Automotive News Highlights

Domestic News

Five Departments Determine 20 Cities (Consortiums) as Intelligent Connected Vehicle "Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integration" Application Pilot Cities

On July 3rd, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and the Ministry of Transport announced the list of pilot cities for the "Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integration" application of intelligent connected vehicles. Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Ordos, Shenyang, Changchun, Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou-Tongxiang-Deqing Consortium, Hefei, Fuzhou, Jinan, Wuhan, Shiyan, Changsha, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Haikou-Sanya-Qionghai Consortium, Chengdu, and other 20 cities (consortiums) have been determined as pilot cities for the application of intelligent connected vehicles "Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integration".

China Automobile Manufacturers Association: 271,000 whole vehicle imports from January to May, a decrease of 4.5% year-on-year

On July 3rd, data from the General Administration of Customs organized by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers showed that in the first five months of this year, 271,000 whole vehicles were imported, a year-on-year decrease of 4.5%; the import amount was 15.1 billion US dollars, a year-on-year decrease of 15.5%. Among them, 63,000 whole vehicles were imported in May, a month-on-month increase of 21.8%, and a year-on-year increase of 7.4%; the import amount was 3.38 billion US dollars, a month-on-month increase of 19.8%, and a year-on-year decrease of 0.8%.

China Passenger Car Association: Preliminary statistics of 1.755 million passenger car market retail in June, a year-on-year decrease of 8%

On July 3rd, the China Passenger Car Association stated that according to preliminary statistics, in June, the retail of the passenger car market was 1.755 million vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 8%, and a month-on-month increase of 2%. The cumulative retail since the beginning of this year was 9.828 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 3%; the national passenger car manufacturer wholesale was 2.13 million vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 5%, and a month-on-month increase of 4%. The cumulative wholesale since the beginning of this year was 11.714 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 6%. In June, the new energy market retail of passenger cars was 864,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 30%, and a month-on-month increase of 6%. The cumulative retail since the beginning of this year was 4.119 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 33%; the national passenger car manufacturer new energy wholesale was 975,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 28%, and a month-on-month increase of 8%. The cumulative wholesale since the beginning of this year was 4.612 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 30%.

International News

VDA Urges EU to Abandon Tariffs on Chinese-made Electric Cars

On July 3rd, the German Automobile Industry Association (VDA) urged the European Commission to abandon plans to impose tariffs on Chinese-made electric cars, in a last-ditch effort to influence negotiations before the tariffs take effect on Thursday. The association emphasized that the tariffs are harming European and American car manufacturers exporting from China, and the risk of China taking retaliatory measures will severely hit German industry, as Germany has a large export volume to China. VDA said that the European Commission should focus on ensuring that the European electric vehicle industry has access to key raw materials, reducing market access barriers, and improving trade policy transparency, and proposed the establishment of a committee to discuss such issues.

Canada Launches Public Consultation on Potential Measures Against Chinese Electric Vehicles

On July 3rd, the Canadian Ministry of Finance announced the start of a 30-day public consultation period to discuss a series of potential measures against the import of Chinese electric vehicles. The statement said that the consultation will seek opinions on potential policy responses, including the imposition of additional duties under Section 53 of the Canadian Tariff Act, as well as adjustments to the federal zero-emission vehicle incentive program and other potential schemes. The consultation document said that the Canadian government wants to know "whether additional actions are needed, such as further policy guidance, supervision or restrictions on transactions and investments from China in the Canadian electric vehicle supply chain".

Korean Power Battery Market Share from January to May Decreases to 22.3% Year-on-Year

According to data released by the South Korean market research institution SNE Research on July 3, from January to May of this year, the global market share of Korean power batteries decreased by 2.8 percentage points year-on-year, accounting for 22.3%. During the same period, the total installation of various types of electric vehicle batteries worldwide increased by 23% year-on-year, reaching 285.4 gigawatt-hours. CATL's installation volume increased by 31.1% year-on-year, reaching 107 gigawatt-hours, and it continues to lead with a market share of 37.5%.

Japanese Carmakers' First Half-Year Sales in the US Reached 2.9424 Million Vehicles, a Year-on-Year Increase of 9.6%

On July 3rd, the six major Japanese carmakers announced that their new car sales in the United States in the first half of 2024 totaled 2.9424 million vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 9.6%. Among them, Toyota's sales increased by 14.3% to 1.1866 million vehicles; Honda's sales increased by 9.3% to 690,300 vehicles; Nissan's sales increased by 1.9% to 485,500 vehicles; Subaru's sales increased by 6.0% to 322,400 vehicles; Mazda's sales increased by 10.2% to 202,500 vehicles; Mitsubishi's sales increased by 12.3% to 51,100 vehicles.

General Motors Delivered 696,086 Vehicles in the US in the Second Quarter, a Year-on-Year Increase of 0.6%

On July 3rd, General Motors announced that General Motors and its dealers delivered 696,086 vehicles in the United States in the second quarter of 2024, a year-on-year increase of 0.6%. Among them, the total delivery volume of electric vehicles was 21,930 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 40%, and a month-on-month increase of 34%. In the first half of 2024, General Motors delivered 1,290,319 vehicles in the United States, a year-on-year decrease of 0.4%.

Corporate News

Chang'an's Zhu Huarong: The Joint Venture with Huawei is Advancing in an Orderly Manner, Avita is Expected to Participate

On July 3rd, Zhu Huarong, Chairman of Chang'an Automobile, stated that the establishment of a joint venture with Huawei is advancing in an orderly manner. "Due to the large amount of work, Chang'an Automobile is a listed company, and there is an agreement between both parties of Huawei that it cannot be said to be finally determined until the day of signing." Zhu Huarong revealed that if the approval can pass, Avita will also participate in the new joint venture project.