According to the regulatory data, the Seal 07 EV is fitted with a 69.07 kWh battery pack and is rated for a driving range of 705 km, although the filing does not specify which test cycle was used to arrive at that figure. What is confirmed is that the car runs a single-motor electric setup, marking a clean break from the dual-powertrain approach of the Seal 07 DM-i.

In terms of styling, BYD appears to have taken a conservative route. The electric model carries over much of the design seen on the Seal 07 DM-i, including the slim headlamp units and their familiar lighting signature, as well as flush, hidden door handles. Images submitted as part of the filing also show a lidar sensor mounted on the roof, suggesting the Seal 07 EV will support more advanced driver assistance features.

The rear end follows the same theme, with a full-width taillight bar that mirrors the plug-in hybrid. The main visual cue separating the EV from the DM-i is a dedicated EV badge on the left side of the tailgate. Beyond that, there are no obvious exterior changes highlighted in the documents.

Dimensionally, the Seal 07 EV measures 4,995 mm long, 1,910 mm wide and 1,495 mm tall, riding on a 2,900 mm wheelbase. These figures are almost identical to those of the 2026 Seal 07 DM-i, which shares the same length, height and wheelbase, although the electric version is listed as being 10 mm wider.

Power comes from a single electric motor producing up to 240 kW, paired with the same 69.07 kWh battery pack noted in the filing. This setup aligns with the quoted 705 km driving range and positions the Seal 07 EV squarely in the midsize pure-electric sedan segment.

Overall, the MIIT documents paint the Seal 07 EV as a close relative of the Seal 07 DM-i in size and design, but with a fully electric drivetrain and a notably long claimed range. With these details now public, the electric Seal 07 appears to be moving steadily towards its market debut.

Sales outside China reached 133,172 units in December, more than doubling with a 133 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. This strong international push helped cushion weaker domestic demand and underlined BYD’s growing global footprint.

Breaking down December’s performance, BYD delivered 190,712 battery electric vehicles, down 8.2 per cent year on year. This marked the first annual decline in BEV sales in 2025 and only the third such drop in the past five years, following similar dips in February and July 2024. Plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for 224,072 units, falling 25.7 per cent compared with December last year. This continued a worrying trend for PHEVs, with December being the ninth consecutive month of year-on-year decline since April.

BYD has been fully committed to electrification since April 2022, when it ended sales of internal combustion engine-only vehicles and focused entirely on BEVs and PHEVs. Over the full 2025 calendar year, the strategy still delivered growth, albeit at a much more measured pace than in previous years.

Total annual sales reached 4,550,036 vehicles in 2025, representing a 7.1 per cent increase from the 4,250,370 units sold in 2024. While this is a far cry from the explosive double- or triple-digit growth the company enjoyed earlier in the decade, it highlights a more mature phase of expansion.

Battery electric vehicles played an increasingly important role in that total. BEV sales climbed to 2,254,714 units for the year, up 27.9 per cent from 2024, while plug-in hybrid deliveries stood at 2,288,709 units, down 7.9 per cent year on year. As a result, BEVs accounted for 49.6 per cent of BYD’s total 2025 sales, nearly reaching parity with PHEVs at 50.4 per cent. This marked a clear shift from 2024, when fully electric models made up just 41.5 per cent of overall volume.

Perhaps the most striking achievement came from outside China. BYD’s overseas sales exceeded one million units for the first time, hitting 1,046,083 vehicles in 2025. That figure represents a massive 150.7 per cent increase compared with the previous year and confirms the brand’s transformation from a domestic giant into a serious global player, even as growth at home begins to cool.

Langkah baharu ini memberi kesan besar terutamanya kepada kenderaan elektrik moden, yang lazimnya menggunakan pemegang pintu rata dan tersembunyi demi penampilan aerodinamik. Walau bagaimanapun, pihak berkuasa China kini menegaskan bahawa fungsi asas dan keselamatan perlu diberi keutamaan berbanding reka bentuk.

Di bawah peraturan yang dicadangkan, semua kereta penumpang dengan berat di bawah 3.5 tan diwajibkan dilengkapi pemegang pintu mekanikal yang boleh dikendalikan secara manual, sama ada dari dalam atau luar kenderaan. Ini bermakna pintu mesti boleh dibuka walaupun kenderaan kehilangan bekalan kuasa atau mengalami kerosakan serius akibat kemalangan. Keperluan ini bertujuan memudahkan penumpang menyelamatkan diri serta membolehkan pasukan penyelamat membuka pintu dengan pantas dalam situasi kecemasan.

Cadangan peraturan ini mula didedahkan oleh Kementerian Industri dan Teknologi Maklumat China pada Disember lalu, selepas menerima maklum balas berterusan daripada anggota kecemasan. Mereka melaporkan bahawa semakin banyak kenderaan baharu, khususnya kenderaan elektrik, sukar diakses selepas kemalangan kerana terlalu bergantung kepada sistem elektronik.

Banyak model popular di pasaran China menggunakan pemegang pintu elektrik jenis ini, termasuk Tesla Model S, Model 3, Model Y dan BYD Seal. Pengeluar kenderaan sering mempertahankan reka bentuk tersebut atas alasan ia meningkatkan kecekapan aerodinamik dan membantu memanjangkan jarak pemanduan. Namun, manfaat tersebut dilihat amat kecil jika dibandingkan dengan risiko keselamatan yang timbul.

Isu berkaitan pemegang pintu elektrik semakin ketara sejak tahun 2024. Terdapat laporan mengenai pemegang yang gagal berfungsi selepas pelanggaran, selain kes di mana mekanisme elektrik membeku dalam cuaca sejuk, menyebabkan pintu tidak dapat dibuka dari luar.

Kebimbangan awam memuncak susulan beberapa kemalangan serius di Chengdu dan Tongling, di mana mangsa dilaporkan terperangkap di dalam kenderaan kerana pintu hanya boleh dibuka melalui butang elektronik yang tidak berfungsi selepas bekalan kuasa terputus. Walaupun sesetengah model dilengkapi mekanisme sandaran manual, ia sering sukar dikesan dalam keadaan panik dan kecemasan.

Susulan kejadian-kejadian ini, pihak berkuasa China memutuskan bahawa keselamatan pengguna mesti mengatasi pertimbangan estetik dan teknologi. Bermula 2027, pengeluar kenderaan diwajibkan menggunakan pemegang pintu yang ringkas, mudah dikenal pasti dan boleh diharap, bagi memastikan penumpang dapat keluar dengan cepat dan selamat apabila berlaku kecemasan.

China will ban electric retractable door handles from 2027. This comes after several deadly accidents where people could not get out of their cars after crashes. The ban mainly affects modern electric cars that use flat, hidden door handles.

Under the new rule, all passenger cars under 3.5 tonnes must have door handles that work by hand, both inside and outside. This means doors must open even if the car loses power or is badly damaged. The goal is to help passengers escape and allow rescue teams to open doors quickly.

The plan was first shared in December by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Emergency workers have complained that many new cars are hard to open after accidents, especially electric vehicles that depend on electronics.

Many popular cars in China use these electric handles, including the Tesla Model S, Model 3, Model Y and the BYD Seal. Carmakers say these handles help improve airflow and driving range, but the benefit is very small.

Problems with these handles have increased since 2024. Some stop working after crashes, while others fail in cold weather when they freeze and cannot pop out.

Safety concerns grew after serious crashes in Chengdu and Tongling, where people died because doors could not be opened in time. Reports said the cars involved relied on electric buttons, which stopped working once power was cut. Even though a backup handle was fitted, it was hard to find.

Because of these accidents, China has decided that safety is more important than looks. From 2027, cars must use simple and reliable door handles so people can get out quickly in an emergency.

China mencatat satu lagi pencapaian teknologi apabila Harbin Dongan Auto Engine berjaya melaksanakan penyalaan pertama enjin rotary berkuasa tinggi pertamanya. Pembangunan ini menandakan kemunculan enjin rotary berprestasi tinggi pertama negara itu, dengan pengeluaran berskala besar dirancang bermula tahun 2027.

Enjin tersebut, dikenali sebagai R05E, dibangunkan menerusi kerjasama dengan AVL, sebuah syarikat kejuruteraan antarabangsa yang berpengalaman luas dalam pembangunan sistem trenkuasa. Projek ini dimulakan secara rasmi pada April lalu, dan kejayaan ujian penyalaan awal mengesahkan kemajuan penting dalam fasa pembangunan prototaip.

R05E menggunakan reka bentuk rotor tunggal, membolehkannya kekal kompak dan ringan — ciri utama yang menjadi kelebihan enjin rotary. Ia dilengkapi omboh segi tiga khas, sistem penyalaan berkembar serta sistem penyejukan khusus bagi mengawal suhu operasi. Gabungan ciri ini direka untuk memastikan operasi yang lebih lancar, cekap dan tahan lama.

Enjin ini dibangunkan khusus untuk kegunaan kenderaan altitud rendah, termasuk pesawat ringan dan kenderaan terbang yang beroperasi berhampiran permukaan bumi. Menurut Dongan, R05E mempunyai kapasiti yang mencukupi untuk menggerakkan kenderaan berawak bersaiz sederhana hingga besar dalam segmen mobiliti altitud rendah yang sedang berkembang pesat.

Dari segi prestasi, enjin ini mampu beroperasi sehingga 6,500 rpm dan menghasilkan kuasa maksimum 53 kW. Ia turut menggunakan bahan dan lapisan permukaan khas bagi mengurangkan geseran dalaman, sekali gus meningkatkan kecekapan operasi serta kebolehpercayaan jangka panjang.

Kejayaan ujian awal ini mewakili langkah penting bagi Harbin Dongan Auto Engine dalam pembangunan teknologi enjin rotary. Dengan sasaran pengeluaran menjelang penghujung dekad ini, syarikat tersebut kini berada pada landasan untuk memasuki pasaran mobiliti altitud rendah, sekali gus mengukuhkan keupayaan China dalam teknologi trenkuasa generasi baharu.

The R05E project was officially initiated on April 9 and developed in collaboration with AVL, a global mobility technology specialist involved in engineering development, simulation and testing. This partnership has played a central role in accelerating the engine’s progress from concept to a functioning prototype.

At the core of the R05E is a single-rotor layout featuring a curved-edge triangular piston, paired with an independent dual-circuit ignition system. The engine also employs a lightweight eccentric shaft and balancing system, as well as an integrated water jacket designed to improve thermal efficiency and overall durability. These elements work together to deliver high output from a compact and lightweight package.

Dongan highlighted that the engine’s ultra-high power density, small physical footprint and refined noise, vibration and harshness characteristics make it suitable for a wide range of low-altitude applications. The company noted that the R05E is capable of supporting medium- to large-scale manned low-altitude vehicles, an area expected to see rapid growth in the coming years.

In terms of performance, the rotary engine is rated at 6,500 rpm and produces 53 kW of power. To further improve efficiency and reduce energy losses, the design incorporates a cast aluminium casing and NDC nanodiamond composite anti-friction coating, technologies aimed at lowering internal resistance and enhancing long-term reliability.

With the first ignition now completed, the R05E represents a significant step forward for China’s rotary engine development and underlines Dongan’s ambition to establish a foothold in emerging low-altitude mobility markets ahead of its planned production rollout later this decade.

The #6 EHD’s plug-in hybrid setup is built around Geely’s NordThor Hybrid 2.0 technology, a configuration that pairs a 161hp 1.5-litre turbo engine with an electric motor. Power is channelled through a 3-speed DHT, forming a combined output of 429hp. Battery details remain under wraps, though Smart confirmed the use of lithium iron phosphate cells supplied by either SVOLT or CATL. Fuel consumption is said to dip as low as 3.9 litres per 100 km, underscoring the emphasis on efficiency.

Smart has already laid the groundwork for expectations with the previously introduced #5 EHD, which uses a similar formula: a 161hp 1.5T engine paired with a 268hp electric motor for the same 429hp total output and a 3-speed DHT. The #6 EHD, however, is set to surpass it in size and positioning.

Measuring 4,906 mm long, 1,922 mm wide and 1,508 mm tall, and riding on a substantial 2,926 mm wheelbase, it becomes the largest vehicle Smart has ever produced. The lengthy wheelbase also places it ahead of every other model in the brand’s current line-up.

Design plays an equally significant role in defining the #6 EHD. The bold yellow paint option, matched with yellow brake callipers, sets the tone for its performance-leaning character. Its profile is shaped by a sweeping roofline and ends with an electrically adjustable rear wing, a detail that signals its sporting intent beyond subtle hints. Up front, a full-width light bar is paired with a contrasting black lower grille, giving the sedan a distinctive and modern face.

A roof-mounted lidar unit hints at advanced driver-assistance features, marking a step up in Smart’s tech ambitions. Hidden door handles and side-mounted cameras complete the side profile, strengthening its futuristic aesthetic.

The cabin remains unseen for now, but Smart is expected to adopt a digital-forward layout in line with its newer models. Early indications suggest a large central display and an AI-driven voice assistant will feature prominently, forming the core of the next-generation cockpit experience.

With its mix of long-distance capability, strong performance, striking design and sizeable footprint, the Smart #6 EHD positions itself as the brand’s most serious entry into the upper tier of plug-in hybrid sedans. More details are expected to surface as it moves closer to its official launch.

The latest mid-size plug-in hybrid sedan from Dongfeng Nissan, the N6, has officially debuted in China with a starting price tag of 99,900 yuan — roughly RM66,200. A promotional “benefit price” of 91,900 yuan (about RM61,000) has also been made available for a limited time.

The company signalled that the N6 could reach markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and parts of Latin America in the future, marking it as the brand’s first “N-series” vehicle beyond its pure-electric offerings.

Styled in line with the fully electric N7, the N6 presents a modern, sleek appearance. The front end features a closed-off nose, a full-width light bar above, L-shaped lower lights, an illuminated “NISSAN” badge, flush door handles and an integrated charging port on the rear quarter panel. The rear profile adopts a coupe-like flow, with a continuous taillight strip and a clean bumper that hides the exhaust outlets, adding subtle sophistication to its silhouette.

Built as a proper mid-size sedan, the N6 measures 4,831 mm long, 1,885 mm wide and 1,494 mm tall, riding on a 2,815 mm wheelbase. Wheel options range from 17- to 18-inch alloys, with body colours including Sunlight Gold, Mirage Silver, Wind-Coloured Purple, Rock Grey, Obsidian Black, and Pearl White.

Under the bonnet, the N6 pairs a 1.5-litre internal-combustion engine with an electric motor powered by a 21.1 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery. This hybrid arrangement delivers an impressive CLTC pure-electric range of up to 180 km (or 170 km depending on the battery variant), a figure rarely seen at this price point in the plug-in hybrid sedan class.

Inside the cabin, Nissan has blended modern tech with thoughtful conveniences. Simple trims deliver essentials such as LED lighting, automatic headlamps, “zero-gravity” rear seats, push-button start, reversing camera, a 10.25-inch digital instrument panel and a 14.6-inch central touchscreen running on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 hardware.

Higher-spec versions go further with adaptive LED lighting, ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof with manual shade, a 540° surround-view camera system, AI-based voice assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist and parking aids — all signalling Nissan’s serious attempt to raise the bar for value-for-money hybrids.

With its blend of generous electric-only range, mid-size dimensions, modern styling and advanced driving aids — all wrapped in an accessible price — the N6 could well reshape expectations of what an affordable plug-in hybrid sedan can offer in today’s market.

China mungkin memiliki pasaran kereta terbesar di dunia, namun persaingan sengit dalam industri itu mendorong sesetengah pengeluar kereta menggunakan taktik yang meragukan. Menurut laporan agensi berita rasmi Xinhua, ada syarikat yang dilaporkan membesar-besarkan angka pra-pesanan bagi memberi gambaran seolah-olah kenderaan mereka mendapat permintaan tinggi.

Antara taktik yang digunakan termasuklah meminta pekerja mereka sendiri membuat tempahan dengan deposit yang boleh dipulangkan, manakala ada juga yang menggunakan pihak luar melalui rangkaian dikenali sebagai “rantaian industri kelabu” untuk mencipta angka tempahan palsu. Data ini jarang disemak oleh pihak ketiga, sekali gus menyebabkan jurang besar antara tempahan pra-jualan dengan jumlah jualan sebenar.

Perkara ini telah menarik perhatian pihak berkuasa. Pada September lalu, Kementerian Industri China memulakan kempen selama tiga bulan untuk membanteras iklan palsu dan penipuan dalam talian dalam sektor automotif. Pakar memberi amaran bahawa strategi seperti ini boleh menjejaskan keyakinan jangka panjang terhadap pasaran kereta negara itu.

Fenomena ini bukan sesuatu yang baharu. Sebelum ini, akhbar Economic Daily pernah menegaskan bahawa amalan pra-pesanan palsu mula-mula menular dalam industri telefon pintar sebelum meresap ke sektor automotif. Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Nio, William Li, turut mengecam amalan tersebut kerana ia mewujudkan jurang tidak sihat antara jumlah pengeluaran dan jualan sebenar.

Kontroversi ini berlaku ketika pengeluar kereta China sedang bergelut dalam perang harga yang agresif. Beberapa laporan menunjukkan syarikat menggunakan pelbagai helah bagi meningkatkan jualan, termasuk menawarkan insurans percuma atau mengklasifikasikan kereta baharu sebagai kenderaan “terpakai” sebelum dieksport. Malah, ada kerajaan tempatan yang menggalakkan cara ini demi menampakkan pertumbuhan ekonomi.

Walaupun berdepan isu tersebut, angka jualan kereta di China kekal tinggi. Dari Januari hingga Ogos 2025, jualan kenderaan meningkat sebanyak 9.9% kepada 14.9 juta unit. Pada bulan Ogos sahaja, China menyumbang 38% daripada jumlah jualan kereta global, didorong oleh sokongan subsidi kerajaan.

China mengesahkan bahawa mulai 1 Januari 2026, negara itu akan melaksanakan kawalan eksport terhadap kereta penumpang elektrik sepenuhnya (EV). Langkah ini diambil bagi menertibkan pasaran EV domestik yang semakin bersaing hebat, sambil menangani kritikan serta tindakan tarif dari luar negara.

Pengumuman ini dibuat secara bersama oleh Kementerian Perdagangan, Kementerian Perindustrian dan Teknologi Maklumat, pentadbiran kastam dan pengawal selia pasaran. Menurut kenyataan rasmi, langkah tersebut bertujuan memastikan “perkembangan sihat” dalam perdagangan kenderaan tenaga baharu.

Di bawah sistem baharu ini, semua eksport EV perlu mendapatkan lesen khas mengikut peraturan yang pertama kali diperkenalkan pada 2012. Selain itu, setiap kenderaan akan melalui pemeriksaan kastam sebelum dibenarkan keluar dari China.

Langkah ini dilihat sebagai reaksi terhadap kebergantungan besar pengeluar EV China terhadap pasaran luar. Dalam keadaan persaingan sengit di dalam negara, syarikat seperti BYD telah meningkatkan penghantaran ke luar negara dengan ketara. Malah, pada bulan Ogos lalu, eksport kenderaan tenaga baharu syarikat itu meningkat dua setengah kali ganda berbanding tempoh sama tahun sebelumnya.

Namun, peningkatan pesat ini turut mengundang reaksi negatif. Kesatuan Eropah baru-baru ini mengenakan tarif tambahan terhadap EV buatan China, dengan alasan harga tidak adil dan sokongan subsidi kerajaan. Di Mexico, iaitu pasaran eksport terbesar kenderaan China ketika ini, Presiden Claudia Sheinbaum telah mengusulkan rang undang-undang untuk mengenakan tarif baharu ke atas lebih 1,400 jenis barangan, termasuk duti sehingga 50% untuk kenderaan.

Sebagai tindak balas, Kementerian Perdagangan China mengumumkan ia akan menyiasat cadangan Mexico tersebut, menandakan kemungkinan berlakunya ketegangan perdagangan yang lebih serius.

Rejim pelesenan eksport baharu ini menunjukkan usaha Beijing menyeimbangkan dua perkara: menyokong industri EV yang sedang berkembang pesat sambil mengawal perang harga domestik dan meredakan konflik perdagangan antarabangsa. Memandangkan eksport kini menjadi tonggak penting sektor ini, langkah kawalan tersebut dijangka akan mempengaruhi strategi global pengeluar EV China pada tahun-tahun mendatang.

China has confirmed it will be placing export controls on pure electric passenger cars from 1 January 2026, a move aimed at bringing order to an increasingly chaotic EV market at home while addressing rising criticism abroad.

The announcement came jointly from the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the customs administration and the market regulator. Officials explained that the measure is intended to ensure the “healthy development” of the new energy vehicle trade. Under the new system, EV exports will require a licence, issued in line with rules first introduced back in 2012. Cars will also have to undergo customs inspection before leaving the country.

China’s EV makers have been leaning heavily on overseas sales as domestic competition intensifies. Companies like BYD have ramped up exports sharply, with the brand reporting that shipments of new energy vehicles in August were two and a half times higher compared to the same month last year. For Chinese carmakers, foreign markets have become a vital lifeline.

However, this aggressive push abroad has triggered backlash. The European Union recently slapped new tariffs on Chinese EVs, citing unfair pricing and state subsidies. In Mexico – currently China’s largest export market for cars – President Claudia Sheinbaum has put forward a bill to impose new tariffs on over 1,400 goods, including up to 50% duties on vehicles. In response, China’s commerce ministry has said it will be investigating the Mexican proposals, signalling that tensions could escalate further.

The new licensing regime highlights the delicate balance Beijing is trying to strike: supporting its booming EV industry while addressing both internal price wars and external trade disputes. With exports now such a crucial part of the sector, the controls could reshape how Chinese EV makers plan their global strategies in the years ahead.

Nissan mengukuhkan kedudukannya dalam pasaran SUV China melalui kerjasama terbaharu dengan Dongfeng Motor Group. Kedua-dua syarikat ini bakal menubuhkan sebuah entiti baharu dengan pelaburan sekitar RM676 juta, khusus untuk membangunkan serta menjual SUV off-road.

Berdasarkan butiran yang didedahkan, Dongfeng Motor akan memegang pegangan terbesar sebanyak 40%, manakala Dongfeng Nissan – usaha sama sedia ada antara kedua-dua syarikat dengan perkongsian 50:50 – akan memiliki kira-kira 10%.

Dua lagi syarikat berpangkalan di Xiangyang, wilayah Hubei turut menyertai projek ini. Perjanjian kerjasama ini ditetapkan untuk tempoh 20 tahun, namun nama rasmi syarikat baharu serta tarikh pelancaran model pertama masih belum diumumkan.

Sumbangan Dongfeng Nissan dijangka lebih tertumpu kepada aset berbanding tunai. Ini termasuk acuan, barisan pengeluaran, peralatan industri, sistem pembangunan serta sumber tidak ketara lain. Malah, terdapat kemungkinan Dongfeng Nissan akan terlibat secara langsung dalam pengeluaran kenderaan sebaik sahaja operasi dimulakan.

Nissan masih belum mengeluarkan kenyataan rasmi, namun langkah ini dilihat penting buat Dongfeng Motor, yang sejak kebelakangan ini berdepan cabaran untuk menyesuaikan diri dengan kadar elektrifikasi pesat dalam pasaran automotif China.

Syarikat itu juga baru-baru ini mengumumkan rancangan untuk menarik diri daripada Bursa Saham Hong Kong sambil menyiapkan usaha mengasingkan dan menyenaraikan unit di sebalik jenama kenderaan elektrik Voyah.

Di sebalik trend industri automotif China yang pantas beralih kepada kenderaan elektrik, Nissan dan Dongfeng yakin bahawa permintaan bagi SUV off-road lasak masih kukuh. Melalui kerjasama ini, kedua-dua syarikat berpotensi memperkukuh kedudukan dalam segmen yang terus mempunyai kelompok pembeli setia.