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Future of transport

Future of transport
From electric cars to on-demand car service apps, companies like Uber, Google and Didi Dache are changing the way we get from place to place, and having a potentially irreversible effect on employment in this key sector.
Xiaomi will cooperate with the police after an accident involving the autonomous driving feature of its SU7 electric vehicle (EV) claimed three lives. Photo: Weibo/ 南京金刀客
Electric & new energy vehicles

‘Millions of drivers need to be educated’ after fatal Xiaomi crash: analysts

Autonomous-driving features carry high safety risks amid a lack knowledge about how the systems work, leader of industry body says.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Top Chinese EV makers power ahead thanks to subsidies, tax incentives

Electric & new energy vehicles

Xiaomi car crash involving self-driving feature sparks concerns in China

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Hong Kong transport

Launch of Hong Kong’s newest premium taxi fleet plagued by cancellations

Reporters, lawmaker try to hail ride via JOIE app without success. Transport expert asks why premium taxis aren’t using centralised app.

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Lawmaker Gary Zhang Xinyu, who is also a member of the Legislative Council’s transport panel, attempts to book a ride with premium taxi fleet “JOIE” without success. Photo: Nora Tam
Hong Kong transport

Fleet of 200 new premium taxis hit the streets of Hong Kong

Company confident a higher level of service for its targeted customer base will be worth the longer wait times.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

China to crack down on unfair EV price cuts to stabilise industry

China vows to combat unfair pricing and misinformation by EV players, as it aims to stabilise growth and profitability of the sector.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Self navigating to the top: why China leads the global autonomous-driving race

After stamping their authority on EV technology, Chinese firms make strides in adding self-driving features.

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Illustration by Lau Ka-kuen
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV industry pressed to accelerate global expansion amid tariffs

Companies should balance exports and overseas production while seeking to achieve win-wins with foreign partners, former vice-minister says.

Science

EV expert Xu Fuguo returns to China after leaving US$30 million project in Japan

Engineer returns as professor at Dalian university as Japan’s auto industry struggles to keep up with Chinese innovation and market momentum.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD out-earns Tesla after out-making, outselling Model 3 producer

Chinese EV maker is forecast to widen its lead over Tesla in 2025 and 2026 global sales, according to consensus compiled by Bloomberg.

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The BYD logo is displayed at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2024. Photo: AFP
China-EU relations

Unaffected by EU’s tariffs on EVs, China’s hybrid-vehicle exports surge to bloc

With Brussels’ tariffs not a problem, China’s plug-in hybrid EVs have become the fastest-growing Chinese export item to the 27-nation bloc.

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BYD’s Denza N9 luxury SUV is available in a plug-in hybrid version advertised in London. Photo: Handout
Science

China aims to deploy maglev rocket launch pad by 2028, challenging SpaceX

Advances in rocket acceleration to supersonic speeds before ignition are part of plan to create hub of private rocket manufacture.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD launches a ‘Model 3 killer’ at half the price of Tesla’s top seller

The Qin L and Xpeng’s Mona M03, which are priced around US$16,500, arrive as the US company’s mainland sales are dropping.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD’s Denza unveils N9 SUV to challenge Mercedes, BMW in premium EV segment

The N9 starts from 389,800 (US$60,860), equipped with BYD’s autonomous driving systems and can support on-vehicle drone systems.

BYD’s premium brand Denza launches its most expensive model called N9 in Shenzhen on March 21, 2025. Photo: Handout
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV maker Nio’s fourth-quarter loss widens, revenue outlook underwhelms

‘This year marks the beginning of a new product cycle for our three brands,’ says founder, chairman and CEO William Li Bin.

A Nio ET5 in Berlin. Photo: Reuters
Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng sets up first self-branded EV supercharging station in Hong Kong

Fierce competition among auto manufacturers is extending to charging technologies.

China-EU relations

Tech transfer a must for Chinese EV investors in Europe, EU trade chief suggests

Ahead of his trip to Beijing next week, Maros Sefcovic says US tariffs could unleash a flood of Chinese overcapacity on Europe.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese carmaker Geely’s profit soars 213% driven by EVs, asset sales

Geely sold 2.18 million vehicles last year, of which 1.76 million units were delivered on the mainland while 414,522 units were exported.

Geely is China’s second-largest carmaker with several brands in its portfolio. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong economy

Food deliveries by drone to take flight in Hong Kong as early as April

One lawmaker also expects authorities to ease civil aviation regulations by October to allow wider usage of commercial drones.

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Science

How China is solving the nightmare that killed Elon Musk’s Hyperloop

Chinese engineers have overcome the hurdles that stopped the US billionaire’s idea for a vacuum tube transport system in its tracks.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

Xpeng says robotics industry will get bigger than automotive sector

Xpeng plans to mass produce humanoid robots and flying cars for the consumer market by the end of next year.

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Workers at an Xpeng factory in Guangdong province. Photo: Xinhua
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV maker Xpeng trims losses on 23% revenue rise

The carmaker expects revenue to increase by up to 140 per cent from a year earlier in the first quarter.

Xpeng X9 electric vehicles at a port in Guangzhou. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese EV maker Nio, battery king CATL join forces on swapping stations

CATL, which is planning a US$5 billion Hong Kong share listing, will invest up to US$345.6 million in Nio.

Electric & new energy vehicles

BYD shares surge on unveiling of ‘fast as gas’ charging tech

The new battery and charger platform from the world’s biggest EV maker operates at 1 megawatt, twice the power of Tesla’s fastest offering.

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China airliners

China tests huge transport drone capable of airlifting over 1 ton of goods

The TP1000, which completed its maiden flight on Saturday, has a larger payload and longer range than any previous unmanned transport aircraft in China.

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The TP1000 is China’s first unmanned transport aircraft capable of hauling over 1 ton of goods. Photo: CCTV
Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla plans cheaper model to put brakes on China sales slide

The US company’s share of the world’s largest EV market has dropped to 4.3 per cent from more than 16 per cent in 2022.

People check out a Tesla electric car at the company’s delivery centre in Beijing on February 27, 2025. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

Tesla pins hope on refreshed Model Y to revive faltering sales in China

Orders for the revamped model, which starts from US$36,292 have crossed 200,000 units, according to Chinese tech site 36kr.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Exclusive | Hesai eyes Europe’s smart EVs for lidar sales after Mercedes-Benz deal

Hesai’s 2025 profit may jump to between 200 million yuan and 350 million yuan, from 14 million yuan last year, said its chief financial officer Andrew Fan.

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