Multiple automakers and supply chain firms accelerate EV and smart tech expansion; Leapmotor enters North America, Geely partners with Gree

On July 6, Leapmotor officially entered the Mexican market, marking the start of its North American expansion. Its first model, the Leapmotor B10, has completed local certification and begun deliveries, with consumers able to experience and purchase the vehicle at over 40 authorized outlets nationwide. On the same day, Porsche adjusted its pure-electric product strategy in China, halting new personalized customization orders for the all-electric Macan and Taycan. Existing production-scheduled orders remain unaffected. Customers can still purchase in-stock vehicles from authorized dealers, and after-sales services and related benefits for current owners will remain unchanged. Tesla announced the simultaneous launch of the Model Y L in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the UAE. The model features a 150 mm longer wheelbase (now 3,040 mm) and an approximately 180 mm extended body length, adopting a 2+2+2 six-seat layout. Only the all-wheel-drive long-wheelbase variant is offered, with a starting price of USD 61,990 in the U.S. market. Dongfeng Motor R&D Institute disclosed that Dongfeng’s first mass-produced vehicle equipped with its proprietary Steer-by-Wire (SBW) system has passed the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announcement process, meeting national regulatory requirements. The SBW system eliminates the mechanical linkage between the steering wheel and wheels, transmitting steering commands via electrical signals and supporting OTA remote updates. Geely Holding Group and Gree Electric Appliances Inc. of Zhuhai signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement. The two parties will collaborate in areas including joint development of in-vehicle intelligent hardware, smart manufacturing supply chains, logistics and warehousing, industrial internet, user ecosystems, intelligent transportation, and home appliances, focusing on the electrification, intelligence, and digital transformation of the automotive industry. Bosch has launched public road validation tests of its urban intelligent driving assistance solution in Yokohama, Japan. The test vehicles are equipped with a one-stage, end-to-end advanced solution co-developed with Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide, accelerating the global rollout of intelligent driving technologies. Humanoid robotics subsidiary of ASDA Group signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Agility Robotics, covering multiple areas including procurement and delivery, contract manufacturing, supply chain coordination, technical support, scenario enablement, and equity investment. 佑驾创新 (Youjia Innovation) unveiled its Combo full-chain unmanned logistics closed-loop solution and simultaneously launched a quadruped wheeled robot developed by Yaoying Power, achieving end-to-end unmanned coverage from logistics transfer to last-mile home delivery. Continental AG reached an agreement to sell its industrial business segment, ContiTech, to Lone Star Funds. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2024, generating approximately EUR 3.1 billion in cash proceeds, plus up to EUR 250 million in earn-out payments based on performance. Following the deal, Continental will focus on its core tire business. Sunwoda EVB Co., Ltd. increased its registered capital from approximately RMB 13.2 billion to about RMB 14.09 billion. The company’s business spans lithium-ion batteries, traction battery systems, and charging infrastructure operations. Industry data shows that China’s total lithium battery (including energy storage, power, and consumer applications) production output in July 2024 reached approximately 283 GWh, up 5.6% month-over-month, with energy storage cells accounting for 42.9%. Globally, lithium battery production planning stood at 296 GWh, rising 5.3% month-over-month—marking the fifth consecutive monthly record high. Despite being in a traditional off-season, demand is shifting from single-pole growth driven by new energy vehicles toward multi-polar expansion. Xingdong Era completed a new round of financing worth RMB 1 billion, led by Chengtong Fund with participation from multiple state-owned institutions and continued follow-on investments from existing shareholders. Cui Dongshu, Secretary-General of the Passenger Car Association, stated that recent adjustments to the vehicle and vessel tax policy for fuel-efficient and new energy vehicles signify the implementation of “fuel-electric parity” reform—a key step toward market maturity for the new energy industry—and will help establish a fair tax system based on technical attributes, emission characteristics, and usage scenarios. Customs statistics show that in the first five months of 2024, China exported 10.377 million separately listed robots, valued at RMB 19.99 billion, to over 150 countries and regions. The EU and ASEAN were the primary destinations, with export categories showing increasing diversification. The Indian government, together with the automotive industry, announced that nationwide mandatory supply of E20 ethanol-blended gasoline (20% ethanol blend) will begin on April 1, 2026. After years of testing, no widespread damage to older vehicles using E20 has been observed. Automakers such as Maruti Suzuki and Toyota confirmed that legacy models can safely use E20, despite a 3%–3.5% drop in fuel economy; the higher octane rating partially offsets this drawback. The policy is expected to reduce crude oil import expenditures by approximately INR 430 billion in FY2026. India has already achieved its original target of a 20% ethanol blending ratio ahead of the initially planned 2030 deadline.