Geely has unveiled the second generation of its Leishen AI Hybrid (2.0) plug-in hybrid electric vehicle powertrain in mainland China, highlighting its 47.26% thermal efficiency rate. The thermal efficiency of the Leishen AI Hybrid 2.0 PHEV powertrain surpasses that of BYD's DM-i system. Geely's new powertrain system includes EM-i, EM-P and Hydrogen variants. The first-generation Leishen plug-in hybrid system was introduced in 2021. It had a thermal efficiency of 43.32% and was integra...

On June 16, Polestar announced that it has secured a $200 million equity investment from one of its key shareholders, PSD Investment Ltd., a company controlled by Shufu (Eric) Li, the founder and chairman of Geely Holding Group. As per the securities purchase agreement, the Swedish carmaker will sell nearly 190.5 million newly issued Class A American depositary shares (ADS) to PSD Investment. The transaction is structured as a private investment in public equity (PIPE) at a price of $1.0...

Volvo Cars has entered into a new sourcing agreement with the Sweden-based steel company SSAB for the supply of high-quality, recycled and near-zero emissions steel, beginning 2025. The agreement makes Volvo Cars the first car manufacturer to secure a supply agreement with SSAB for recycled, near-zero emissions steel intended for serial production. This agreement extends a long-term collaboration aimed at promoting sustainable steel. Volvo Cars is also advancing its circular sustainability go...

Dongfeng Motor, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. (GAC) and FAW Group, the leading state-owned automakers in mainland China, have committed to reducing supplier payment terms to 60 days, ETAuto reported June 11. The development comes amid growing regulatory scrutiny over delayed supplier payments and opaque financing practices in the automotive supply chain. This initiative is expected to improve capital flow and financial transparency in the mainland Chinese automotive industry, which ha...

Volvo Cars has unveiled a multi-adaptive safety belt, a technology aimed at enhancing protection in real-world traffic situations. This innovative safety feature will debut in the fully electric Volvo EX60 in 2026. The safety belt adapts to traffic variations and individual characteristics, such as height, weight and seating position, using real-time data from advanced car sensors. It adjusts the belt load setting based on crash severity and occupant size to mitigate injury risks such as he...

In a notable collaboration between two competing electric-car makers in mainland China, Nio and Zeekr have teamed up to share their respective electric vehicle charging facilities. On May 29, Nio's energy unit, Nio Power, and Zeekr's energy division, Zeekr Power, signed a cooperation agreement for their charging facilities. This collaboration aims to provide their customers with an efficient and convenient EV charging service. Users of Nio's brands, including Nio, Onvo and Fire...

Geely Automobile Holdings is proposing to take its premium electric vehicle unit Zeekr private, a year after Zeekr's public debut in the US. Geely has submitted a non-binding offer to Zeekr on May 7 to acquire all issued and outstanding shares and American depositary shares (ADS) at $2.57 per share or $25.66 per ADS. According to the company, this offer represents a 13.6% premium to Zeekr's recent closing price in the US and a 20.0% premium to its volume-weighted average price over ...

Horse Powertrain, the engine-making joint venture between Geely and the Renault Group, has announced a new hybrid powertrain that is designed to fit in the same space as a traditional electric vehicle motor. This innovative powertrain can be fueled using petrol, E85 ethanol-petrol mix, pure methanol and synthetic fuels. Horse has crafted this powertrain to be retrofitted into electric cars without necessitating comprehensive reengineering or a new production line setup. The unit comprises an ...

Zeekr, a new energy vehicle (NEV) brand of the Chinese automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, is equipping its 001 electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) with Continental PremiumContact 6 tires as original equipment fitment, the Germany-based tiremaker said in a press release on March 28. The tires, offered in 265/40 R22106V XL FR size, are known for their dynamic handling, safety and comfort.  Continental claims its PremiumContact 6 tires are designed to enhance the equipped vehicle's co...

Geely Auto, one of the largest Chinese automakers, has forayed into Australia and New Zealand markets with the launch of its all-electric sport utility vehicle EX5 in the region, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on March 12. The Geely EX5 was launched at an event at Sydney's Luna Park on March 11. The carmaker also launched its international brand — Geely Go — on the sidelines of the event. Citing Jerry Gan, CEO of Geely Auto Group, the report mentioned that the ca...

Geely-backed Caocao Mobility has unveiled its Caocao Autonomous Driving platform, marking the commencement of robo-taxi trial operations in Suzhou, China, and Hangzhou, China, with vehicles featuring Geely's advanced intelligent driving system, according to reports. Established in 2015, Caocao Mobility has grown its ride-hailing services to over 100 cities in China, managing a fleet of 33,000 customized new-energy vehicles in 29 major cities. The company embarked on its robo-taxi technology...

Renault Group and Geely Holding Group have entered into a framework agreement to extend their strategic collaboration for producing and selling zero- and low-emission vehicles in Brazil. This partnership signifies Geely Holding's entry as a minority shareholder in Renault do Brasil, enabling the company to utilize Renault Group's Ayrton Senna Industrial Complex in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, for vehicle production. This collaboration aims to leverage Renault do Brasil's distribution ecos...

Yokohama Rubber has begun supplying its ADVAN Sport electric vehicle tires as original equipment for the new Lynk & Co Z10 electric sedan. Lynk & Co launched the Z10 EV in the Chinese market in September 2024. The electric sedan is fitted with Yokohama's tires sized 245/50R19 105W. The ADVAN Sport EV tires are designed as ultrahigh-performance (UHP) summer tires specifically for premium EVs, drawing from the technology of Yokohama Rubber's ADVAN Sport V107 tires meant for high-pe...

At the 2025 Annual Business Conference held Feb. 9, Geely Auto Group CEO Gan Jiayue announced a significant development in the company's push toward AI in the automotive sector. He revealed plans for Geely to unveil a comprehensive AI-driven intelligent strategy in early March. This move is aimed at positioning Geely as a front-runner in the smart vehicle technology space, with Gan expressing the company's ambition to revolutionize intelligent user experiences through AI technology. The year ...

Zeekr, the electric vehicle brand of Chinese automotive group Zhejiang Geely Holding, has launched an ultrafast-charging network across Israel, China Daily reported Feb. 1. The charging network called Zeekr Power is brand agnostic and can be used by EV owners of other brands. Zeekr EV owners will pay a reduced rate for charging. The charging will be done with a dedicated Zeekr chip or via an app.    Zeekr entered the Israeli automotive market in 2024. The company offers two EV ...

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers BYD, Geely, and SAIC have filed challenges against the European Union's (EU) import tariffs at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), according to information available on the court's website. The complaints were lodged at the CJEU's General Court, the lower of its two chambers, with the deadline for filing challenges being just a day before their submission. The General Court's proceedings are expected to last an average of 18 months ...

Geely Holding Group’s premium electric vehicle unit Zeekr has forayed into the Malaysian market as part of its global expansion strategy, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on Dec. 9. The report, which cited Zeekr, said that the company has launched the Zeekr 009 multipurpose vehicle and Zeekr X compact sport utility vehicle in Malaysia on Dec. 6. The local deliveries of the two models are expected to begin later in December, the report said, adding that while the Zeekr 009 is...

Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, through a directly and wholly owned subsidiary, Aramco Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd., has completed the purchase of a 10% equity stake in Horse Powertrain, Geely announced Dec. 2.  London-headquartered Horse Powertrain is a joint venture company, owned by Renault and Geely, aimed at manufacturing internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid powertrains to global automakers. With the completion of this transaction, ...

Volvo Cars has formed a partnership with energy supplier Ovo and energy software company Kaluza to offer owners of eligible Volvo electric vehicles in the UK access to home recharging at highly competitive rates. Through the Ovo Charge Anytime add-on, Volvo EV owners can enjoy a special rate of 7 pence per kilowatt hour, translating to approximately 2 pence per mile, with an additional benefit of a £50 credit on their Ovo energy plan, sufficient to cover the energy cost of about 2,700 miles of ...

Geely Automobile’s premium electric car unit Zeekr, which is listed on the NYSE, has forayed into the Brazilian car market by launching the Zeekr 001 shooting brake in São Paulo on Oct. 10, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on Oct. 12. The move to launch the Zeekr 001 shooting brake marks the availability of the first-ever Zeekr EV model in the country as part of the mainland Chinese automaker’s global expansion strategy. In 2024 alone, Zeekr has meaningfully expanded...

Geely Group has signed a joint venture deal with Vietnamese company Tasco to pave the way for local assembly of cars in Vietnam, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on Sept. 24. Under its partnership with Tasco, Geely plans to commence local assembly operations in Vietnam as early as 2026, the report said, adding that the Vietnamese partner is also entrusted with the responsibility of distributing the Geely vehicles. Tasco's assembly JV with Geely Auto will be a completely kno...

Volvo has announced an expansion of its commitment to sustainability by increasing the usage of low-CO2-emission steel across its truck models. This initiative, originally implemented in its electric trucks in 2022, marks Volvo as the first truck manufacturer to adopt this environmentally friendly steel, called SSAB Zero, produced by the Swedish company SSAB. Unlike conventional steel, SSAB Zero is made from recycled materials and is produced using fossil-free electricity and biogas, allowing fo...

JSW MG Motor India has launched the MG Windsor, positioned as the country's inaugural mass-market electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV), blending the sport utility vehicle (SUV) with sedan comfort. The vehicle, built on the Pure EV Platform, aims to provide a comfortable driving experience. Launched at an eye-catching starting price of 999,000 rupees (about $11,896), the Windsor comes with innovative ownership schemes including a unique battery-as-a-service (BaaS) option. This scheme ...

Geely Auto introduced its new global model, the Geely EX5 midsize electric sport utility vehicle (SUV), at Automechanika Frankfurt in Germany, the company said in a press release on Sept. 10. The EX5 is built on the Geely Electric Architecture (GEA) architecture, known for its spatial efficiency and structural integrity, supporting various energy layouts while providing exceptional driving and energy efficiency. Its design features a dynamic exterior with a low drag coefficient, LED headlight...

Volvo Cars held the Capital Markets Day 2024 event in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Thursday (Sept. 5), revealing a transformative strategy focused on a unified approach to technology, aiming at enhancing the longevity and performance of its vehicles. Central to this strategy is the introduction of the Volvo Cars Superset tech stack, a single tech and software base designed to be utilized across its future electric vehicles, including the upcoming EX90 model. This tech stack, comprising various...

Smart, a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Geely Holding Group, has unveiled the all-new Smart #5 electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) in Australia on Aug. 28. The Smart #5 is designed by Mercedes-Benz and positioned as a large luxury adventure five-seater SUV. A key highlight of the Smart #5 is its innovative built-in, automotive-grade laser projection light. This feature allows users to project content up to 233 inches in size from a distance of 2-7 meters away from the vehicle, enhan...

Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Zeekr, headquartered in Hangzhou, mainland China, and affiliated with Geely, announced it has received a license to test its Level 3 partially autonomous driving system in Hangzhou, following a similar approval in Shanghai two months earlier, as reported by TechNode on Aug. 22. This development marks a significant step for Zeekr, enabling its test vehicles to autonomously navigate major roads in two key Chinese economic regions as part of its efforts to e...

Geely Holding’s pure electric vehicle arm Zeekr plans to roll out a car with a hybrid propulsion system for the first time, marking a significant strategy shift in its global product roadmap. According to a news report published by CnEVPost on Aug. 21, Zeekr plans to launch its flagship sport utility vehicle (SUV) in the second half of 2025. The SUV will also be offered in an all-new electric-hybrid powertrain variant and will be powered by Nvidia's Drive Thor autonomous driving chip. ...

As part of its ongoing anti-subsidy investigation on electric vehicles imported from mainland China, the European Commission has now revised the duty rates based on the inputs received from interested parties on the provisional countervailing duties published earlier in July. In a note issued on Aug. 20, disclosing the revised tariffs to the Chinese vehicle manufacturers, the commission announced the revised countervailing duties mentioned below: a) BYD electric cars will attract a count...

Chinese carmaker Geely has invested £120 million in LEVC, the UK-based manufacturer of London’s famous black cabs, according to a news report published by the UK edition of the Yahoo Finance portal on Aug. 5. The move aligns with the Chinese carmaker’s efforts to continue expanding its presence in the UK’s EV market. Citing regulatory filings, the report said that Geely had invested £70 million into its Coventry, UK-based subsidiary in October 2023, and recently invested another tr...

In a press release dated July 30, Farasis Energy announced that it has supplied its Super Pouch Solution (SPS) technology, previously integrated into Geely Radar's Horizon all-electric 4WD pickup, for the second-generation Aion V, a sport utility vehicle (SUV) launched by GAC Aion, the electric vehicle subsidiary of GAC Group. The second-gen Aion V, launched in July as the company's first global strategic model, features an advancement from Farasis Energy's SPS lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batte...

In June, Volvo recalled the EX30 electric small sport utility vehicles (SUVs) owing to a software issue. The software update, intended to enhance features and functionality, instead led to a multitude of problems and a surge in customer returns and refund demands. This situation has resulted in a range of issues, including blacked-out infotainment screens, incorrect information displayed on functioning screens and driver profiles reverting back to factory settings. Furthermore, driver aids have ...

After Huawei and Xiaomi, yet another smartphone-maker from mainland China, Meizu, plans to venture into the electric vehicle business, according to a news report published by online automotive news portal CarNewsChina on July 26. Citing Liao Qinghong, Meizu’s COO, the report mentioned that the smartphone-maker plans to launch Meizu Automobile, the company’s EV unit, later in 2024, and that its products will have a different functional performance from traditional car original equipment ma...

SK On, a prominent battery manufacturer, is in the final stages of discussions with China's Geely Automobile to supply electric vehicle batteries, highlighting a growing collaboration aimed at boosting their presence in the eco-friendly mobility sector. The potential battery supply contract with Geely Automobile, discussed during the executives' visit to SK On's plant, is a strategic move for Geely as it aims to enter the South Korean premium EV market by early 2026. Geely Automobile exe...

Premium electric-car maker Zeekr is evaluating the possibility of producing cars in factories linked to its parent Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. in Europe to avoid the new provisional tariffs imposed by the European Commission on electric vehicle imports from mainland China, according to a news report published by Bloomberg on July 19. Notably, all of the premium Zeekr EV models are currently manufactured in mainland China and face a 19.9% provisional duty on imports into the EU. Earlier, ...

Smart Automobile, a joint venture between Mercedes-Benz and Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, has announced its latest over-the-air (OTA) update for its vehicles, version 1.4.0, that will support a suite of new functionalities and enhancements designed to elevate convenience, comfort and safety across varying driving scenarios. The latest software update broadens the capabilities of Smart vehicles by offering several new functions such as vehicle-to-load energy management, low-energy regeneration, n...

Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, through a wholly owned subsidiary, has signed definitive agreements to acquire a 10% equity interest in Horse Powertrain Limited, an equal joint venture between Renault Group and Geely Automobile Holdings, Aramco announced on June 28. Horse Powertrain was formed on May 31, 2024, by Renault Group and Geely and is incorporated and headquartered in London, UK. Aramco plans to acquire a 10% equity interest in Horse...

Polestar has commenced its first customer deliveries of the Polestar 3 electric sport utility vehicle (SUVs), the company said in a press release June 27. The initial deliveries of Polestar 3 are set to take place across Europe and North America over the coming days, with deliveries set to increase throughout the summer. The Launch Edition vehicles, available in both long range dual motor and long range dual motor with performance pack configurations, feature a color palette of snow, thunder and...

LEVC, historically known for its high-end taxi manufacturing, is making significant strides in the global electric mobility market with the launch of its new fully electric model, the L380 multipurpose vehicle (MPV), in mainland China. This launch marks the beginning of LEVC's transition toward becoming a prominent provider of e-mobility solutions. The L380, which emerged from the groundbreaking Space Oriented Architecture (SOA) developed in collaboration with Geely Holding Group, showcases a...

Geely’s premium electric car unit, Zeekr, plans to launch seven new electric vehicles by 2026, including four crossovers, two minivans and one wagon, according to a news report published by CarNewsChina.com on June 21. One of the upcoming models is the Zeekr 007 Station Wagon, which is specifically designed for European markets, the report said. Zeekr, which has delivered over 67,000 electric cars in the first five months of 2024, plans to launch two new EVs this year — the Zeekr ...

Polestar, the Swedish electric vehicle company, is broadening its retail operations across established and new markets in conjunction with the expansion of its model lineup. Part of this expansion involves a shift to a non-genuine agency sales model across Europe, a change that has already occurred in Sweden and Norway. The company aims to penetrate seven new markets by 2025, including France, which is the second-largest volume market for EVs in the EU after Germany. Expansion is also planned...

On June 12, 2024, Lynk & Co introduced its first all-electric vehicle, the luxury flagship sedan, Lynk & Co Z10, in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Z10 represents Lynk & Co's cutting-edge technology, unique brand heritage, and its vision of Zeal, Enjoyment, Responsibility, and Originality, promising to deliver driving pleasure, enjoyment, safety, and quality. The design of the vehicle was inspired by the Lynk & Co The Next Day concept car and incorporates modern and timeless elements. ...

The European Commission’s new tariffs on made-in-China electric vehicles may slow down Chinese carmakers looking to grow sales in Europe, but would not stop leading players such as BYD from penetrating further and continuing to pose serious competition to local carmakers, according to a news report published by Nikkei Asia on June 13. Earlier on June 12, the European Commission announced that it plans to impose provisional countervailing duties on Chinese carmakers from July 4, if discussio...

Mainland China’s leading carmaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with South Korean conglomerate SK Group to jointly focus on multiple areas including batteries, automotive electronics components and green energy, Geely announced June 12. The strategic partnership is part of both the companies’ strategy to secure global competitiveness in sustainable mobility. The Chinese vehicle manufacturer said in its press note issued that SK Inc., the stra...

Volvo Cars has started producing its new electric flagship SUV, the EX90, at its factory outside Charleston, S.C. The first deliveries to customers are set for the second half of the year. The EX90 is the first Volvo vehicle that is powered by core computing technology, which will usher in a new era of safety for its cars. The first EX90 produced was a denim blue model destined for a customer in the United States. The EX90 uses Volvo's next-generation, born-electric EV technology base, offeri...

Following an agreement inked in July 2023, Renault Group and mainland Chinese automaker Geely have established a joint venture named HORSE Powertrain Ltd., Renault announced in a press release May 31. Both Renault and Geely will have a 50% stake in HORSE Powertrain. The new company, which is headquartered in London, will design, develop, produce and sell all hybrid and combustion powertrain solutions and systems including engines, transmissions, hybrid systems and batteries.  Acc...

In a press release dated May 23, Volvo Trucks announced that it is developing trucks with combustion engines that run on hydrogen. The truck maker is aiming to commence on-road trials of the trucks by 2026, with a full commercial launch expected by the end of the decade. “Trucks where the traditional internal combustion engine remains but runs on hydrogen will have the same performance and reliability as our diesel trucks, but with the added benefit of potentially net-zero CO2 emission...

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, popularly known as Geely Holding, mainland China’s largest private-owned automotive group, announced May 10 that it has listed its premium electric-car unit Zeekr on the NYSE after completion of an IPO. Shares of the new publicly listed company will be traded under the ticker ZK, it said. Geely said that the funds raised from the IPO will be used to further develop new advanced technologies and products for Zeekr as well as support the expansion of its sales...

Geely has partnered with Foretellix to reduce development costs and improve time to market for Geely's autonomous vehicles, according to a press release dated May 7. Under the partnership, Foretellix will integrate its Foretify platform with Geely's development and verification and validation (V&V) flows, and advanced simulator to enable efficient synthetic data generation for AI training, automated scenario-based virtual testing, large-scale failure triage, performance and KPIs assessment, ...

Ecarx has developed and deployed its Ecarx Cloudpeak digital cockpit software stack for automotive manufacturers as they work on software-defined vehicles, it said in a press release dated Feb. 22. The software stack is designed to provide global automotive original equipment manufacturers with an intelligent foundation for state-of-the-art infotainment and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). One of the first applications of Ecarx Cloudpeak is Volvo EX30, a fully electric sport utility...

According to a Reuters report dated Feb.9, French carmaker Renault and Chinese rival Geely are expected to finalize a joint venture for their combustion and hybrid engines toward the end of February, two sources close to the matter told Reuters. At the same time, Saudi Aramco is set to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding to invest in the venture, one of the sources said, a move that would confirm Aramco's letter of intent from March last year. Renault's unit Horse and Geely ...

Volvo Cars is launching the Mobility Innovation Destination Torslanda, a test bed for automotive development, near its Gothenburg, Sweden, operations, it said in a press release dated Feb. 7. The initiative builds on the company’s electrification journey and advancement of its next-generation premium electric cars. The innovation center will allow Volvo Cars to test emerging technologies such as wireless car charging, vehicle-to-grid bidirectional charging, and self-driving capabilities in ...

The Polestar 4 has gone on sale officially in Europe and Australia, according to a press release on Jan. 31. Online sales have commenced with a starting price of €63,200 and A$81,500. Production is planned to start toward the middle of 2024, with first deliveries expected from August. The Polestar 4 is positioned between the Polestar 2 and the Polestar 3 in terms of size and price. The vehicle is built on the Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) developed by Geely. Some of the design e...

Zeekr, the premium electric vehicle unit of leading Chinese carmaker Geely Holding, has unveiled its own lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell and pack technologies that can support ultrafast charging and provide high energy density along with superior safety to EV users, the company announced Dec. 14. The carmaker said that the LFP battery cell and pack technologies are developed by Zeekr's in-house battery research and development (R&D) team. According to the company pr...

Volvo Cars has announced that it plans to use near-zero emission aluminum and steel as it aims to reduce CO2 emissions per car by 75% by 2030, compared with a 2018 baseline, it said in a press release on Nov. 30. The automaker also set a target to become climate neutral by 2040 and reduce CO2 emissions per car by 40% between 2018 and 2025. It is is doubling down on its existing ambition to only sell fully electric cars by 2030, eliminating tailpipe emissions from its model line-up. Volvo Cars...

Audi has updated its flagship Q855 TFSI and SQ8 models with improved lighting technology and a revised exterior design, according to a press release dated October 25. The model year 2024 Audi Q8 comes equipped with standard Matrix-design LED headlights, while the digital organic LED rear lights are available exclusively on the SQ8. The new design elements include a new roofline, exhaust outlets and a new badging strategy with the model, derivative and technology-identifier laser in the B-pillar....

Volvo’s in-vehicle speed limit-announcing safety feature in collaboration with Google has received the European General Safety Regulation (GSR) certification, The Verge reported October 16. The technology, known as Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA), uses Google Maps data to accurately display the current posted speed limit on the instrument display at all times and warns drivers when they are exceeding the speed limit. “You need to know things about the road network that you cannot see to kn...

Kinaxis has announced a partnership with Volvo Cars, according to a company press release dated October 5. Kinaxis will bring its patented methodology for concurrent supply chain techniques to streamline the Swedish automaker’s supply chain operations. “We are proud to work with industry leaders like Volvo Cars and play an important role in their commitment to creating safe and innovative vehicles designed to do better for the planet. We look forward to working together to help them conti...

Geely’s premium electric car unit Zeekr has signed partnerships with four local companies to expand its retail presence in the Middle East region in addition to Israel, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on September 29. Zeekr has entered into partnerships with AW Rostamani Holdings in the United Arab Emirates, Wallan Trading Co. in Saudi Arabia, Blue Lake Motors in Qatar and Y.K. Almoayyed & Sons from Bahrain to sell its electric cars, the report mentioned, citing a ...

StoreDot has signed a multiyear agreement with Volvo Cars to develop an optimized battery for next-generation vehicles, it said in a press release on September 28. The companies are looking to jointly develop extreme fast charging (XFC) cells for Volvo's future electric vehicle architectures. It is expected that the first samples will be delivered for testing in 2024. “This is a highly significant agreement for both StoreDot and Volvo Cars. Our teams are now working together at pa...

Tianqi Lithium has invested $150 million in the Smart joint venture, Yicai Global reported September 14. Smart is a JV between Mercedes-Benz and Geely Holding Group to develop electric vehicles. Tianqi Lithium also signed strategic deals with Mercedes-Benz and Geely. The company will cooperate with Geely on resources, core materials, lithium-battery technology research, lightweight materials for new-energy vehicles and software development. Significance: The investment in Smart repres...

SiriusXM, with its advanced audio-entertainment experience 360L, will make its Volvo debut in the all-new and fully electric 2024 Volvo EX30 and EX90 sport utility vehicles (SUVs). It combines satellite and streaming content delivery into a single, cohesive in-vehicle entertainment experience, which provides drivers and their passengers with more choice, better discovery and a more personalized listening experience, a company press release said July 26. This advanced entertainment system in V...

After the November 2022 framework agreement, Geely Holding Group, Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. (collectively referred to as Geely) and Renault Group signed a binding 50/50 joint venture agreement on July 11 to launch a new powertrain technology company with a goal to emerge as the global leader in developing, manufacturing and supplying best-in-class hybrid powertrains and highly efficient internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrains. Another partner, Aramco, which signed a l...

Chinese vehicle manufacturer Geely’s premium EV arm Zeekr plans to debut in Europe with its electric sedan 001 and electric compact SUV Zeekr X, the company announced on June 28. Zeekr has opened the preorders in Sweden and the Netherlands for the 001 Shooting Brake and Zeekr X models, with first deliveries expected to commence in autumn, the company said without specifying a date. Zeekr plans to follow a direct-to-customer business model in Europe and aims to open flagship stores in Stockh...

Volvo Cars announced signing an agreement with electric-vehicle maker Tesla to access the Supercharger network across the US, Canada and Mexico — the first European original equipment manufacturer to do so. Under the agreement, future Volvo cars starting from 2025 will be equipped with the North American Charging Standard (NACS) charging port in North America.  The collaboration offers fully electric Volvo drivers access to 12,000 new fast-charge points, a...

Polestar Automotive Holding UK is entering into a joint venture with Xingji Meizu Group, it said in a press release June 19. The companies will develop Xingji Meizu’s Flyme Auto platform into an operating system (OS) for Polestar cars sold in China, including in-car apps, streaming services and intelligent-vehicle software. Polestar will own 49% of the JV company, with Xingji Meizu owning the remaining 51%. Xingji Meizu will be in charge of arranging the company’s future financi...

Volvo announced that its latest over-the-air (OTA) update has enhanced the experience of using Apple CarPlay, according to a June 1 press release. A key enhancement following the update is that Apple Maps and other supported navigation apps would become available in the driver display, just behind the steering wheel. The driver display will now present call information, which allows drivers and passengers to answer, reject and end calls using the buttons on the steering wheel. ...

In a press release dated May 31, Volvo has disclosed the details of the interiors of its EX30 model. The car will be launched June 7. Volvo has used sustainable materials such as waste product from the denim recycling process. Other materials on offer include a recycled plastic made from waste items such as old window frames and roller shutters; flax, a renewable fiber derived from linseed plants; a wool blend including 70% recycled polyester; and a structured knit-seat ...

Geely Holding’s premium electric vehicle (EV) arm Zeekr has commenced the deliveries of the Zeekr 001 model with CATL’s long-range Qilin battery as an option, according to a news report published by CnEVPost on May 16. Zeekr 001’s Qilin battery-equipped variant goes on sale soon after the premium brand started delivering the Zeekr 009 multipurpose vehicle (MPV) with the CATL battery pack a month ago. The report said that Zeekr 001 WE version has gone on sale with the optional 14...

Volvo Car Corp. (Volvo) has announced that its EX90 all-electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) will come equipped with Bowers & Wilkins High Fidelity sound system, a company press release dated May 10 read. Occupants of the seven seater will be able to enjoy 3D surround sound from the 25 speakers throughout the cabin. “For the new Volvo EX90, Bowers & Wilkins was a natural and obvious choice as the partner for our premium audio system. Its highly acclaimed approach to sound exude...

In a major strategic announcement, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding Group) and Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Ltd. (Changan Automobile) signed a cooperation framework agreement, according to a press release May 10. The partnership aims to explore opportunities in new-energy technologies, vehicle intelligence, new-energy powertrains, overseas development, mobility and industrial ecology.  This collaboration agreement aims to jointly promote the development of C...

Expanding its global design footprint, Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) on May 10 announced the opening of its first Asia design studio in Shanghai. The company said the Shanghai studio aims to be one of the most comprehensive design studios of global car brands in Asia. Mirroring its design headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, the Shanghai studio has all the functions needed to facilitate the whole design process — from concept to production. The new design capabilities will allow the...

Volvo Cars Group (Volvo Cars) has collaborated with Plug and Play Tech Center (Plug and Play) for development of mobility in the Scandinavian region, according to a company press release dated May 3. Plug and Play has opened a new innovation platform in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo Cars is a founding partner of the new platform, which is expected to engage more than 500 mobility startups every year. “We’re very pleased to team up with Volvo Cars and open the doors to this new innovation...

London Electric Vehicle Co. (LEVC) has unveiled a state-of-the-art new electric vehicle (EV) platform called Space Oriented Architecture (SOA), which is expected to spawn off a range of next-generation EVs, the company announced on May 5. The EV platform has been codeveloped with Geely Holding Group, it said, adding that the SOA is modular and scalable. LEVC said that its newly developed SOA is the world’s first EV platform focused on setting new standards for onboard space, bringing i...

Geely-backed premium electric car manufacturer Polestar plans to set up a development center in the former Saab plant in Trollhättan, Sweden, according to a news report published by Automobilwoche on April 21. The report cited a company official, who confirmed the development to the news publication. It said Polestar would rent a part of the former Saab facility as part of its larger plan of expanding its vehicle development capacity in Europe. The report pointed out that the previous o...

Volvo announced that it has begun offering Waze app in vehicles with Google built-in, according to a company press release on April 19. This will mark the first time that in-car Waze app will be available to drivers in the US and Asia-Pacific. “We’re continuing to expand our in-car app offer to bring more options and benefits to our customers, allowing them to personalise their car. We’re committed to continuously improving the experience in Volvo cars through our in-house software...

Disclosing its ambitious global growth plan, Geely Holding Group’s premium electric vehicle (EV) brand Zeekr has unveiled its strategy for the European market, according to a news report published by CNEVPOST on April 18. The announcement was made by Zeekr on the sidelines of the ongoing Auto Shanghai 2023. The premium EV-maker plans to offer its customers in Europe a direct-to-customer business model, the report said, adding that the company plans to launch its flagship Zeekr 001 and ...

Geely Holding’s premium electric vehicle (EV) brand Zeekr has officially launched its third electric car — the Zeekr X — at an event in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu, China, according to a news report published by CNEVPOST on April 13. Based on Geely’s Sustainable Electric Architecture (SEA), the Zeekr X is positioned as an electric urban sport utility vehicle (SUV). The Zeekr X will be offered in a single-motor as well as dual-motor version, the report said, adding that ...

Volvo has announced that its new EX90 vehicle will feature a suite of 72 SunLike LEDs in the interior, according to a company press release dated April 13. The SunLike LEDs are supplied by Seoul Semiconductor. The new, nonflickering lighting addition delivers low-light reflection and a high color index. “By utilising the spectrum of light emitted from the SunLike LEDs, the progressive materials and interior design of the Volvo EX90 stand out more clearly and without colour distortion. Compl...

Geely-owned Meizu unveiled its brand new Flyme Auto software for vehicles. The onboard interface is designed to deliver a seamless native experience and deep integration with the car owner's Meizu phone. The new software enables automated and simpler syncing, and allows continued access of the phone. As soon as the owner gets inside the car, the system will sync all opened apps in the background as well as those running in the foreground, so that they can pick up where they left off using the...

Geely Holding Group and DRB-HICOM Berhad have signed a Heads of Agreement (HOA) to reinforce the next phase of collaboration between the two companies. The partnership aims to accelerate the development of the Automotive High-Tech Valley (AHTV) as Malaysia’s next-generation vehicle hub in Tanjong Malim covering the extensive automotive and mobility solutions value chain. The focus of the HOA is the development of an integrated automotive city that will emerge as a hub for a new energy vehic...

Robo-taxi developer Waymo is planning to operate an all-electric fleet of fifth-generation Waymo Driver as it retires its fourth-generation tech utilized on Chrysler Pacifica hybrids. Going ahead, Waymo will deploy the Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles (EVs) as it continues to develop future autonomous vehicles with Geely and its all-electric ZEEKR brand. According to news shared on Waymo’s blog on March 31, the robo-taxi service is in the process of retiring its fourth-generation vehicles, w...

Geely will include eight powertrain plants in China and one in Sweden in its future combustion engine joint venture with Renault and Saudi Aramco, said Reuters in a report dated March 29, quoting two sources close to the matter. Two people told Reuters on March 29 that eight of the nine plants coming from Geely and Aurobay are based in China, and one is in Skovde, Sweden. Aurobay is a combustion engine unit created by Volvo Cars and Geely in 2021 that is now fully owned by Geely. Code...

Lynk & Co will be the first subbrand from Geely to incorporate an in-car operating system called Flyme Auto in its upcoming sports utility vehicle (SUV) called the 08. The use of Meizu operating systems underlines the company’s goal of developing car technology in-house. The collaboration will be a test for both brands — Geely and Meizu — with the former focusing on building its software self-sufficiency and the latter looking to revive its diminishing smartphone business by testing...

Polestar 3 will feature three alternatives in upholstery including Nappa leather, bio-attributed MicroTech vinyl, and animal welfare certified wool, it said in a press release dated 9 February. MicroTech is made from renewable vinyl and recycled polyester textile and is a vegan alternative to leather and comes standard. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a multipurpose plastic made from fossil resources and used for synthetic vinyl materials while MicroTech upholstery is made with 100% fossil-fr...

Chinese automaker Geely has launched a new sub-brand ‘Galaxy’ for premium electrified vehicles, the company announced in a press release on 23 February. At the launch of the Geely Galaxy brand, the company also unveiled the first car from the Geely Galaxy range, the Galaxy L7 long-range plug-in hybrid sport utility vehicle (SUV), along with a fully electric concept model, the “Galaxy Light.” At the ceremony, Geely Auto also unveiled a multitude of new advanced electrified technologies...

Volvo has issued a recall of 106,900 vehicles worldwide over potential issues with automatic safety brakes, according to multiple reports on 25 January. The electronic braking support function is affected when the system takes over in the event of an emergency. It does not impact manual braking using brake pedals. Vehicles being recalled are model year (MY) 2023 C40, XC40, S60, V60, XC60, V90, and XC90 models. Volvo is set to issue a free software update to fix the issue.

Volvo has announced that it has improved both the range (WLTP) and charging for the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge compared to the previous versions, according to a company press release dated 16 January. The range has been increased by as much as 60 kilometers on some variants. The C40 Recharge and XC40 Recharge variants will receive three new powertrains, including include two rear-wheel-drive variants as well as a revised all-wheel-drive performance model. “These updates are another big ...

Geely has partnered with Alibaba for holistic digitization, including in the fields of autonomous driving, intelligent cockpit, industrial internet, mobility services, digital marketing, and sustainable development, Equal Ocean reported on 16 January. Amap, Alibaba’s digital map and navigation service provider, Alibaba Cloud, and vehicle operating system provider Banma Network Technology will provide Geely with smart cockpit, smart mobility, and vehicle ecology services. Significance: Un...

Volvo has announced that its latest over-the-air (OTA) update, with over one million installations, will include the ability to issue voice commands through Google Assistant-enabled devices, according to a press release dated 5 January. This will allow drivers to warm up their car and among other abilities, and a wider introduction of Care Key technology. Volvo also introduced integrated connectivity in Greece, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and Iceland. “Thanks to over-the-air updates an...

Smart Eye has announced that it will demonstrate Polestar 3 driver monitoring system (DMS) at CES 2023 in Las Vegas in January 2023, in a press release on 15 December. The driver monitoring technology is included in Polestar 3 as standard. The DMS is part of a system that includes driver alert control, lane keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, and pilot assist, among others. Visitors can see how the cameras in the vehicle track the driver’s head and eye movements and observe how the AI sof...

Bose has announced that it will supply sound system for Volvo Cars, starting with the recently unveiled Volvo EX90, according to a company press release on 20 December. The Bose-equipped vehicle model will be available by early 2024. Bose will supply a 14-speaker sound system to enhance the in-cabin experience. “Teaming up with Volvo Cars is a major milestone for us. We share many common characteristics—from our long-standing commitment to delivering incredible consumer experiences to our...

Modern Tire Dealer reported on 16 November that Pirelli’s P Zero with ELECT technology had been selected by Polestar as OE on the new, limited-edition Polestar 2 BST 270. According to the report, the ultra-high-performance tire will be supplied in size 245/35R21 and will feature a high load index and HL marking on its side.  Significance: The Polestar 2 BST Edition 270 has been developed a more powerful version of the Polestar 2 and will be available primarily in the European and No...