China EVs & More

In this episode, Tu and Lei dive into a week dominated by autonomy, AI, and a widening gap between China’s EV ecosystem and the rest of the world.  The episode opens with a deep reaction to Rivian’s Autonomy AI Day—why it felt like déjà vu for anyone following China’s smart-EV space, and how Rivian’s announcements mirror what Chinese players like XPeng, NIO, and Li Auto have already been deploying. The hosts debate whether Rivian’s approach represents real leadership or simply entry into the top tier.From there, the conversation expands to L4 autonomy momentum: WeRide launching passenger rides with Uber in Dubai, Mercedes partnering with Momenta in Abu Dhabi, and Waymo accelerating multi-city deployments while publishing safety data others still keep opaque.Tu and Lei also tackle the LiDAR vs. vision debate, Volkswagen’s unusual dual bet on Rivian (US) and XPeng (China), and why silicon strategy—not just batteries—will decide winners. The discussion closes with affordability: why 300-mile EVs under $40K are existential for Western OEMs, and why China’s cost structure makes that challenge unavoidable heading into 2026.Candid, comparative, and forward-looking, this episode explains why autonomy and AI—not just electrification—will define the next phase of the global auto industry.___🔑 SEO-Friendly Keywords China EVs & More, Tu Le, Lei Xing, Sino Auto Insights, Rivian Autonomy AI Day, Rivian R2, Rivian silicon strategy, personal L4 autonomy, autonomous vehicles China, robotaxi expansion, WeRide Uber Dubai, Mercedes Momenta Abu Dhabi, Waymo expansion, LiDAR vs vision, RoboSense LiDAR, Hesai LiDAR, XPeng autonomous driving, NIO smart EVs, Li Auto embodied AI, Volkswagen Rivian partnership, Volkswagen XPeng partnership, affordable EVs 2026, 300 mile EVs, global EV competition, future of mobility___TagsChina EVs & More, China EVs, Tu Le, Lei Xing, Sino Auto Insights, Rivian, Rivian AI Day, Rivian R2, autonomous vehicles, robotaxi, WeRide, Uber robotaxi, Waymo, Mercedes Momenta, XPeng, NIO, Li Auto, Volkswagen Rivian, Volkswagen XPeng, LiDAR vs vision, RoboSense, Hesai, EV silicon, affordable EVs, 300 mile EV, future of mobility, EV autonomy, global auto industry, China vs US EVs

In Episode 229, Tu and Lei unpack the November China EV sales inflection point and what it reveals about the next phase of the global auto industry.  With subsidies set to expire in 2026, November marked the real start of China’s year-end “mad dash.” The numbers show a clear split: Xiaomi, XPeng, Leapmotor, Geely, and NIO accelerating, while BYD and Li Auto lose momentum and Tesla slips into negative growth territory in China.The hosts explain why Xiaomi’s YU7 and SU7 have proven unusually resilient, how XPeng’s AI-first strategy is paying off, and why Leapmotor and Geely are now knocking on the million-unit club—a threshold that even legacy premium brands have failed to reach in China.They also tackle the bigger strategic question facing Western automakers: Is it still worth competing in China? Tu and Lei argue that China remains irreplaceable as the world’s largest single passenger-vehicle market—and that exporting from China, leveraging local tech partners, and embracing “China-for-China” design is no longer optional.The episode closes with a deep discussion on embodied AI, smart glasses, silicon strategy, and why companies like Xiaomi, XPeng, and Li Auto are no longer just carmakers—but ecosystem builders trying to define the future of mobility.Insightful, data-driven, and grounded in real market dynamics, this episode explains why 2026 may be the most decisive year yet for both Chinese EV leaders and global legacy automakers.___🔑 SEO KeywordsChina EVs & More, China EV sales November, Tu Le, Lei Xing, Sino Auto Insights, Xiaomi EV sales, YU7 SUV, SU7 sedan, XPeng AI strategy, Leapmotor sales growth, Geely EVs, NIO sales rebound, BYD sales slowdown, Li Auto decline, Tesla China sales, China EV subsidies ending, EV price war China, Chinese EV exports, million unit EV club, China auto market outlook, global EV competition, legacy automakers China, China for China strategy, embodied AI cars, smart glasses automotive, EV silicon strategy, future of mobility China___TagsChina EVs & More, China EVs, China EV market, Chinese EVs, EV sales China,Tu Le, Lei Xing, Sino Auto Insights, Xiaomi EV, Xiaomi YU7, Xiaomi SU7,XPeng, XPeng AI, Leapmotor, Geely Auto, NIO, BYD, Li Auto, Tesla China,China EV sales November, China auto industry, EV price war, EV subsidies China,Chinese EV exports, global EV market, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles,robotaxi China, embodied AI, automotive AI, smart vehicles, EV silicon,legacy automakers China, China for China strategy, future of mobility,EV industry analysis, automotive podcast, EV podcast, mobility podcast

Tu and Lei close out 2025 with a sweeping, on-the-ground review of the most consequential year yet for China’s EV, AV, and mobility ecosystem — and why its ripple effects are now impossible for the rest of the world to ignore.  From CES to Shanghai, Munich, and New York, the hosts reflect on firsthand experiences that defined the year: China’s EV export surge, the maturation of robotaxis, the cooling of the domestic price war, and the emergence of clear winners — and vulnerabilities — among Chinese and global automakers.They break down why BYD became a true global volume force, how XPeng, Geely, and Zeekr gained momentum, why NIO’s long game is finally paying off, and what the rise of autonomous mobility outside China (Waymo, Baidu, WeRide, Pony.ai) means heading into 2026.The episode also revisits major inflection points: • Chinese EV exports flooding Europe, Latin America, Russia, and the UK • The beginning of an exported price war • Robotaxis moving from pilots to real commercial expansion • Why average vehicle prices topping $50,000 in the U.S. is unsustainable • How geopolitics, tariffs, and supply chains reshaped strategy • Why 2026 could be the year autonomy truly breaks throughCandid, data-driven, and reflective — this episode connects the dots on how 2025 reshaped the global auto industry and sets the stage for what comes next.⸻🔑 SEO KeywordsChina EVs & More, China EV year end review 2025, Tu Le, Lei Xing, Sino Auto Insights, BYD global expansion, BYD exports 2025, XPeng growth 2025, Geely Zeekr privatization, NIO battery swapping road trip, Chinese EV exports Europe, Chinese EV exports Latin America, EV price war China, EV price war Europe, robotaxi expansion 2025, Waymo expansion, Baidu Apollo robotaxi, WeRide Uber partnership, Pony.ai autonomous driving, AV commercialization 2026, global EV market outlook, China auto industry 2025, EV tariffs and geopolitics, autonomous vehicles China vs US, CES 2025 China EVs, Shanghai Auto Show 2025, IAA Mobility Munich China EVs, World Car of the Year BYD, Stella Li World Car Person of the Year⸻TagsChina EVs & More, China auto industry, Chinese EVs, EV market 2025, Tu Le, Lei Xing, Sino Auto Insights, BYD, XPeng, NIO, Geely, Zeekr, Li Auto, Leapmotor, Xiaomi EV, Huawei HIMA, AITO, EV exports, Chinese EV exports, EV price war, global EV market, electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, robotaxi, Waymo, Baidu Apollo, WeRide, Pony.ai, battery swapping, NIO battery swap, CATL, CES 2025, Shanghai Auto Show, IAA Mobility Munich, EV geopolitics, future of cars

China EVs & More is back with a special Thanksgiving episode — and the China auto world did not take the week off. 🚗⚡🦃Tu & Lei break down Li Auto’s shocking Q3 collapse, CEO Li Xiang’s pivot to “embodied AI,” and why the brand is losing momentum to Xiaomi, XPeng, NIO, and Huawei-backed models.  We analyze XPeng’s aggressive 2025–26 EREV + BEV rollout, including seven new models and its “super range extender” strategy, plus the deepening Turing chip adoption and XPeng’s personal L4 + RoboTaxi ambitions.Then we dive into the Guangzhou Auto Show, Huawei’s expanding HIMA ecosystem, the launch of new Yijin and Qijin brands, and how Huawei QianKun ADAS is quickly spreading across Nissan, Audi, GAC, Toyota, and more.We close with NIO’s Q4 breakeven challenge, Firefly’s global potential, Stellantis–Leapmotor tensions in Latin America, and updates on Waymo, Zeekr RT, Aito M5, robotaxis, and physical AI’s impact on factory jobs.Insightful, energetic, and brutally candid — your weekly download on the global EV and mobility power shift.🕒 Timestamps / Chapters00:00 – Intro & Thanksgiving kickoff01:30 – Li Auto’s disastrous Q3: losses, Mega fire fallout & EREV reset03:30 – Li Xiang goes “embodied AI” + M100 chip vision05:30 – Li Auto’s 2026 L-Series refresh & Russian Doll design rethink07:50 – “Who’s hot, who’s not” — Xiaomi, XPeng, Leapmotor surge08:30 – XPeng’s 7-model onslaught: BEV + EREV + L4 plans10:10 – XPeng Turing chip, humanoid robot & L4 Robo versions12:00 – Physical AI: robots, automation & factory disruption15:10 – NIO earnings: Q4 breakeven, SG&A burn & ES8/Onvo push16:50 – Firefly’s growing overseas role & NIO’s three-brand prioritization19:30 – Leapmotor–Stellantis expansion and emerging market friction21:00 – Xiaomi’s immunity to PR crises & massive user base advantage23:00 – “Five to ten years to know the winners” — William Li’s marathon analogy24:00 – New brands at GZ Auto Show: Yijin, Qijin & Huawei’s expanding influence28:00 – Huawei QianKun ADAS spreads to Nissan, Audi, Toyota30:00 – AV/ADAS wars: Momenta, Horizon, DeepRoute rising32:00 – LiDAR drama: Hesai vs RoboSense & chaos in the lidar space35:00 – Robotaxis: WeRide–Uber launch, Pony & LA/SD growth37:00 – Tu drives the Aito M5 in California38:00 – Waymo coverage expands: airports + 2026 Detroit launch42:00 – Zeekr RT issues & Tesla vs Waymo RoboTaxi paths47:00 – AV startups struggle: Haomo AI collapse & Great Wall pivot50:00 – GM “Game of Thrones”: executive shakeups & culture reset53:00 – Volkswagen speeds up China dev cycles & exports back out55:00 – Audience Q&A & Thanksgiving wrap🔑 SEO KeywordsLi Auto Q3 earnings, Li Auto M100 chip, Li Auto embodied AI, XPeng EREV, XPeng super range extender, XPeng Turing chip, XPeng humanoid robot, XPeng RoboTaxi, NIO Q4 breakeven, Firefly EV brand, Leapmotor Stellantis partnership, Huawei HIMA, Huawei QianKun ADAS, Yijin brand, Qijin brand, GAC, Dongfeng, Guangzhou Auto Show 2025, Momenta ADAS, Horizon Robotics, DeepRoute, Hesai lidar, RoboSense lidar, WeRide Uber robotaxi, Pony.ai, Waymo San Jose airport, Zeekr RT6, Aito M5 US, Tesla FSD vs L4 China, Great Wall Haomo AI, BYD PHEV sales, China EVs & More, Sino Auto Insights, Tu Le, Lei Xing, China EV news 2025

In Episode 227, Tu and Lei break down a massive week in the global EV industry — one where China’s innovation pace keeps accelerating while Western automakers scramble to respond.  Xiaomi’s YU7 officially outsells the Tesla Model Y in October, marking a symbolic shift in China’s most competitive EV segment. Meanwhile, Tesla’s domestic sales slump to 26,000, signaling that aggressive price cuts and financing perks may not be enough as Chinese challengers tighten the pressure.The hosts also unpack XPeng’s viral AI Day, featuring the “Iron Lady” humanoid robot, new L4 capable RoboTaxi prototypes, the Turing chip’s rising importance, and XPeng’s “physical AI” strategy — positioning the company as a vertically integrated mobility+AI platform rather than just an automaker.On the U.S. side, GM sparks headlines after reportedly urging suppliers to “de-China” their supply chains by 2027 — a massive, risky reshoring effort that could reshape cost structures across North America. Tu and Lei discuss the feasibility and geopolitical backdrop, including the Nexperia crisis, ICE tariff pressures, and USMCA uncertainty._____________________They also hit:🚗 China’s EV sales still climbing globally despite misleading “EV slump” narratives⚠️ Li Auto’s Mega fire, quality issues & employee discipline fallout🔥 Another Xiaomi fire incident and the scrutiny on China-speed development🧠 Volkswagen’s growing reliance on XPeng + Rivian for AD and software🛰️ XPeng eVTOLs, land aircraft carriers, and new robotics demos🔋 CATL’s stunning 1,122 GWh of battery output YTD📉 Tesla incentives in the U.S. as Q4 softness appears🛠️ Battery-swap wars: CATL Choco-Swap vs NIO’s network📈 NIO surging past XPeng in monthly deliveries inside ChinaFast-paced, brutally honest, and packed with first-hand insight — this episode explains the power dynamics shaping EVs, autonomy, supply chains, and the global auto industry’s next decade._____________________Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the EV Landscape02:08 October Sales Insights06:03 Global EV Sales Trends08:36 GM's Supply Chain Strategy12:36 Challenges in Reshoring Supply Chains14:31 Volkswagen's Chip Strategy20:31 Xpeng's AI Day Highlights25:19 The Launch of LS9 and Its Features26:52 The Evolution of Chinese Flagship Vehicles28:04 Understanding the Tuhao Culture in China29:14 Recent Events and Quality Issues in the Automotive Industry31:16 The Rise of Autonomous Vehicles and Global Expansion34:28 Insights from the Florida Autonomous Vehicle Summit36:29 The Competitive Landscape of Autonomous Driving39:33 The Future of Autonomous Vehicles and Market Trends43:51 NEO vs. XPeng: A Shift in Market Dynamics_____________________🔑 SEO KeywordsChina EVs & More, Tu Le, Lei Xing, Sino Auto Insights, Xiaomi YU7 sales, Tesla China October 2025, XPeng AI Day, XPeng Iron Lady robot, XPeng Turing chip, RoboTaxi China, GM de-China supply chain, Nexperia chip crisis, CATL battery output, Li Auto Mega fire, NIO monthly deliveries, BYD EV exports, EV sales China, global EV demand, battery swap CATL Choco, NIO swap station Europe, Volkswagen XPeng partnership, Rivian VW software, Tesla pricing China, EV incentives 2025, China NEV market