Multiple Automakers and Suppliers Make Key Announcements: Seres Secures Onboard Toilet Patent, Geely Hits Record Q1 Sales, Xiaomi Auto Hosts Spanish Prime Minister

Around April 14, multiple automotive and related companies disclosed significant updates. Seres Automobile Co., Ltd. was granted a utility model patent by China’s National Intellectual Property Administration for its "onboard toilet and vehicle." The design conceals the toilet beneath the seat using a sliding rail mechanism, allowing it to be pulled out when needed—ideal for emergency use during long-distance travel. Geely Holding Group released its Q1 2026 sales figures, reporting a record-high total brand sales volume of 937,900 vehicles. Of these, 491,000 were new energy vehicles (NEVs), up 5.8% year-over-year, accounting for 52.4% of total sales. During his visit to China, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez toured Xiaomi’s Beijing campus, accompanied by Xiaomi founder Lei Jun, who introduced Xiaomi’s automotive business. Sánchez test-rode both the Xiaomi SU7 and YU7 models and offered positive feedback, particularly praising the range capabilities of the battery-electric variants. Volkswagen Group reported global deliveries of 2,048,900 vehicles in Q1 2026, down 4% year-over-year. Deliveries in China declined by 14.8% compared to the same period last year, though its market share rose from 12.3% to 12.7%. Nissan Motor announced a strategic transformation plan to reduce its global model lineup from 56 to 45, focusing on three core model families. The company aims to achieve annual sales exceeding 1 million units each in both the Chinese and U.S. markets by fiscal year 2030. Chery launched its Fulwin T9L plug-in hybrid SUV on April 13, priced between RMB 129,900 and RMB 186,900. With trade-in subsidies, prices range from RMB 125,900 to RMB 182,900. The model received over 15,658 orders within three hours of launch. In a public interview, Ford CEO Jim Farley stated that Chinese automakers possess sufficient production capacity to meet all U.S. automotive manufacturing and sales demand, urging restrictions on their market access to protect domestic industry. On the supply chain front, GigaDevice and Geely Automobile established a joint innovation lab focused on high-performance MCUs for applications in body control, cabin systems, and intelligent driving. CATL signed a strategic cooperation agreement with SAIC-GM-Wuling, under which more than 15 NEV models from the latter will adopt CATL batteries, and both parties will co-develop a 10-minute fast-charging technology. According to industry data, Shanghai’s Waigaoqiao Port exported 386,000 vehicles in Q1 2026, up 15.9% year-over-year, with NEVs accounting for 68.5% of exports. Nangang Wharf exported 207,000 vehicles, surging 111% year-over-year, including 138,000 NEVs—a 176% increase. Meanwhile, China’s auto dealer inventory coefficient stood at 1.76 in the same period, down 9.7% month-over-month but up 12.8% year-over-year. In executive appointments, Marelli named Frederick “Fritz” Henderson as interim CEO, Roberto Fioroni as CFO, and Helen Redfern as CHRO, effective May 1, 2026. Zotye Auto appointed Li Yan as Vice President.