China's electrified-vehicle sector keeps pushing outward and upward. Today's wrap covers BYD's million-unit overseas milestone and "system export" model, Geely's leadership change and pledge to stop developing combustion engines, record national NEV exports where plug-in hybrids are gaining share, Leapmotor and XPeng embedding deeper into Europe, and AITO's twin range-extended (EREV) launches. We also note a nine-ministry push to bring EVs to China's countryside.
BYD Takes Its "Silk Road" Global as Overseas Sales Top 1 Million
BYD's "2026 Silk Road Journey" convoy retraced the ancient trade route from Xi'an to the coast before shipping out from Shenzhen, using the trip to demonstrate its flash-charging and intelligent-driving tech across thousands of kilometers. The headline milestone: BYD's overseas sales have surpassed 1 million units, up more than 140% year-on-year, across 120+ countries and regions.
- Fleet and infrastructure: BYD now operates 8 custom roll-on/roll-off ships with 250,000–300,000 units/year of capacity, and is shifting from product export to "system export" — Europe's first flash-charge station, a dedicated charging network in Uzbekistan, and local plants in Thailand and Brazil.
- Flash charging: The second-generation Blade Battery system takes a vehicle from 10% to 70% in about 5 minutes and to 97% in under 9 minutes at room temperature; even at −30°C it only needs about 3 extra minutes. By end-June BYD had built 7,018 flash-charge stations across 325 Chinese cities.
- Smart driving: The "God's Eye" (Tian Shen Zhi Yan) ADAS ran full-scenario NOA across highways and city streets during the journey, spanning BYD's Dynasty, Ocean, Denza, Fang Cheng Bao and Yangwang lineups.
Source: NetEase (网易) — https://www.163.com/dy/article/L4KP16IB05477C7Y.html
Geely Posts Record H1 Revenue as Li Shufu Steps Down, Pledges to End ICE R&D
Geely Auto reported first-half 2026 revenue of RMB 173.6 billion (approximately $24.4 billion USD), up 15% year-on-year and a record high, with core net profit of RMB 9.68 billion (about $1.36 billion), up 46%. Total sales reached 1.423 million units (+1%), of which NEVs hit 800,000 (+10%), 56.2% of the total, and exports reached 474,000 (+158%), with NEV exports of 277,000 — up 585%.
- Leadership change: On Aug 18, founder Li Shufu resigned as chairman of the Hong Kong-listed Geely Auto; An Conghui succeeded him, with Li staying on as lifetime honorary chairman and remaining chairman of parent Zhejiang Geely Holding. The move is framed as a shift from founder-driven to institution-driven governance.
- Strategy pivot: Geely said it will end internal-combustion-engine R&D and fully commit to new energy and intelligent technology.
- Overseas ambition: The export target was raised from 640,000 to 920,000 units this year, challenging 1 million, with long-term plans for two-thirds of sales to come from overseas markets.
Source: NetEase / Financial World (金融界) — https://www.163.com/dy/article/L4K4IPFB0519QIKK.html
China's NEV Exports Hit Record as Plug-in Hybrids Gain Share
China's new-energy vehicle exports reached 2.355 million units in the first half of 2026, up 120% year-on-year, according to industry data. Belt and Road countries took 1.135 million of those (+59.4%). In June, NEV exports hit 523,000 — the first time they surpassed gasoline-powered vehicle exports in a month.
- Brand leaders: BYD led NEV exports at 769,000 units (34.5% share), followed by Chery (932,000 total exports), Geely (465,000), SAIC passenger vehicles (404,000) and Great Wall (256,000).
- Plug-in hybrids rising: BYD's DM-i plug-in hybrid system is especially popular overseas, pushing the PHEV share of China's NEV exports to about 19% — no longer just battery-electric and gasoline.
- Headwinds: The EU's anti-subsidy tariffs (up to 45.3% on BEVs, with a planned extension to plug-in hybrids) and Brazil's uniform 35% EV import tariff are pressures, accelerating local production (BYD's Brazil plant, Chery's Barcelona line).
Source: d1ev (第一电动网) — https://www.d1ev.com/newsflash/309982
Leapmotor Embeds in Europe via Stellantis, Tops Italy Sales
Leapmotor's technology is increasingly woven into Europe's legacy auto industry rather than simply shipped there. Leapmotor International awarded Rheinmetall a European component project, the B10 will be built at Stellantis' Zaragoza, Spain plant, and a co-developed O3U SUV is due in 2028 — a clear "local R&D, local manufacturing, local sourcing" strategy that helps clear the EU's 45% local-content threshold.
- Sales: From Jan–Jul 2026, Leapmotor registered 25,393 units in Italy, where the Lafa5 leads the C-segment EV market; overseas wholesale exports surpassed 113,000 units, leading Chinese EV startups.
- Footprint: Present in 40+ countries with 950+ overseas outlets via the Stellantis network; the Lafa5 (515/605 km CLTC, 18-min 30–80%充电) launched in Europe in June and extended to Australia and New Zealand in August.
Source: NetEase (网易) — https://www.163.com/dy/article/L44ML226051191D6.html
XPeng G9L Debuts Globally with BEV and "Super Range-Extended" Powertrains
XPeng unveiled the G9L "golden five-seat tech flagship" in Guangzhou on Aug 11, with presales starting at RMB 259,800 (approximately $36,600 USD). The model was tested across 26 countries and regions over 6.74 million km and meets 3,000+ regulatory requirements in 64 markets — a sign of how seriously Chinese brands are taking global homologation.
- Two energy paths: The BEV version offers up to 755 km CLTC range, while the "super range-extended" EREV version reaches up to 1,602 km combined CLTC — a plug-in-series layout that addresses long-distance anxiety.
- Tech: Upgraded second-generation VLA smart-driving model, 720° safety testing, AI adaptive seats and a four-motor center console. It follows the MONA L03's global launch in Munich, underscoring XPeng's accelerated overseas push.
Source: NetEase (网易) — https://www.163.com/dy/article/L44OFCUF05568W0A.html
Porsche Leaves VW Pool, Buys Carbon Credits from XPeng for EU Rules
In an Aug 5 filing to the European Commission, Porsche exited Volkswagen Group's emissions pool and formed an open compliance pool with China's XPeng covering 2026–2027. Under EU CAFE rules, fleet average CO2 must stay at 93.6 g/km (averaged over 2025–2027), with fines up to €95 per g/km per car — potentially billions across the industry.
- Why Porsche: Its West-Europe BEV sales fell about 30% in H1 2026 and its fleet CO2 rose to 130.2 g/km, well above the target. VW Group (100 g/km in 2025) actually benefits by shedding the high-emission unit.
- Why XPeng: VW has held 4.99% of XPeng since 2023; XPeng sells only EVs in Europe (G6, G9, P7+, and the EREV L03), giving it surplus credits. Its H1 Europe sales rose 126% to about 19,000 units. The credit sales are near-pure-profit revenue that funds XPeng's European expansion.
Source: NetEase (网易) — https://www.163.com/dy/article/L47BBJ88051191D6.html
AITO M9 Ultimate Launches at RMB 649,800 with First 2.0T Range-Extender
AITO (Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility) launched the M9 Ultimate, priced from RMB 649,800 (approximately $91,500 USD), with first deliveries expected by end of August. At 5,402 × 2,026 × 1,845 mm with a 3,236 mm wheelbase, it is billed as China's largest production NEV SUV.
- Powertrain: It is the first Harmony Intelligent Mobility model with a 2.0T range-extender plus tri-motor setup, delivering over 900 hp combined, on an 800V architecture with a 75 kWh battery, 420 km WLTC electric range, and 300 km regained in a 10-minute charge.
- Chassis: 800V fully-active suspension, dual-chamber air suspension, rear-wheel steering (±8°), and a 5.1 m turning radius. Four-, five- and six-seat layouts, zero-gravity seats and a smart starry roof round out the flagship.
Source: ZOL (中关村在线) — https://m.zol.com.cn/article/12340347.html
Refreshed AITO M8 Files at MIIT: EREV and BEV, 3,105 mm Wheelbase
Four refreshed AITO M8 variants were filed in MIIT's 410th batch: two EREV (1.5T range-extender, 115 kW net) and two BEV, with LFP or NMC battery options and 5/6-seat layouts. Dimensions are 5,190 × 1,999 × 1,795 mm with a 3,105 mm wheelbase.
- Efficiency: EREV WLTC fuel consumption is as low as 0.16 L/100 km; CLTC electric range is expected above 200 km with combined range over 1,000 km. The 227 kW drive motor is shared, and rear-wheel steering is expected to trickle down from the M9.
- Track record: The current M8 has sold 180,000+ units as a 400k-class benchmark. Purchase benefits of up to RMB 66,000 are available through Aug 31.
Source: NetEase (网易) — https://www.163.com/dy/article/L44AVRM20556690T.html
Nine Ministries Back NEV-to-Countryside Push, Rural Charging Expansion
On Aug 18, nine ministries — including Commerce, the NDRC and Finance — issued guidelines to energize county-level consumption, explicitly supporting new-energy vehicles, green smart products and green building materials going to the countryside, and expanding rural charging infrastructure coverage.
- Why it matters: The measures address the "charging anxiety" that limits A0- and compact-class EV adoption in lower-tier markets (models like the BYD Dolphin and Wuling Bingo benefit most).
- Supporting levers: Easier county-level store approvals, consumer-loan interest subsidies, and logistics support for parts distribution — all aimed at extending sales and service networks from county seats into key townships.
Source: NetEase (网易) — https://www.163.com/dy/article/L4KMBL5105568W0A.html
