China’s Ministry of Finance launched the 2026 application process for pilot programs to address shortcomings in county-level charging and battery swapping infrastructure. For charging and battery swapping stations powered by PV generation, if the amount of electricity “generated for self-use” exceeds 40% of total charging volume, the annual total charging volume of such “generated for self-use” electricity may be converted at 1.2 times.

On March 5, Inner Mongolia issued its 15th Five-Year Plan, explicitly promoting autonomous driving in mining and logistics to lead the nation in self-driving heavy truck fleets. It supports Ordos' "Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integration" pilot and accelerates the large-scale application of new energy heavy trucks, unmanned electric mining trucks, and charging infrastructure.

【By month-end, the total number of EV charging infrastructures (points) in China reached 20,698,000, up 49.6% YoY. 】Data from the national charging infrastructure monitoring and service platform showed that by the end of January 2026, the total number of EV charging points in China reached 20.698 million, up 49.6% YoY. Among these, there were 4.801 million public charging points, up 31.2% YoY, with a total rated power of 226 million kW and an average power of about 47.01 kW; private charging points numbered 15.897 million, up 56.1% YoY, and the installed electrical capacity for private charging facilities reached 138 million kVA.

Uber said on Feb. 19 that it will invest $100 million to accelerate the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in the United States. The company outlined two main strategies: increasing the availability of charging stations near drivers’ residences and building dedicated DC fast-charging hubs to support future robotaxi operations.

[Cui Dongshu of the Passenger Vehicle Association: NEV price reductions averaged 12% in H1] From January to June 2025, the average price reduction for new NEV models reached 23,000 yuan, equivalent to a 12% decrease. In June, the average price reduction for new NEV models dropped to 15,000 yuan, representing a relatively low 10.4% reduction. During the same period, conventional internal combustion engine vehicles saw an average price reduction of 17,000 yuan (8.9%), while in June this figure fell to 14,000 yuan (8.6%). For the overall passenger vehicle market, the average price reduction from January to June reached 21,000 yuan (11.4%), with June's average reduction at 15,000 yuan (9.9%). [Lithium battery recycling plant fire in Spain remains uncontained after three days] A lithium battery recycling plant near Madrid, Spain caught fire on the 4th and remained ablaze as of the 6th. Two individuals were injured in the incident, according to reports. DPA news agency stated that firefighters continued battling the blaze at the industrial facility located approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Madrid. Multiple explosions triggered the fire, though the cause remains under investigation. (Cailian Press) [Four ministries: Automakers' large power charging networks should be open to all] The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and three other departments issued the "Notice on Promoting Scientific Planning and Construction of Large Power Charging Facilities." The document mandates that project proponents complete filing procedures per the "Regulations on the Administration of Approval and Filing of Enterprise Investment Projects," with local authorities responsible for charging infrastructure development required to coordinate with investment regulators in supervising large power charging projects to prevent resource waste and disorderly construction. The notice emphasizes government guidance to promote efficient resource utilization, supports qualified operators with strong investment and operational capabilities in facility construction/renovation/operation, and encourages deployment of specialized large power charging infrastructure for buses, logistics, and heavy-duty freight. It stipulates that automakers' self-built large power charging networks should be universally accessible, and promotes commercial models integrating charging stations with dining, entertainment, shopping, and automotive services to enhance user experience. (Cailian PressZ7/>》Click for details [Apex (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. has 74 3C certificates suspended/revoked] Romoss and Anker Innovations recently announced recalls of multiple power bank models, involving over 1.2 million units. The State Administration for Market Regulation stated that the recall was due to metal foreign matter being mixed into the battery during production, posing safety risks of overheating or even combustion. It is understood that Apex (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. is one of the lithium battery suppliers for Romoss power banks. Currently, all 74 3C certificates held by Apex (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. have been suspended or revoked by the certification body. The Wuxi Municipal Market Supervision Bureau has sealed all lithium battery products produced by the company in accordance with regulations. (CCTV News) [CATL and Geely Deepen Strategic Cooperation Agreement] CATL and Geely Automobile recently officially signed a comprehensive electrification deepening strategic cooperation agreement. The two parties will take this signing as an opportunity to further deepen collaboration in areas including power battery technology synergy, product platform integration, and supply chain system construction, aiming to promote in-depth coordinated development across the entire industry chain and establish a more efficient and stable cooperation mechanism. (Cailian Press) [Mercedes-Benz Q2 Sales Reach 547,100 Units, Down 9% YoY] Mercedes-Benz sold 547,100 vehicles in Q2, down 9% YoY. The GLC remained Mercedes-Benz's best-selling model globally in H1 2025, with GLC sales increasing by 9% in Q2. Global plug-in hybrid vehicle sales grew 34% in Q2. In Europe, xEV market share reached 40%, and global xEV share hit 21% in Q2. (Cailian Press)

From Jan to May in 2025, the number of electric vehicles registered in countries around the world was approximately 7.520 million units, about 32.4% increase from the same period last year (5.682 mil units).

The agreement marks the beginning of an in-depth, full-chain partnership encompassing lubricant supply and services, joint technology development, brand collaboration, and global market expansion.

On June 17, JAC Group announced the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. in Hefei, marking a significant deepening of their partnership.

On June 17, 2025, the 2025 SMM (2nd) Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference , hosted by SMM, successfully concluded at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit in Bangkok, Thailand! The conference brought together experts, scholars, corporate representatives, and government officials from the domestic and overseas automotive industries to discuss new trends and models in the development of the automotive industry, share the latest technologies and innovative achievements, promote collaborative development and cooperation within the automotive industry, facilitate the improvement and enhancement of the industry chain, help Chinese automotive industry chain enterprises better understand overseas investment environments, leverage the complementary advantages of various countries and regions in the automotive industry, and jointly support the healthy and sustainable development of the automotive industry! Yossapong Laoonual, Honorary Chairman of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVA) and Director of the Mobility and Vehicle Technology Research Center (MOVE) at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) , stated that Thailand's electric vehicle vision (the 30@30 Policy) sets an ambitious goal of achieving 30% zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the country's total production and 50% in newly registered vehicles by 2030. To achieve this goal, the government provides subsidies to original equipment manufacturers producing cars, pickup trucks, and motorcycles. The planned annual capacity for EVs exceeds 500,000 units, while the actual production in 2024 was 9,688 units, representing a 58-fold increase compared to the entire year of 2023. Although internal combustion engine vehicles still dominate the market, the growth rate of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is very rapid, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 138% for BEVs from 2020 to 2024. By 2024, the market penetration rate of electric four-wheelers had reached 13%. Asst. Prof. Uthane Supatti, Ph.D., Vice Chairman of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) , stated, when referring to the development of charging infrastructure in Thailand, that after 2023, the deployment of charging piles in Thailand has reached a significant turning point. Data shows that the number of charging piles increased by an astonishing 306.2% YoY in 2023. By 2023, the number of charging piles had already surpassed the original target set for 2025. However, there is still significant room for improvement to achieve the 2030 goal, and continued efforts in construction are needed. In addition, Yao Xinying, Director of SMM Steel Product Research , released the SMM Thailand Metal Prices and Thailand Steel Prices to help enterprises identify fair prices and reduce transaction costs. She stated that the Thai manufacturing industry still faces numerous obstacles in price referencing and settlement, such as the lack of authoritative price benchmarks, low price transparency, an imperfect settlement system, and susceptibility to market manipulation. SMM, closely connected with the upstream and downstream of the Thai metal industry chain, has launched the SMM Thailand Metal Prices to facilitate market transactions. Additionally, SMM has specially designed a networking session for automakers, bringing together over a dozen well-known domestic and overseas automakers, including BYD and BMW, to provide dedicated time for supply and demand exchanges between attending guests and automakers, facilitating collaboration discussions! 》Click to view the live video of the conference 》Click to view the live photo gallery of the conference 》Click to view the special coverage of the conference Opening Remarks Speaker: Logan Lu, CEO of SMM 》Click to view details of the on-site speech Guest Speaker Session Speech Topic: Latest Policies in Southeast Asia's Automotive Industry Guest Speaker: Yossapong Laoonual, Honorary Chairman of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVA) and Director of the Mobility and Vehicle Technology Research Center (MOVE), King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) Thailand's EV Vision (30@30 Policy) Thailand's EV Vision (30@30 Policy) sets an ambitious target of achieving 30% zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the country's total production and 50% in new vehicle registrations by 2030. To achieve this, the government is providing subsidies to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) producing cars, pickup trucks, and motorcycles. 2024 Capacity and Market Performance The planned annual production capacity for EVs exceeds 500,000 units, with actual production in 2024 reaching 9,688 units, a 58-fold increase compared to the full year of 2023. Despite internal combustion engine vehicles still dominating the market, the growth rates of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) have been very rapid, with BEVs achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 138% from 2020 to 2024. By 2024, the market penetration rate of electric four-wheelers has reached 13%. Infrastructure Development By 2024, the ratio of electric passenger vehicles to charging stations is 28, and the number of DC charging piles has exceeded the 2025 target by 40%. These charging piles are mainly distributed in gas stations, department stores, office buildings, and other locations. Challenges Faced In Thailand's four-wheeled EV market, Chinese OEMs have already taken a dominant position and are benefiting from the 30@30 policy. To enhance the competitiveness of the local automotive industry, local auto parts suppliers should actively integrate into the global supply chain and collaborate with Chinese OEMs to improve price competitiveness and enhance technological capabilities. 》EVA Thailand Shares: Thailand's EV Outlook - Opportunities and Challenges Automotive Brand Building and Differentiation Strategies in the Southeast Asian Market Guan Xin, Deputy General Manager of Changan Automobile's Southeast Asia Division Zhang Cong, General Manager of Geely Radar Thailand Pichayuth Vongpattanasin, Vice President of Omoda&Jaecoo (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Roundtable Discussion: Pathways for Building and Optimizing Localized Supply Chains in Southeast Asia Guests: Martin Knoss, Regional President for Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicles, and Off-Road Vehicles in the ASEAN Market Segment, Powertrain Solutions Division, Robert Bosch Automotive Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Peter Klöpfer, Senior Manager, Rutronik Yoshinobu Egawa, Head of China Region, SIIX Corporation Ma Ming, General Manager, Joyson Safety Systems (Thailand) Guan Xin, Deputy General Manager of Changan Automobile's Southeast Asia Division Speech Topic: SMM Thailand Metal Price Launch & Thailand Steel Price Release - Discovering Fair Prices and Reducing Transaction Costs Guest Speaker: Yao Xinying, Director of Steel Product Research, SMM Why Launch SMM Thailand Metal Prices? The Thai manufacturing industry still faces numerous obstacles in terms of price reference and settlement. 1. Lack of an authoritative price benchmark Thailand lacks an independent third-party price publishing platform, resulting in a lack of unified and credible price reference standards for metal trading. This makes it difficult for buyers and sellers to reach fair pricing agreements, exacerbating market price confusion. 2. Low price transparency Due to the absence of professional price information disclosure channels, metal trading price data is scattered and not publicly available. Market participants are unable to obtain timely and accurate market information, increasing the difficulty of price discovery and the risk of trading decisions. 》SMM Thailand Metal Price Launch Event & Thailand Steel Price Release - Discovering Fair Prices and Reducing Trading Costs Roundtable Discussion: Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain - Import and Local Matters (Services, Prices, Landing Support Possibilities) Dong Rujun, Senior Overseas Market Manager, SMM Wu Zhengguo, Operations Director, Taichengfa Co., Ltd. Wu Zhongxian, Deputy General Manager, International Trade Company, CITIC Pacific Special Steel Group Co., Ltd. Bai He, General Manager, RTM International Aluminum Division, Mitsubishi Corporation Yingzhang Liang, Head of Sustainability, Metals & Mining, Asia Pacific, Bloomberg Intelligence Shine Peng, Sales General Manager, FedEx Speech Topic: Accelerating the Development of Thailand's EV Ecosystem Guest Speaker: Asst. Prof. Uthane Supatti Ph.D., Vice Chairman, Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) Transformation of Transportation Modes in Thailand Traditional transportation modes include speedboats, traditional buses, and traditional trains. After improvements, electric taxis, electric buses, and electric motorbike taxis have emerged. Following electrification development, subways, trams, and electric boats have also come into people's view. Thailand's EV Vision - The "30@30" Policy Thailand has set EV adoption and production targets for 2025 and 2030. By 2030, the following goals will be achieved: zero-emission vehicles will account for 30% of Thailand's total vehicle production; zero-emission vehicles will account for 50% of the country's vehicle usage. Passenger Vehicle Production: As of 2024, Thailand's total sedan production reached 1,468,997 units, a YoY decrease of 20%. Among them, passenger vehicle production was 558,440 units, a YoY decrease of 13.5%. Pure electric passenger vehicle production was 9,688 units, a YoY surge of 5,807.3%. 》Current Status of Thailand's EV Industry - How to Accelerate the Development of Thailand's EV Ecosystem? Roundtable Discussion: Accelerated Electrification and Localization Progress of Core Components in Thailand Xiaolong Xu, Deputy General Manager, Inovance United Power System (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Zhibiao Fu, Plant Manager, Shanghai Edrive (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Tongkarn Kaewchalermtong, Chair of the Transport and Logistics Working Group, ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (AFEO) Sizhan Chen, Chairman of the Automotive Parts Industry Association, Federation of Thai Industries, and Deputy Secretary General, Thai Auto Parts Manufacturers Association Haofeng, Business Director, Gotion High-tech (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Presentation Topic: Industrialization Breakthrough of Ultra-Thin Soft Magnetic Materials for High-Efficiency Drive Motors Guest Speaker: Lugang Zhan, Executive Deputy General Manager, Hunan Hongwang New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. (At the speaker's request, this presentation will not be publicly available) Roundtable Discussion: Charging Pile Infrastructure: Unlocking the Last Mile of Southeast Asia's New Energy Revolution Liming Zhao, Overseas Sales Director for Southeast Asia, Teld International Soravis Sithicharoen, Charging Pile Business Head, Gentari Green Mobility Thailand Chavarin Chavarangkul, Charging Pile Head and Sales Director, Innopower Company Limited Presentation Topic: Operational Status of Lithium Carbonate Futures Guest Speaker: Bing Leng, Deputy General Manager, GFEX (At the speaker's request, this presentation will not be publicly available) Presentation Topic: Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC): A Hub of Prosperity Opportunities Guest Speaker: Songwut Apirakkhit, Executive Head of Next-Generation Automotive Sector, Eastern Economic Corridor Roundtable Discussion: Investment Models in Southeast Asia: Pros and Cons of Joint Ventures and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries Weien Lin, Director and Deputy General Manager, Thai Long United Automotive Co., Ltd. Kuixian Lin, Founder of Jiahua Group and CEO of NexV, Sdn Bhd Bin Zhao, President, Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone Development Co., Ltd. June 17 Main Conference Presentation Topic: Rizhao Steel's ESP Automotive Steel Supports Green and Efficient Development in the Automotive Industry Guest Speaker: Xutao Zheng, Deputy Director of Technology and Quality Department, Technical Center Director, Rizhao Steel Holding Group Co., Ltd. (At the speaker's request, this presentation will not be publicly available) Roundtable Discussion: How Southeast Asia's Local Supply Chain Serves European and US Markets Tuan Vi, Vice President of Supply Chain and Logistics for Asia Pacific, Schaeffler Vietnam Sridhar Ramakrishna, Application and Engineering Director, Tenneco Presentation Topic: Smart Logistics Systems and Technologies Facilitating Global Supply Chain Expansion Guest Speaker: Chunlong Jin, Deputy General Manager, Shanghai Boyi International Logistics Co., Ltd. (At the speaker's request, this presentation will not be publicly available) Roundtable Discussion: Potential Synergies in Battery Cell Chemical Materials Across Southeast Asia Logan Lu, CEO, SMM Tony, General Manager, Sunwoda EV Energy (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Rui Liu, Chairman, Innovate (Malaysia) New Materials Technology Co., Ltd. Changxi Jin, Sales Director for Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, Electrolyte Division, Guangzhou Tinci Materials Technology Co., Ltd. Shuzhan Yang, Deputy General Manager, BTR New Materials Group Co., Ltd., and Chairman, BTR Indonesia Automaker Demand Matching Session At the 2025 SMM (2nd) Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference , SMM has specially designed a networking session for automakers, bringing together over a dozen renowned domestic and overseas automakers to provide attendees with dedicated time for supply and demand discussions and collaboration opportunities! 》Click to view the list of automakers participating in the exchange meeting Sign-in 》Click to view more highlights from the event With this, the 2025 SMM Southeast Asia (Thailand) Automotive Supply Chain Conference has come to a successful conclusion Thank you for the support of all industry colleagues See you next year! 》Click to view the special report on the 2025 SMM Southeast Asia (Thailand) Automotive Supply Chain Conference

[Chery's Wuhu Jetour Auto Sales Company Increases Capital to 2 Billion Yuan] According to Tianyancha App, recently, Wuhu Jetour Auto Sales Co., Ltd. underwent a business registration change, with its registered capital increasing from 500 million yuan to 2 billion yuan, representing a 300% increase. The company was established in April 2017, with Zhang Chunwei as its legal representative. Its business scope includes auto sales, retail of auto parts, sales of auto decorative items, motor vehicle repair and maintenance, sales of lubricants, battery sales, sales of charging piles, and operation of EV charging infrastructure, among others. It is wholly owned by Chery Automobile Co., Ltd.