·CPCA Forecasts January Narrow-Sense Passenger Vehicle Retail Sales at 1.8 Million Units, NEV Penetration Rate at 44.4%

·Musk Announces: Tesla FSD Could Receive Approval in China as Early as February, Software Revenue Becomes New Growth Engine

·Volvo EX60 Official Images Revealed, Pure Electric Range up to 810 km, Compatible with Tesla Supercharging

·Genesis Unveils X Skorpio Off-Road Concept in Desert, Multiple Derivative Models Revealed

·GAC Aion and Didi Jointly Develop Robotaxi R2, Set for Deployment in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in Q2

·Tesla Cybercab to Begin Mass Production in Texas in April, Prototype Undergoing Winter Testing in Alaska

·BYD D-segment Flagship SUV “Da Tang” Exposed, 0-100 km/h in 4.9 Seconds, Launch Expected in First Half of Year

·VOYAH Smart Supercharging Stations Exceed 100 Units, Achieving +1.5 Million Interconnected Charging Resources in One Year

·smart #2 Prototype Concept Car to Debut at Beijing Auto Show, Mass Production in 2026

CPCA Forecasts January Narrow-Sense Passenger Vehicle Retail Sales at 1.8 Million Units, NEV Penetration Rate at 44.4%

According to data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), January narrow-sense passenger vehicle retail sales are expected to reach 1.8 million units, down 20.4% month-on-month and up slightly by 0.3% year-on-year. Among them, new energy vehicle (NEV) retail sales are approximately 800,000 units, with a penetration rate of 44.4%. This performance is closely tied to the halving of the vehicle purchase tax subsidy policy, resulting in a somewhat sluggish market start in early January.

In the first week, daily average retail sales were only 30,000 units, showing declines both year-on-year and month-on-month. In the second week, terminal enthusiasm gradually recovered, with daily average retail sales rising to 50,000 units and the decline narrowing. In the third week, as local trade-in subsidy policies were implemented, the market continued to warm up, with daily average retail sales expected to reach 57,000 units. In the fourth week, boosted by the implementation of subsidy policies and pre-Chinese New Year first-time purchase demand, daily average retail sales are expected to surge to 120,000 units, driving stable full-month market performance.

Musk Announces: Tesla FSD Could Receive Approval in China as Early as February, Software Revenue Becomes New Growth Engine

Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently stated that the Supervised Full Self-Driving (FSD) system could receive approval from regulatory authorities in China and Europe as early as February. Amid slowing global auto sales growth, Tesla is seeking to open new growth avenues by increasing software revenue.

Musk also revealed that Tesla has launched an unsupervised autonomous robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, USA. The service, which began in June last year with dedicated safety monitors, now operates without them. Additionally, Tesla plans to sell the Optimus humanoid robot to the public by the end of 2025, a timeline delayed from previous expectations, while Musk predicts that the number of robots will eventually surpass humans.

Volvo EX60 Official Images Revealed, Pure Electric Range up to 810 km, Compatible with Tesla Supercharging

Volvo has officially released the all-new pure electric SUV model EX60, built on the dedicated electric SPA3 platform and featuring the family's latest design language. In addition to the standard version, a Cross Country variant is also offered to meet users' diverse practical needs. The vehicle comes in three power variants: P6, P10, and P12, with range capabilities covering various travel scenarios.

The P6 variant features a single-motor layout with a maximum power of 369 hp and 0-100 km/h acceleration in 5.7 seconds. The P10 and P12 variants are equipped with dual-motor all-wheel-drive systems, delivering combined power of 503 hp and 670 hp respectively, with the fastest 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 3.8 seconds. Battery options include 80 kWh, 91 kWh, and 112 kWh packs, corresponding to pure electric ranges of 620 km, 660 km, and 810 km. It supports 400 kW DC fast charging, achieving 10% to 80% in 19 minutes, and for the first time adopts a native NACS port, enabling direct access to over 25,000 Tesla Supercharger stations without an adapter.

Genesis Unveils X Skorpio Off-Road Concept in Desert, Multiple Derivative Models Revealed

Genesis officially unveiled the X Skorpio Concept off-road vehicle in the Rub' al Khali Desert's "Empty Quarter" in the UAE. This vehicle is purpose-built to conquer harsh terrains such as deserts. The event not only revealed the brand's new concept car strategy but also demonstrated the vehicle's real-world performance on-site, with synchronized debuts of optimized models including the GV60 off-road version, GV70 off-road version, and GV80 Desert special edition.

Inspired by the Scorpio constellation, the X Skorpio Concept is Genesis's first extreme off-road masterpiece, incorporating the resilient and survival-driven traits of the scorpion into its design philosophy. This meticulously crafted model showcases the brand's fearless pursuit of innovation while perfectly blending luxury experience with off-road performance, opening a new chapter for the brand and bringing it closer to off-road enthusiasts. 

GAC Aion and Didi Jointly Develop Robotaxi R2, Set for Deployment in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in Q2

HaoBao Aion BU President Zhang Xiong revealed that in the second quarter of 2026, the Robotaxi R2—jointly developed by GAC Aion and Didi Autonomous Driving—will first be deployed for use in core cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou. The new vehicle completed mass-production delivery on January 23. As China's first Robotaxi project advanced through a joint venture between an OEM and an autonomous driving company, it holds significant importance.

This delivery successfully establishes a full-chain commercial closed loop for autonomous driving: "technology R&D—intelligent manufacturing—commercial operations." GAC Group Chairman Feng Xingya stated that the two parties will deepen all-round cooperation in the future, leveraging their respective strengths in vehicle manufacturing, autonomous driving, and mobility ecosystems to contribute to Guangzhou's construction as an "Intelligent Vehicle City."

Tesla Cybercab to Begin Mass Production in Texas in April, Prototype Undergoing Winter Testing in Alaska

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on social media that the Cybercab will begin mass production at the Texas Gigafactory in April 2026. The prototype vehicle is currently undergoing winter testing in Alaska, USA. As the new vehicle features nearly 100% new components and an entirely new production process, Musk acknowledged that initial production will be particularly slow, aligning with the classic S-curve capacity ramp-up.

In low-temperature conditions, the prototype equipped with a 50 kWh battery pack shows energy degradation in line with expectations, delivering an urban range of 321–402 km, sufficient for all-weather operations. In harsh weather such as blizzards and frost, the FSD V14 system collaborates between vision cameras and radar to enable automatic speed reduction and path following, with sensor recognition accuracy remaining unaffected. Tesla internal data indicates that weekly production in the first half of 2026 will only reach several hundred units, making it difficult to exceed 100,000 units for the full year.

BYD D-segment Flagship SUV “Da Tang” Exposed, 0-100 km/h in 4.9 Seconds, Launch Expected in First Half of Year

A set of real-vehicle images of BYD’s D-segment flagship SUV from the Tang 9 series has recently surfaced. The tail badge reveals that the new model is named “Da Tang” (大唐), with 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 4.9 seconds. In terms of exterior design, the vehicle adopts BYD’s latest family style, featuring clean and powerful lines, an ultra-long continuous front daytime running light paired with vertical headlights, exuding strong presence.

It is understood that the new vehicle’s length is very likely to exceed 5.2 meters, with a width of 2 meters, further reinforcing its flagship stature with a robust and imposing stance. Details show the presence of LiDAR, indicating highly anticipated intelligent driving capabilities, while the thick continuous taillight at the rear maximizes the vehicle’s recognizability. 

VOYAH Smart Supercharging Stations Exceed 100 Units, Achieving +1.5 Million Interconnected Charging Resources in One Year

VOYAH Automobile officially announced that the number of smart supercharging stations has surpassed 100. It took only one year from the completion of the first station to reaching this milestone. In 2024, the brand’s first station deployed the world’s first megawatt-level charging pile, the VOYAH VP1000, achieving highly efficient replenishment at “1 second of charging for 1.7 km of range.”

On January 1, VOYAH released delivery figures: cumulative deliveries for the full year of 2025 reached 150,169 units, up 87% year-on-year. As of December 2025, the brand has provided users with over 510 million kWh of cumulative charging, contributing to a reduction of more than 160,000 tons of carbon emissions. Owners can access over 1.5 million charging resources nationwide.

smart #2 Prototype Concept Car to Debut at Beijing Auto Show, Mass Production in 2026

The smart #2 prototype concept car is confirmed to make its global debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April. The official has previously released teaser images. Built on the all-new ECA architecture, the vehicle adopts a two-door, two-seat layout. As an iterative upgrade of the original smart fortwo, it is positioned as a fully electric two-seater urban car, forming differentiation from the existing #1, #3, and #5 SUV series.

The vehicle is designed by the Mercedes-Benz design team. It will retain the classic four-wheels-at-four-corners and rear-wheel-drive layout while featuring an all-new exterior and interior. Initially launched in a two-door hardtop version, a convertible variant is expected to follow later, further enriching consumer choices. 

GAC GS4 MAX Launched in Saudi Arabia, Precisely Tailored to Middle East User Travel Needs

On January 19, GAC International launched the all-new mid-size SUV GS4 MAX at the new GAC flagship showroom in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The showroom incorporates authentic Najdi architectural style, adding regional characteristics to the new vehicle launch. This model is a product jointly developed based on in-depth research of the Saudi market, precisely aligning with local users’ core demands for large space, strong power, low fuel consumption, and high safety.

In terms of space design, the GS4 MAX optimizes the body structure to create a spacious driving and riding environment, fully meeting the travel needs of multi-member families, with flexible storage space that can easily accommodate travel luggage and daily items. On the intelligent experience front, this vehicle becomes the first model in Saudi Arabia to feature a landed owner APP, allowing users to complete vehicle services and information management through a single entry, making travel and maintenance more convenient and worry-free, further enhancing vehicle usage efficiency.

Geely Sets 2026 Export Target at 640,000 Units, Targeting Southeast Asia and European & American Markets

At the “Geely 40th Anniversary of Entrepreneurship” strategy analysis conference, Geely Automobile Group announced a 2026 export sales target of 640,000 units, representing 50% year-on-year growth. The plan aims to form three 150,000-unit-level and two 100,000-unit-level global regional markets, building a diversified overseas layout.

Strategically, Geely will take Southeast Asia as its strategic hub, building the Malaysia AHTV Industrial Park as a bridgehead to establish an integrated “R&D-production-sales-service” industrial park with an annual capacity of 500,000 units, radiating to the ASEAN market. In developed markets such as Europe and America, it will leverage Volvo’s channel advantages and Renault’s South American layout to achieve large-scale breakthroughs. At the same time, it adheres to a diversified and open innovation overseas model, establishing localized operation systems in key markets through product export, brand globalization, resource integration, technology empowerment, and other approaches, driving the transition from “Made in China” to global brands. 

Chery South Africa to Acquire Nissan Rosslyn Plant, Including Surrounding Stamping Plant Assets

Nissan Motor and Chery South Africa have finalized the acquisition agreement for Nissan South Africa’s Rosslyn manufacturing assets. Upon satisfaction of regulatory approvals and other conditions, Chery South Africa will take over the land, buildings, and supporting assets of the plant in mid-2026, including the surrounding stamping plant. This cooperation will further improve Chery’s manufacturing layout in South Africa.

The agreement specifies that the vast majority of relevant Nissan employees will receive employment offers from Chery South Africa, with employment terms basically consistent with existing ones. After the acquisition is completed, Nissan will continue to provide automotive products and services to South African consumers and plans to launch multiple new models such as the Nissan Tekna and Patrol in the 2026 fiscal year.

BYD Partners with UNESCO to Launch the Third Season of the Chasing Light Program

BYD has officially partnered with UNESCO to jointly launch the third season of the Chasing Light Program, building a new ecosystem for sustainable development public welfare. The project kicked off in January 2026 at Tianjin Di Space, focusing on full-chain environmental upgrades across the automotive industry chain.

The core objective of this edition is to drive participation in environmental actions by tens of thousands of automotive parts and components and thousands of suppliers, covering key ecological links such as raw material extraction, rubber planting, and chemical fabrics, helping the automotive industry achieve a greener development model.

NIO Opens First National General Agent Store in Hungary, Deepening Presence in Central Europe’s Premium EV Market

On January 22 local time, NIO officially opened the NIO AutoWallis Showroom in Budapest, Hungary — the brand’s first national general agent store in the country. This opening marks a key step for NIO in the Hungarian market and further improves its Central European market layout.

Budapest boasts a profound automotive industry foundation, superior location, and a mature EV ecosystem, providing favorable conditions for business development. The new showroom creates an immersive experience space. AutoWallis will be responsible for the sales and service of NIO and the firefly brand, allowing more Hungarian users to experience the charm of premium intelligent electric mobility.

Geely EX2 Officially Launched in Indonesia, Securing Over 1,500 Pre-sale Orders to Date

Geely’s new energy model Geely EX2 was officially launched in Indonesia. The launch event was held at the SPIKE Airdome PIK2 Convention Center in Jakarta, attracting approximately 2,500 guests, including media, KOLs, partners, and new and existing owners.

This is the third new energy model Geely has introduced in Indonesia, following the Geely EX5 and Geely STARRAY EM-i (referred to as EX5 EM-i in some regions). The vehicle has already rolled off the production line at the Puwakarta factory in Indonesia. Since pre-sales began in November last year, it has received significant attention, with orders currently exceeding 1,500 units.

Weekly News Roundup：

This week, the automotive industry seems to have entered a busy cycle of “multi-core operation,” with product iteration and ecosystem improvement accelerating on dual tracks. The exposure of BYD’s D-segment flagship SUV Da Tang, the official reveal of Volvo EX60 images, plus the debut of the smart #2 prototype concept car, demonstrate that automakers are showcasing their strengths in the premium and personalized tracks. Performance of 4.9 seconds to 100 km/h and an 810 km range confirm that new energy vehicles are moving beyond “range anxiety” toward “experience upgrading.”

The charging infrastructure sector also delivered good news: VOYAH’s smart supercharging stations reached 100 units in just one year and achieved interconnection with 1.5 million charging resources; the Volvo EX60 is compatible with Tesla Supercharging, making collaborative development that breaks down brand barriers a new consensus. Meanwhile, with Tesla FSD about to enter China and the GAC Aion–Didi joint Robotaxi set to launch in the second quarter, the competitive atmosphere on the intelligent driving track has become even more intense.

Global layout and market deepening became another core theme this week, with Chinese brands continuing to extend their overseas footprints. NIO is taking root in the Central European premium market, Geely is targeting 640,000 export units in Southeast Asia, Europe, and America, GAC is precisely adapting to the Middle East and Indonesian markets, and Chery’s acquisition of the South African plant marks a key step toward localized production—collectively demonstrating the advancement of Chinese automotive from product export to production localization.

The CPCA forecast shows January NEV penetration reaching 44.4%, combined with the advancement of Tesla Cybercab mass production, signaling that the global automotive market is accelerating its transition toward electrification and intelligence. From technological breakthroughs to global expansion, this week’s news outlines a clear industry trajectory of “sharpening core competitiveness internally while expanding market boundaries externally.”