Join hosts Lei Xing and Tu Le in this dynamic episode of China EVs and More as they dissect the week’s most pivotal news and developments in the global EV, AV, and mobility sectors. From corporate shake-ups to industry resets, the discussion highlights critical issues shaping the future of mobility.

Discussion Topics:

     •  The sudden challenges and restructuring at Ji Yue, a joint venture between Geely and Baidu.

     •  Analysis of the “reset” era in China’s EV market and its implications for startups and legacy automakers.

     •  BYD’s dominance and its impact on both domestic and international markets.

     •  Evaluating automaker strategies, from Volkswagen’s 10-point plan for China to Stellantis’ investments in Leapmotor and CATL.

     •  NIO’s ambitious goals for profitability and scale in 2025 and its evolving battery-swapping ecosystem.

     •  Insights into the global implications of shifting EV production and market dynamics.

     •  The collapse of GM’s Cruise and its lessons for autonomous vehicle technology.

     •  Predictions for market protectionism and its effects on EV exports, especially in South America.

Companies Discussed:

     •           Geely, Baidu, Ji Yue

     •           BYD, Nio, Leapmotor

     •           Volkswagen, GM, Stellantis

     •           CATL, Tesla, Waymo

     •           GAC, Huawei, Xiaomi

Tune in for an in-depth exploration of the challenges and opportunities in the ever-evolving EV and mobility industries!

Summary

In this episode, Tu Le and Lei Xing discuss the latest trends and insights in the electric vehicle (EV) market, focusing on sales data from November, the competitive landscape involving major players like Tesla and BYD, and the challenges faced by legacy automakers such as GM and Nissan in the Chinese market. They explore the implications of government incentives, market strategies, and the evolving consumer trust in various brands. The conversation highlights the dynamic nature of the EV sector and the ongoing adjustments required by manufacturers to stay relevant.

Keywords

EV market, Tesla, BYD, NIO, GM, Stellantis, Nissan, China automotive, electric vehicles, sales trends, market analysis

In this engaging episode of the China EVs & More podcast, Tu Le and Lei Xing recap their experience at the 2024 Paris Motor Show, offering insights into the evolving global EV landscape. Highlights include discussions on the growing influence of Chinese automakers in Europe, the resurgence of European brands like Renault, and key geopolitical challenges shaping the automotive industry. The duo also shares anecdotes about networking, market dynamics, and the cultural aspects of the show.

Key Topics Covered:

•Chinese Automakers in Europe: The prominence of brands like BYD, Xpeng, and AITO at the Paris Motor Show, their strategies, and the European market’s response.

•European Brands’ Counterattack: Renault’s new offerings and the competitive pricing of French EVs as a response to the “Chinese EV assault.”

•Market Dynamics: Observations on global trends, the geopolitical backdrop, and the future of auto shows.

•Industry Leaders & Networking: Encounters with executives and key players such as Carlos Tavares (Stellantis) and Herbert Diess.

This episode delivers a deep dive into the intersection of automotive innovation, global market strategies, and cultural exchanges.

List of Mentioned Companies

Automakers:

1.Renault

2.Stellantis (including Citroën and Peugeot)

3.BYD

4.Xpeng

5.LeapMotor

6.AITO

7.Dongfeng Forthing

8.Hongqi

9.Skyworth

10.Tesla

11.GAC Group

12.Cadillac

13.Ford

14.Dacia

15.Alpine

16.Mobilize

17.ZEEKR

18.Porsche

19.Volkswagen

Suppliers and Tech Companies:

1.Valeo

2.Bosch

3.ACC (Auto Cell Company)

Startups and Smaller Firms:

1.Microlino

2.Snap X (Hydrogen fuel cell startup)

Others:

1.Lithium Americas

2.McKinsey & Company

3.Pony.ai

4.WeRide

In this episode of the China EVs & More podcast, Tu Le and Lei Xing provide a comprehensive analysis of recent developments in the global EV and mobility sectors, with a spotlight on Tesla’s “We Robot” event and China’s growing influence in the global EV market. The duo delves into autonomous driving technologies, China’s aggressive EV strategies, and the impact of trade tensions between China and the EU.

Key Topics Covered:

•Tesla’s “We Robot” Event: A breakdown of Tesla’s announcements, including the Cybercab and Robo-van, and their implications for the U.S. and global markets.

•China EV Trends: BYD’s rise as the top automaker in China, surpassing SAIC, and the competitive dynamics during China’s Golden Week sales.

•Global Trade and Policy: Discussion on China’s potential retaliatory tariffs and their impact on the EU and U.S. markets.

•Foxconn’s EV Expansion: Analysis of Foxconn’s new vehicles and their strategies for entering the U.S. market.

This episode blends industry insights with engaging conversations on the future of EVs, autonomy, and geopolitical challenges shaping the auto industry.

List of Mentioned Companies

Automakers:

1.Tesla

2.BYD

3.Xpeng

4.LeapMotor

5.NIO

6.GAC Aion

7.Lynk & Co

8.General Motors (GM)

9.Ford

10.Volkswagen

11.Rivian

12.SAIC

13.Mercedes-Benz

14.BMW

15.Porsche

16.Audi

17.Cadillac

18.Chevrolet

19.Buick

20.Skywell

Suppliers and Technology Companies:

1.Foxconn (Foxtron)

2.CATL

3.Gotion

4.WeLion

5.Electrion

6.Witricity

7.Valeo

Startups and Smaller Firms:

1.Lyten (Sulfur Battery Startup)

2.LiBRIDGE (Battery Advocacy Group)

Others:

1.Uber

2.Cruise

3.Waymo

4.LG Chem

5.Pininfarina (Design Firm)

6.Bloomberg (Media)

7.Reuters (Media)

In this episode of China EVs & More, Tu Le and Lei Xing dive into the booming September sales figures in China’s EV market and the ongoing impact of geopolitical factors on the global automotive industry. They analyze the latest trends, such as the shift towards EREVs (Extended Range Electric Vehicles), China’s competitive dynamics, and the EU’s new tariffs targeting Chinese EVs. Additionally, the co-hosts explore the future of vehicle design and innovation driven by consumer and market demands in China.

Key Topics Covered:

•September Sales Records: Analysis of exceptional sales performances by key players, including BYD, Li Auto, and NIO.

•Stimulus Impact: How China’s recent economic measures are driving consumer confidence and boosting EV sales.

•Global Competition: The challenges faced by legacy automakers like GM, Ford, and European brands amidst the rise of Chinese EV makers.

•EU Tariffs: Implications of the newly approved tariffs on Chinese EVs and their impact on global trade dynamics.

•Future of Design: Predictions on how China’s market preferences are shaping global vehicle design and form factors.

This episode offers deep insights into the dynamic and rapidly evolving EV landscape, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of where the industry is headed.


List of Mentioned Companies

Automakers:

1.BYD

2.Tesla

3.NIO

4.Li Auto

5.XPeng

6.LeapMotor

7.ZEEKR

8.ARCFOX

9.AITO

10.Deepal

11.Chang’an

12.Dongfeng

13.GM (General Motors)

14.Ford

15.Hyundai

16.Kia

17.Cadillac

18.Buick

19.SAIC Volkswagen

20.Renault

21.Stellantis

22.Great Wall Motor

23.TANK

Technology and Battery Companies:

1.CATL

2.Gotion

3.Mobileye

4.Intel

5.Qualcomm

Other Key Mentions:

1.Ministry of Commerce (China)

2.Macron (France)

3.EU (European Union)

4.Stellantis-LeapMotor Partnership

5.Refraction AI (Autonomous Delivery Startup)

This list highlights the wide range of companies and entities discussed in the podcast, reflecting the multifaceted dynamics of the global EV and mobility sectors.

The podcast begins with Tu and Lei briefly discussing the XPeng's AI Day where XPeng unveiled a few different strategic initiatives including the development of a robotaxi and the design of its own silicon to help run it. 

The biggest news from XPeng was that they are entering the EREV space. 

The conversation then moves over to Audi's brand launch in China and Tu and Lei's differing views of the 'why' and how successful they ultimately feel it will be. Tu points out that it won't be in production until mid-2025. 

Tu and Lei spend the rest of the podcast discussing the implications of another Trump presidency, one influenced by Elon Musk and the other Silicon Valley VCs that backed his candidacy. 

Tu emphasizes that this runs much deeper than giving Tesla the advantage in the US and points to all the AI and space exploration investments that have been made by the tech bros. 

The podcast starts with Lei seeing Tesla - all over Shanghai. Tu goes a step further saying that the Tesla brand is stronger in China than the Porsche brand. 

The conversation broadens out to a brief discussion about the Tesla earnings call and what analysts expect Tesla sales numbers to be in Q4 and whether or not they can match their sales from 2023. 

Tu moves on to congratulate WeRide for IPO'ing on the NASDAQ something they'd plan on doing much sooner. They discuss who is still up to IPO in the US later this year or early next. 

The conversation switches to Jim Farley's comments about driving the Xiaomi SU7 for the last 6 months and not wanting to give it up. Tu speculates that its his way of rallying the troops - Herbert Diess style. 

Lei then takes a few moments to discuss why he's over in China and some of the companies he's visited on this trip. 

The podcast closes out with Tu talking about his participation in the Reuters Automotive event held in Detroit and a brief discussion about how the price war has continued and still doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon.

Tu and Lei discuss BYD's continued success and marvel at their ability to break record after record. Tu points out that their operation efficiency is one big reason they're able to continue this blistering growth. 

This leads to a larger conversation about October sales and the sales drops of the European automakers (BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen Group, Porsche) and how much they should be worried about their future prospects. 

This leads to a discussion about both Stellantis and Volkswagen Group and their recent outwardly vocal pleas to get smaller to shed costs. 

The podcast closes out with a tariff discussion and how the EU and China may be able to avoid a trade war since both sides really don't want that.  

Tu and Lei spend the first few minutes of the podcast updating about the policy changes coming out of a major Chinese govt meeting that are meant to stimulate the Chinese economy and some of the reactions from the external non-Chinese financial institutions reactions to those new stimulus policies. 

Tu asks Lei to go over some of the vehicle launches that happened that week continuing the barrage of introductions from Chinese EV makers which, in large part, is why the legacies are struggling to keep up. Tu compares and contrasts that with the still very few clearn energy vehicles that are entering the US market. 

Tu changes gears to congratulate BYD on producing their 9 milionth vehicle. He then talks about how meaningful that is and how it was accomplished in such a short period of time relative to earlier milestones. 

Tu and Lei move to unpacking the new Biden administration proposed restrictions on Chinese connected vehicle software and hardware. Tu talks about how this closes the Mexico backdoor and effectively keeps China EV Inc out of the US market for the foreseeable future. 

They close out the podcast with a brief review of the situation in Europe for China EV Inc and a preview of what they look forward to at the Paris Motor Show. 

Tu and Lei begin this episode with an update on the sales of the newly launched vehicles from Mona and ONVO. They both promise to make a bad situation for Legacy Auto in China even worse. 

Tu shifts gears and discusses how carmakers can still differentiate themselves even if they're using the same technology or more specifically, the same silicon to power the infotainment and intelligent driving systems. 

Tu then also discusses what could happen to the foreign suppliers if they're not able to speed up their level of innovation to keep pace with their Chinese counterparts. 

Lei then details his trip to Germany and his visits to Chinese EV brand dealerships. 

Tu speculates that with everything going on in the European market, the Chinese brands in order to maintain their competitiveness should begin to start reducing prices on their products there. 

The episode ends with Tu describing his trip to Vancouver to be a part of the Electrify Everything Conference sponsored by the Fully Charged team.