CRASH_news auto

Firefly, the compact EV brand under NIO, has rolled out a major software update aimed at enhancing vehicle performance and preparing for upcoming new infrastructure. "A future Firefly convertible model? Maybe" Firefly EV On May 14, Firefly, the compact EV brand under NIO, officially launhced the Aster 1.5.0 intelligent system in China through over-the-air (OTA) rollout. The Aster 1.5.0 system update upgrades the peak motor power of older Firefly EVs to 120 kilowatts (161 hp) from the previous 105 kW, according to an announcement on Thursday.  The OTA package itself is relatively compact, with only three major updates, but each carries broader strategic implications. First, after upgrading to Aster 1.5.0, the 2025 Firefly sees motor peak power rise from 105kW to 120kW, while the 0-100 km/h acceleration time improves from 8.2 seconds to 7.9 seconds.  Power output of Firefly's Aster 1.5.0 This brings its performance in line with the refreshed Firefly EV launched in April,...

The Stellantis-backed automaker is accelerating its expansion in Europe's largest auto market by launching a lease plan for its T03 compact EV in Germany. German consumers can lease the T03 for €49 ($58) a month , a plan that factors in a new electric vehicle subsidy, according to a Bloomberg report on Monday.  This attractive price is even cheaper than many local mobile phone plans in Germany, as Leapmotor hopes to capture a larger market share , the report noted.  The lease offer taps into a €3 billion EV subsidy program introduced in Germany this year, bringing the T03's monthly rent to roughly half that of its similarly sized competitors.  For direct comparison, the similarly sized Fiat 500e electric vehicle from the Stellantis group has a monthly lease price of about €99.  The Leapmotor T03 was launched in Europe in September 2024, entering the German market at that time. Despite its low price, the Leapmotor T03 comes generously equipped , featuring a panoram...

The third-generation ES8 EV SUV delivered 17,646 units in January, accounting for 64.92% of Nio Group  deliveries and for 84.45% of Nio brand  deliveries. January's Nio all-new ES8 SUV deliveries were nearly 40 times higher than the 446 units delivered in January 2025  Nio ES8 In January , Nio delivered 27,182 vehicles, down 43.53% month on month but up 96.08% year on year , as demand for its flagship all-new ES8 drove growth in China’s premium intelligent electric vehicle segment.  Year-end typically marks a peak in China's auto sales , while the beginning of the year often sees seasonal weakness. Each January, sharp month-on-month declines in vehicle deliveries and sales have become a widely accepted pattern in the auto industry. The fading impact of year-end sales pushes, gaps created by policy transitions, and the early release of demand due to national subsidies have together driven this seasonal correction.  As a result, year-on-year comparisons provid...

On January 16, the sub-brand of Nio has launched a new special edition of its mid-size EV Suv: the model’s naming “Ma Dao Cheng Gong” translates to “success arrives with the horse,” which is a festive reference to the Chinese New Year and the Year of the Horse  On January 16, Onvo officially launched the L60 “Ma Dao Cheng Gong” special edition, with deliveries beginning on the same day. Onvo has named it "Ma Dao Cheng Gong" (马到成功) edition, a Chinese phrase signifying blessings for success and smooth progress . This launch aims to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. 2026 marks the Chinese Lunar Year of the Horse , beginning on February 17 .  The special edition L60 is available for immediate delivery. It is time-limited but not quantity-limited. The new edition incorporates the auspicious phrase “Ma Dao Cheng Gong” (meaning instant success) into both exterior and interior details. The design aligns with Chinese families’ festive expectations for New Year travel and als...

Shen Fei, Nio‘s Senior Vice President and CEO of its Onvo brand, said in an interview with local media yesterday that given the increasingly mature charging infrastructure, large-capacity battery range extension represents “a significant waste of resources”. This combination not only occupies more interior space but also imposes unnecessary cost burdens on automakers and consumers with the additional 15,000 yuan ($2,120) per range extender , Shen said  As more Chinese automakers promote large-capacity battery packs as a selling point for their extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), Shen Fei, Nio‘s Senior Vice President and CEO of its Onvo brand holds a different view .  With charging infrastructure increasingly developed, EREVs with large battery packs represent "a waste of resources," Shen said in an interview with local media yesterday, Not only do these systems occupy valuable cabin space, but the range extender unit itself, which adds an extra 15,000 yuan ($2,120) ...

At the media event following the pre-sale start of the third-generation Nio ES8 , William Li explained where the company saved the cost to be able to offer such aggressive pricing for its flagship SUV. Li also admitted that survival is the most important thing for the company at present  On August 21, Nio unveiled the all-new ES8. T he ES8 is Nio’s first mass-produced car , launched in 2018. It released its third generation, which starts pre-sale at 416,800 yuan ($58,050) for the 100 kWh battery version, which is 25% lower than the 518,000 yuan ($72,140) starting price of the previous generation ES8. The BaaS price (car without battery) is 308,800 yuan ($43,000). The new ES8 will launch in late September at Nio Day. The following day, Nio officially held a small-scale media group interview in Chengdu. William Li, Ceo of Nio, and Qin Lihong, President of Nio, attended the session. Representing the brand’s executive team, they responded to questions of high interest, such as t...

La divisione EV del colosso cinese di smartphone ha lanciato ufficialmente il suo primo Suv elettrico il 26 giugno totalizzando 200.000 prenotazioni nei primi 3 minuti di pre-vendita, 289.000 in un’ora e 240.000 ordini bloccati 18 ore dopo il lancio. I prezzi in Cina partono da 235.500 yuan (circa 35.000 dollari), 10.000 meno (1.400 dollari) del prezzo base del suo principale concorrente: Tesla Model Y.  Xiaomi ha lanciato ufficialmente in Cina YU7, il suo primo Suv elettrico, il 26 giugno. YU7 è un concorrente diretto di Tesla Model Y nel segmento degli Sport utility sportivi e si affianca alla berlina a emissioni zero SU7. Subito dopo l’evento di lancio Xiaomi EV, la divisione EV del colosso cinese di smartphone, ha annunciato che YU7 si è assicurato 200.000 ordini nei primi 3 minuti di pre-vendita, 289.000 in un’ora e 240.000 ordini bloccati dopo 18 ore dal lancio: ciò significa che la produzione fino a inizio 2027 è stata tutta venduta .  YU7 può essere ordinato in 2 mod...

The electric vehicle unit of Xiaomi, Beijing-based smartphone giant, will showcase its first EV Suv at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Auto Show, or Auto 2025 Shenzhen, which runs from May 31-June 8  The electric vehicle unit of Xiaomi, Beijing-based smartphone giant, will showcase YU7 this weekend, making the debut of its first EV Suv at the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Auto Show, or Auto 2025 Shenzhen, which runs from May 31-June 8. Xiaomi gave the YU7 its debut on May 22, its second model after the SU7 electric sedan, and will go on sale in July. The model is a competitor to Tesla's best-selling Model Y.  The YU7 pre-launch had been widely welcomed by users and is more popular than the SU7 sedan when it was first unveiled, the phone maker's president, Lu Weibing said today. The number of reservation inquiries for the YU7 after the technology launch exceeded the SU7's performance during the same period, Lu said,...

Deutsche Bank expects Xiaomi to deliver 100,000 units of the YU7 SUV in full-year 2025 , with 280,000 units of full-year delivery volume for the SU7 sedan , according to a a research note today. Xiaomi introduced the YU7's key specs and features yesterday, saying the official launch will be in July. Xiaomi's electric vehicle (EV) unit, Xiaomi EV, had originally planned to deliver 300,000 units in 2025 , which is the combined capacity of two phases of its Beijing plant.  On March 18 , Xiaomi founder, chairman, and Ceo Lei Jun announced that Xiaomi EV had upped its vehicle delivery target to 350,000 units for the full year 2025. Xiaomi is a latecomer to the Chinese EV market, but the SU7's sales, have proven its success. Since its launch in March 2024, the SU7 sedan series has cumulatively sold more than 258,000 units , Lei said.  The success of SU7 has made Xiaomi one of the largest players in the global battery electric vehicle (BEV) market in a very short tim...

On Xiaomi’s 15th anniversary, Ceo Lei Jun introduced the company’s first electric Sport utility to compete with the Tesla Model Y . The YU7 will hit the Chinese market in July 2025 . While the pricing will be announced at the official launch in July, Lei ruled out a rumoured 199,000 yuan ($27,600) starting price  On Xiaomi’s 15th anniversary, Ceo Lei Jun introduced the company’s first electric Suv, the YU7, its second model after the SU7 electric sedan. The YU7 is a five-seat mid to large-size electric SUV, measuring 4,999 mm in length , 1,996 mm in width and 1,600 mm in height with a wheelbase of 3,000 mm. It will be available in nine exterior colours, including a green shade inspired by Colombian emeralds and orange and metallic titanium finishes. Weight varies between 2,140 kg and 2,460 kg depending on configuration. Wheel choices include 19- and 20-inch sizes.  It adopts inward-folding electric door handles with ambient lighting and UWB (Ultra Wideband) support for smar...

This is the only case in the world where SBW technology has been certified in both China and Europe . The ET9 was officially launched on Nio Day 2024 on December 21, 2024, with a starting price of 788,000 yuan ($109,560) including the battery pack. Deliveries in China began on March 29  The steer-by-wire (SBW) technology on Nio's ET9 has received certification in Europe, after deliveries of the executive sedan began in China. The ET9's SBW system has received the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) E-Mark certification , the Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker announced on May,13. The certification was done by a third-party automotive technical service organization, Applus IDIADA of Spain , and this represents the first time IDIADA has certified a vehicle equipped with steer-by-wire technology in Europe. As the first vehicle in the Chinese market to feature steer-by-wire technology , the Nio ET9’s system reliability has now received dual validation from regu...