Multiple Automakers and Suppliers Unveil New Products, Tech Advances, and Market Updates

On April 8, Dongfeng Motor announced that DF30, a domestically developed high-performance automotive-grade MCU chip led by the company, has been integrated into engine ECUs and validated on models including the Dongfeng Yipai 007, M-Hero M817, and Aeolus HaoHan, with mass production and vehicle integration now underway. On the same day, He Xiaopeng, CEO of XPeng Motors, unveiled the new flagship XPeng GX model, which integrates Robotaxi intelligent driving assistance technology, safety redundancy technology from flying cars, and embodied intelligence chips and architecture. Honda reported its China terminal sales for March 2026 at 36,201 units, bringing its cumulative sales for January–March 2026 to 122,470 units. As of March 2026, Honda’s cumulative terminal sales in China have surpassed 20 million units. Leapmotor achieved sales of 5,513 all-electric vehicles (BEVs) in Italy in March, a year-over-year increase of 2,827%, ranking first in the local BEV market. In Q1 2026, Leapmotor registered 11,637 vehicles in Italy, capturing a 33.5% share of the country’s BEV market and 44.6% of the retail BEV passenger car segment. Volkswagen announced that the Volkswagen Zhongzhong 08 will launch on April 16. Pre-sales began on March 26, with a pre-sale price range of RMB 239,900 to RMB 299,900. Xiaomi recently filed multiple trademark applications for “XIAOMI YU7 GT,” covering categories such as vehicles and jewelry/watches. These applications are currently awaiting substantive examination. Stellantis Group is in advanced negotiations with Leapmotor to jointly develop an Opel-branded electric SUV, targeting production start in 2028 with an annual capacity of 50,000 units. EVE Energy released its Q1 2026 earnings forecast, expecting net profit between RMB 1.376 billion and RMB 1.487 billion, representing a 25%–35% year-over-year increase. Zhejiang Laneng Hydrogen Technology Co., Ltd. has voluntarily suspended its A-share IPO process. The company specializes in high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinders, hydrogen refueling station equipment, and hydrogen storage and transportation systems. Its station-based hydrogen cylinder bundles cover over 80% of the domestic market, and its hydrogen tube trailers hold more than 75% market share. Unisoc and Geely Auto signed an agreement in Ningbo to co-establish a joint innovation lab focused on technology commercialization and collaborative innovation in the automotive industry. The inaugural Shanghai Auto Lifestyle Expo opened on April 8. Xiao Zhengsan, President of the China Automobile Dealers Association, stated that China’s auto industry is accelerating its green and intelligent transformation and global expansion, with exports continuing to grow. Digua Robotics completed a USD 120 million Series B1 financing round on March 16 and secured an additional USD 150 million in Series B2 funding on April 8, bringing its total Series B funding to USD 270 million. The capital will be used to expand its global robotics ecosystem. According to Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), BEV registrations in Germany reached 70,700 units in March 2026, up 66.2% year-over-year. Total new vehicle registrations for the month stood at 294,000 units, a 16.0% year-over-year increase, while Q1 2026 registrations grew by 5.2% overall. During the same period, gasoline and diesel vehicle registrations declined by 4.9% and 0.6%, respectively. Data from the China Association of Actuaries and China Insurance Information & Technology Management Co., Ltd. show that in 2025, China insured 43.58 million new energy vehicles (NEVs), a 40.1% year-over-year increase; NEV insurance premium income reached RMB 190 billion, up 34.8%; risk coverage amounted to RMB 159 trillion, rising 50%; and the industry’s underwriting loss narrowed to RMB 5.6 billion, an improvement of RMB 1 billion year-over-year, with the combined ratio decreasing by 1.3 percentage points. Chen Wei, former Chief AI Scientist at Li Auto, and Zhang Xiao, former head of Li Auto’s second product line, have co-founded Xieyue Intelligence, an embodied intelligence startup. The company has completed its first round of financing, with investors including Li Auto and Yuanjing Capital, and is currently processing business registration changes.