the news, and it's going straight for Brazil's
luxury crowd with two models, the Z9 GT and the D9, showing those off at the 31st Sao Paulo
International Motor Show. The move is a clear test of how far an upmarket Chinese EV can go in
Latin America. On November 25th, Denzer confirmed its Brazilian launch with the Z9 GT, a tech-heavy
Grand Tourer and the D9. That's the luxury MPV for buyers who want space, but also toys
and gadgets. Denzer's first Brazilian showroom will open on Avenida Europa, Sao Paulo's long-time
strip for high-end car dealers. That gives the brand instant visibility beside established
premium names and signals that BYD doesn't see Denzer as a niche side project but as a direct
rival to combustion luxury. The launch fits BYD's wider plan to move up market and go global.
Denzer is already in sale in Asian markets, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, and it entered
Europe earlier this year with a pitch built on elegance, innovation and technology.
Finally, let's talk CATL, the world's biggest battery maker, and why they have ambitions to
turn entire cities carbon-free. CATL wants to turn the first one of those, Yibin,
into proof that cities can run on clean power. China's biggest battery maker has struck a five-year
deal with the local government there to build Zero Carbon Yibin, linking its plants, the grid,
and its streets into a low-carbon system. Announced on November 24th via its WeChat channel,
CATL says the plan is bold but it's clear Yibin will host a city-wide Zero Carbon
industrial and energy network built on clean factories, clean power, clean urban design,
and smart Zero Carbon tech. Pilot Zones will go first in Sangjang, New District, Yibin High-Tech
Zone, and the Chuzhou District Energy Storage Industrial Park, with a roadmap to roll the
model out across the city. CATL will pair Zero Carbon production sites with digital
lighthouse factories they say that push efficient highly-automated manufacturing.
High-energy industries are in the crosshairs, chemical plants, and building materials firms.
It will serve as early templates for low-carbon factories. The project leans on Yibin's strong
hydropower base. CATL and the city want more central and rooftop renewables,
solar and biomass in particular, while tying in nearby wind and solar farms.
To keep that green power useful, CATL plans a local energy storage cluster that spans
grid-side batteries, shared storage for multiple users, and behind-the-meter systems
for businesses and factories. The aim is a more flexible grid that can cope when the sun
and the wind output swing. On the demand side, Yibin will push harder on electric transport.
The agreement calls for more e-buses and public EVs, plus a denser web of chargers and
battery swap stations. Swap sites will serve passenger cars and heavy trucks,
backed by integrated hubs that combine solar, storage, fast charging,
and even vehicle checks in one place. If CATL and the city hit their targets,
Yibin would emerge as a flagship for zero-carbon manufacturing and electric mobility,
parts, industrial lab, parts, full-scale showroom. The real test will come as the
first pilot districts, lighthouse factories, and integrated energy hubs switch on to see if the
model can scale. And that's your podcast for today. Thanks for listening. See you on Monday
for a new week of EV News China.
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About this episode
China's electric vehicle market is rapidly evolving, with predictions that several Chinese manufacturers could join the global top 10 by 2030. The Leapmotor Lafa 5 is highlighted for its competitive pricing and impressive specs, aiming to attract budget-conscious buyers. Meanwhile, Tesla denies rumors of cutting ties with Chinese suppliers, emphasizing quality over origin. The episode also discusses NIO's push for profitability amid changing policies and CATL's ambitious plans for a zero-carbon city, showcasing the dynamic landscape of China's EV industry.
