Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio failed to reach a trade agreement with US President Trump during the Group of Seven (G7) summit, a result that has brought Japan's economy closer to the brink of recession amid the impact of US tariffs. "We will continue to actively coordinate with the US to reach an agreement that benefits both sides without sacrificing Japan's national interests," Kishida told the media on Monday on the sidelines of the G7 meeting in Calgary, Canada. "Currently, there are still differences between the two sides on some issues." Trump, for his part, told the media that he had a "very good conversation" with Kishida and said an agreement was still possible. "The Japanese are tough," Trump said. Regarding the potential consequences of failing to reach an agreement, he said, "At the end of the day, you have to understand that we'll send a letter telling them this is the price you have to pay, or else don't do business with us." Like other countries, Japan faces 25% tariffs on automobiles and parts, as well as 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum products. In addition, the Trump administration has imposed a reciprocal tariff rate of 24% on Japan (currently temporarily reduced to 10%). According to a report released by Daiwa Institute of Research in May this year, if the so-called "reciprocal tariff" rises from the current 10% to 24%, Japan's real GDP will be reduced by approximately 2.2% by 2029. Automobile tariffs are a key focus of negotiations between Japan and the US. The automotive industry is crucial to Japan's economy. According to data from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), the industry employs approximately 5.6 million people, accounting for 8.3% of the country's total workforce, and contributes about 10% of GDP. Major Japanese automakers such as Toyota, Honda, Mazda, and Subaru expect to face collective losses exceeding $19 billion in the current fiscal year alone due to the impact of tariffs. "For Japan, automobiles are indeed a matter of national interest. We will protect them at all costs," Kishida said in a media interview. When asked whether automobile tariffs were included in the negotiation agenda, Trump did not reveal much, only saying, "We'll see." According to previous media reports, Japan has proposed a series of potential concessions in an attempt to narrow its trade surplus with the US, including increasing imports of soybeans from the US and strengthening cooperation in the shipbuilding sector. In addition, Japan has also tried to persuade the US by emphasizing its status as the largest investor in the US, arguing that if tariffs weaken Japan's domestic economy, it will affect its ability to invest in the US. However, so far, these commitments still seem not enough to facilitate a trade agreement between the US and Japan.

As Trump's tariff policy fluctuated repeatedly, after European and American automakers suffered setbacks, Japanese automakers' performance also collapsed. Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan both reported financial results on Tuesday that fell short of expectations. Honda, affected by tariffs, saw its Q4 operating profit plummet by over 70% YoY, with a 12.2% decline in operating profit and a 24.5% drop in net profit for the full year. Honda also adopted a relatively pessimistic outlook for the future, projecting that its operating profit, net profit, and revenue for the fiscal year 2026 will decline by nearly 59%, 70.1%, and 6.4% YoY, respectively. Nissan, on the other hand, announced that due to tariff impacts, it has decided not to release its operating profit forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026, and will close some production plants, planning to lay off 20,000 employees by the fiscal year 2027. Meanwhile, Nissan replaced most of its senior management and appointed a new CEO. In addition, Toyota expects its operating income to decrease by 180 billion yen in just two months, while Mazda has not released its full-year performance forecast and warned that it may face a loss of 10 billion yen in April alone. According to CCTV News, the US previously imposed a 25% tariff on imported auto parts. The global automotive industry has already been widely affected by tariffs. In addition to Japanese automakers, European automakers such as Germany's Mercedes-Benz Group and Stellantis have withdrawn their performance guidance for this year, citing tariffs that have disrupted supply chains and driven up global auto prices. Mercedes-Benz stated that the uncertainties brought about by tariffs are too high to reliably assess this year's business development. Other companies have warned of significant financial losses . US automakers such as General Motors, facing tariff exposure of up to $5 billion, have significantly lowered their profit forecasts, while Ford Motor Company expects to incur annual losses of $1.5 billion. Honda's Q4 operating profit plummeted by over 70% YoY On Tuesday, May 13, Japanese automotive giant Honda reported its fourth-quarter and full-year performance for the period ending March 31. Q4 revenue: 5.36 trillion yen (approximately $4.726 billion), in line with the expected 5.36 trillion yen. Q4 operating profit: 73.5 billion yen, far below the expected 275.52 billion yen. Full-year revenue: increased by 6.2% YoY to 21.69 trillion yen, higher than the expected 21.63 trillion yen. Full-year operating profit: decreased by 12.2% YoY to 1.21 trillion yen, below the expected 1.41 trillion yen. Full-year net profit: decreased by 24.5% YoY to 835.84 billion yen. Performance guidance for 2026: Operating profit: It is expected that the full-year operating profit will decline by nearly 59% YoY to 500 billion yen. Net profit: Down 70.1% YoY to JPY 250 billion. Operating revenue: Down 6.4% YoY to JPY 20.3 trillion. Honda's financial results were released amid escalating trade tensions between the US and the world, with the US imposing a 25% tariff on foreign car imports. Honda's operating profit and net profit both fell sharply YoY. To avoid tariffs, Honda decided in March this year to shift the production location of its popular car model, the Civic Hybrid, from Mexico to the US. In addition, Honda is pessimistic about its future performance outlook, having revised down almost all financial indicators for the fiscal year ending March 2026. It expects operating profit to fall nearly 59% YoY, net profit to drop 70.1% YoY, and revenue to decline 6.4% YoY for the full year. According to data from Carpro, a US automotive market research firm, in 2024, Asian automakers accounted for six of the top eight car producers by sales volume in the US, with Honda ranking fourth. As Japan's second-largest car maker, Honda stated that the impact of global tariff policies will have a very significant effect on its business, and frequent policy adjustments make it difficult for Honda to make accurate forecasts. In its report, Honda said: "In the future, we will carefully assess the impact of tariff policies and expand recovery measures while striving to achieve further growth in operating profit." In addition, Honda also adjusted its dividend policy, changing the dividend payout ratio from the traditional payout rate to "equity dividends." It expects the dividend per share for the current fiscal year to increase by JPY 2 to JPY 70 per share. In terms of M&A, in February, Honda and its rival Nissan terminated negotiations on a USD 60 billion merger deal. If successful, the merger would have created the world's third-largest car maker, after Toyota and Volkswagen. Nissan to cut 15% of global workforce On the same day, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. released its Q4 and full-year results for the period ending March 31. Full-year results: Full-year operating profit: JPY 133.71 billion (vs. estimated JPY 138.5 billion); Operating profit in Asia (excluding Japan): JPY 57.27 billion (vs. estimated JPY 52.29 billion); Operating loss in North America: JPY 38.32 billion (vs. estimated profit of JPY 2.45 billion); Operating loss in Europe: JPY 98.77 billion (vs. estimated loss of JPY 91.25 billion). Q4 results: Operating profit: JPY 5.79 billion (vs. estimated JPY 45.71 billion); Net loss: JPY 676.05 billion (approximately USD 4.6 billion) (vs. estimated loss of JPY 128.85 billion); Net sales: JPY 3.49 trillion (vs. estimated JPY 3.27 trillion); 2026 performance guidance: Expected net sales: JPY 12.50 trillion (vs. estimated JPY 12.31 trillion); Expected dividend: JPY 0.0 (vs. estimated JPY 7.70). Global auto sales for the full year are expected to reach 3.25 million units. In its earnings report released on Tuesday, Nissan stated that it had decided not to issue an operating profit forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026 . Additionally, Nissan announced plans to reduce the number of its production plants from 17 to 10 by fiscal 2027 and to cut approximately 15% of its global workforce, or about 20,000 employees. This means that on top of the 9,000 job cuts announced in November last year, an additional 11,000 employees will be laid off. The struggling Japanese automaker is striving to turn the tide, but due to its aging car models failing to attract consumers, Nissan has begun laying off staff, reducing production capacity, and replacing most of its senior management, including appointing a new CEO, Ivan Espinosa. After taking over as CEO, Espinosa has started implementing more decisive measures than his predecessor, Makoto Uchida, who was criticized for not being proactive enough in implementing layoffs and production cuts. Furthermore, Nissan's merger plans with Honda failed earlier this year, leaving Nissan in urgent need of finding new partners. The pressure to revive Nissan is immense, especially after the breakdown of merger talks, making the search for a "savior" even more complex. Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. (Foxconn) was once a potential partner. Liu Young-way, Chairman of Foxconn, stated in February that Foxconn had approached both Nissan and Honda during their merger discussions, proposing possible cooperation. As the manufacturer of the iPhone, Foxconn has clearly expressed its intention to assemble EVs for Japanese automakers and signed an agreement with Mitsubishi Motors earlier this month to jointly produce EVs. However, Nissan's restructuring efforts face even greater challenges, particularly the potential impact of 450 billion yen from US tariffs on imported cars and parts, further exacerbating the company's difficulties.

Honda Motor (China) Technology Co., Ltd. (HMCT) and CATL recently signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen their strategic collaboration, according to a press release CATL issued on May 16 via...

[CATL, "Prefabricated Vehicle" Partner +1] CATL and Changan Mazda signed a memorandum of cooperation in Shanghai. The two parties will jointly develop smarter and more efficient new energy vehicle (NEV) products based on CATL's CIIC integrated intelligent chassis and Changan Mazda's advantages in complete vehicle manufacturing. Following Avatr, CATL's "prefabricated vehicle" plan has welcomed its first joint venture member.

[Tinci Materials: Currently, the company is actively promoting localized capacity construction in the US and Morocco] Tinci Materials stated on an interactive platform that it is currently actively promoting localized capacity construction in the US and Morocco, continuously expanding overseas markets for electrolytes and LiPF6. (Cailian Press) [Yahua Group: Terminates Lithium Concentrates Offtake Agreement with Core] Yahua Group (002497.SZ) announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Yahua International, and Lithium Development, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Core, have signed a "Settlement, Termination, and Release Agreement" to terminate the original Lithium Concentrates Offtake Agreement and its supplementary agreement. The Finniss lithium mine project operated by Core has been suspended, and it is unable to supply lithium concentrates. The company has established a diversified channel layout combining self-controlled mines and externally purchased ore, building a stable lithium resource security system. The termination of this agreement will not impact the company's normal production and operations, nor will it harm the interests of the company and all its shareholders. (Cailian Press) [GM and LG Energy Solution Collaborate to Develop New-Type LMR Prismatic Batteries] General Motors (GM) announced that it, together with LG Energy Solution, will commercialize lithium-rich manganese-based (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric trucks and full-size SUVs through a new battery technology breakthrough. GM aims to become the first automaker to deploy LMR batteries in EVs. Ultium Cells, a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, plans to commence commercial production of LMR prismatic battery cells in the US by 2028, with pilot production expected to take place at LG Energy Solution's plant by the end of 2027. According to reports, battery engineers from GM and LG Energy Solution have developed a new-type LMR prismatic battery cell that achieves a 33% increase in energy density compared to the best-performing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells, while maintaining similar costs. (Cailian Press) [BTR: All Solid-State Battery Materials Have Met the Technical Conditions for Mass Production] BTR released a record of investor relations activities, stating that all solid-state battery materials it has developed have met the technical conditions for mass production and can be applied in digital and power applications. However, actual mass production will need to align with the validation cycles and demand rhythms of downstream battery cell manufacturers and end-user automakers. 2024 is a representative year for the semi-solid-state battery system, with actual shipments, installations, and end-use applications of solid-state battery products, indicating that the mass production of semi-solid-state battery materials is expected to occur soon. Currently, the industry generally regards 2027 as the time node for the large-scale mass production of all-solid-state batteries. [Honda Delays Canadian EV Investment Plan by About Two Years Due to Current Slowdown in EV Demand] Due to the current slowdown in EV demand, Honda has delayed its Canadian EV investment plan by about two years. Honda originally planned to establish a comprehensive electric vehicle (EV) industry chain in Canada by investing approximately CAD 15 billion (including investments from joint venture partners), supporting the global initiative to achieve 100% of auto sales from battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) by 2040. [Mazda Delays Release of FY2025 Forecast Due to US Auto Tariffs] Mazda has postponed the release of its consolidated financial forecast for fiscal year 2025 (April 2025 to March 2026). The company believes that the opaque business environment caused by the US government's tariff hikes on automobiles is ongoing, making it "difficult to calculate at this stage." Mazda is considering releasing the fiscal year forecast when it discloses its financial results for April to June 2026, scheduled for early August. Related Readings: [SMM Analysis] Impact of US Tariff Adjustments on China's New Energy End-Users Post-"Geneva Talks"] [SMM Analysis] 2025 Shanghai Auto Show: Intelligence, Luxury, Electrification [SMM Analysis] Sibanye Stillwater's Finnish Lithium Mine Project Costs Surge 17%, Commissioning Plan for 2026 Remains Unchanged Q1 Lithium Carbonate Prices Drop Over 25% YoY, Miners' Performances Vary Wildly: When Will Lithium Prices Rise? [SMM Special Report] [SMM Analysis] SMM's Total Domestic Lithium Carbonate Production in April 2025 Down 7% MoM, Up 40% YoY Salt Lake Potash's Q1 Net Profit Up Over 22% YoY, Aims to Achieve 200,000 mt/Year Lithium Chemicals Capacity by 2030 Auto Parts Sector Soars on First Day Back from Holiday, Jingjin Electric Achieves Three Consecutive Daily Limit-Ups, Market Performs Well During Holiday [Hot Stock] [SMM Analysis] Refined Cobalt Spot Prices Strengthen [SMM Analysis] Cobalt Intermediate Products Spot Prices Rise [SMM Analysis] Refined Cobalt Production Economics Decline, April Refined Cobalt Production Down MoM [SMM Analysis] April Lithium Hydroxide Production Remains Stable to Weak MoM, May Outlook Basically Flat [SMM Analysis] April Ternary Cathode Precursor Production Up 0.36% MoM [SMM Analysis] April Ternary Cathode Material Production Up 7.38% MoM [SMM Analysis] Between Advances and Retreats: Pragmatic Compromises in US Auto Tariff Compensation Policies and Challenges in Global Industry Chain Restructuring [SMM Analysis] April Iron Phosphate Market Stable, Companies Under Pressure, Prices Difficult to Increase Lithium: Driving the Green Revolution, Analyzing How the Industry Chain Reshapes Energy's Future [SMM Popular Science] [SMM Analysis] Driven by LCO Market Demand, April Co3O4 Production Increases Significantly MoM Q1 Auto Industry Starts with Double-Digit Growth in Both Production and Sales, What Are the Expectations for Q2 Amid Tariff Uncertainties? [[SMM Special Report] SMM: Global ESS Market Demand May Reach Around 470 GWh by 2030; How Will Each Market Perform? March's Import and Export Data for Battery Materials Released: Imports of Spodumene and Lithium Carbonate Show One Decrease and One Increase MoM; How Did They Perform? [SMM Special Report] Spot Quotes for Refined Cobalt Continue to Rise; High Raw Material Prices Lead to Production Cuts at Some Smelters; This Cobalt Salt Price May Remain Firm [Weekly Observation]

[5.14 Lithium Battery News] ►Tinci Materials: Currently, the company is promoting localized capacity construction in the US and Morocco. ►Yahua Group: Terminates lithium concentrate off-take agreement with Core Lithium. ►General Motors and LG Energy Solution collaborate to develop new-type LMR prismatic batteries. ►BTR: All solid-state battery materials have met the technical conditions for mass production. ►Honda delays its EV investment plan in Canada by about two years due to the current slowdown in EV demand. ►Mazda delays the announcement of its FY2025 outlook due to US automotive tariffs.

CATL and Changan Mazda have signed an MoU in Shanghai to jointly develop new energy vehicles (NEVs) leveraging CATL's CIIC (Integrated Intelligent Chassis) and Changan Mazda's vehicle manufacturing ca...

The recently concluded Labour Day holiday served as a crucial "window period" for stimulating the auto market. The results announced by several automakers after the holiday indicated that, influenced by multiple factors such as holiday spending, exhibitions, and end-user discounts, the auto market experienced a "mini-spring" ahead of the Beginning of Summer. On the evening of May 5, Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) took the lead in announcing its holiday results, with total firm orders across all models exceeding 22,000 units, doubling the figure from the same period last year. An industry insider close to Huawei revealed that during the 2025 Ningxia Labour Day International Auto Show held during the holiday, from April 30 to May 5, HIMA accumulated over 210 firm orders. "Labour Day holiday, five days of fruitful achievements, repeatedly setting new highs. Total orders exceeded 18,000+; single-day orders exceeded 3,700+, with the C11 model exceeding 1,000+ orders in a single day." On May 6, Zhu Jiangming, Chairman of Leap Motor, shared the order situation during the Labour Day holiday early on the first day back to work. According to backend data he provided, Leap Motor's net increase in locked orders across all models the previous day was 3,786, including 1,099 for the Leap C11. The top five cities by order volume were Hangzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Ningbo, and Tianjin. In comparison, Leap Motor received a total of 17,397 firm orders during the seven-day National Day holiday last year, with 3,576 locked orders on the last day of the holiday. Judging from the performance of automakers during the Labour Day holiday, there were many instances of strong end-user sales. From May 1 to May 5, GAC Trumpchi received a cumulative 12,295 orders across all models, up 10% YoY, with MPVs accounting for over 55% of the total. Geely Galaxy announced that firm orders during the Labour Day holiday exceeded 31,000 units. SAIC MG brand's daily average orders doubled MoM in the first three days of the Labour Day holiday and increased by 103% compared to the same period in April. Dongfeng Honda stated that during the Labour Day holiday, its live-streaming interactions exceeded 46,000 times, driving a 20% increase in offline test-drive appointments. "The Labour Day holiday coincided with auto show activities, bringing the domestic auto market to a sales peak. Many automakers launched targeted sales promotion policies during this period, which had a significant stimulating effect on the end-user market," an industry insider analyzed. According to incomplete statistics by Cailian Press reporters, at least ten automakers and brands launched various forms of end-user promotional policies in the last week of April, including Chery, Avatr, Dongfeng Nissan, and Changan Mazda. Monitoring by the Ministry of Commerce's business big data showed that the trade-in policy continued to play a crucial stimulating role in the auto market. In the first four days of the holiday, over 60,000 applications for car trade-in subsidies were submitted, driving new car sales worth 8.8 billion yuan. During the holiday, the sales of home appliances, automobiles, and communication equipment at key monitored retail enterprises by the Ministry of Commerce increased by 15.5%, 13.7%, and 10.5% YoY, respectively. While the terminal sales in the automotive market collectively "rose", the new energy vehicle (NEV) energy replenishment sector also saw significant growth during the Labour Day holiday. Taking NIO's battery swapping as an example, during the Labour Day holiday, NIO Power provided a cumulative total of 634,177 battery swapping services to users. On May 1st, the peak travel day, the total number of battery swaps reached 134,770 in a single day; on May 5th, the peak return day, the total number of battery swaps reached 131,984 in a single day, with the number of battery swaps exceeding 120,000 on consecutive days. According to data from the State Grid Corporation of China's Smart Vehicle Networking Platform, over the two-day Labour Day holiday, the NEV charging volume at national highway service areas reached 15.9 million kWh, a 28% increase from the same period last year, setting a new historical record.

"The future battery industry will inevitably concentrate towards the top players as competition in the automotive industry intensifies. This integration (of battery businesses) is actually aimed at enabling Geely to win this elimination round," Zheng Xin, Vice President and CSO of Geely Holding Group, told reporters from Cailian Press at the Shanghai Auto Show. With the rapid development of new energy vehicles (NEVs), battery costs, as a core component of EVs, account for over 40% of the total vehicle cost. Automakers are focusing on power batteries, with Geely announcing the completion of its strategic integration of battery businesses at the auto show. Power battery producers are also stepping into the spotlight, with CATL (300750.SZ), Sunwoda (300207.SZ), and EVE (300014.SZ) competing to showcase new products at the Shanghai Auto Show. Meanwhile, a storm of ultra-fast and flash charging technologies is brewing, with megawatt flash charging products from companies like BYD (002594.SZ), Huawei, and Zeekr also making their debut at the show. The competition in charging technology is heating up, accelerating the transition of NEVs towards a "zero-anxiety" era. Power Battery Producers Compete with New Products: Technological Iteration and Ecosystem Integration At this year's Shanghai Auto Show, CATL introduced its new products launched during this week's "Super Tech Day," while EVE unveiled the "In-situ Upgrade Plan" for its OMNI all-round battery. Sunwoda also launched its new-generation BMS product, "Smart Cell 2.0," and showcased its full-scenario battery products. Power battery producers are stealing the spotlight at the auto show. In response, Wang Huawei, Vice President of Marketing at SEVB, told reporters from Cailian Press that the presence of parts manufacturers at the auto show allows them to showcase their technological prowess directly, while also meeting the expectations of OEM customers who prefer them to take a more prominent role. For consumers, the demand to perceive product and brand strength is growing stronger, and younger consumer groups require new avenues for brand recognition. We hope to convey changes in technology, operations, and the market to both B-end and C-end customers. Specifically, CATL's second-generation Shenxing ultra-fast charging battery, sodium-ion battery, and Xiaoyao dual-core battery, all unveiled this week, were on display at the booth. It is reported that the second-generation Shenxing ultra-fast charging battery is the world's first LFP battery to combine an 800km ultra-long driving range with a peak C-rate of 12C. The sodium-ion battery achieves an energy density of 175wh/kg, remaining fire- and explosion-proof even when pierced by a nail or electric drill. The Xiaoyao dual-core battery, based on CATL's dual-core architecture and self-produced anode material technology, can increase the battery's volumetric energy density by 60%. In addition, on the first day of the auto show, CATL launched new chocolate battery-swapping car models. Yang Jun, General Manager of CATL's Battery Swapping Business, introduced that the chocolate battery-swapping car models include the FAW Hongqi EH7 (to be launched in Q4, 2025); Changan Auto's Qiyuan A05, A07, and Shenlan SL03 (to be launched in Q4, 2025); BAIC Group's Arcfox high-quality wide-body electric sedan (to be launched in Q2, 2026); GAC Group's AION RT, AION UT, second-generation AION V, and AION AY7 (to be launched in Q4, 2025); and Chery Auto's iCAR V23 (to be launched in Q4, 2025). A staff member at CATL's booth told reporters from Cailian Press that approximately 50 chocolate battery-swapping stations have been built so far, with plans to build 1,000 this year. Currently, the main users are Changan Oushang vehicles used for B-end operations. Within the chocolate battery-swapping system, batteries will be classified into several categories, such as brand-new, nearly new, and regular batteries. During battery swapping, brand-new or nearly new batteries will be provided based on the package or user preference. Additionally, since new batteries need to be installed when vehicles roll off the production line, there will be a continuous influx of new batteries into the battery-swapping system, maintaining battery health at a relatively high level. Sunwoda's flash charging battery 3.0 made another appearance at the auto show. According to Sunwoda, its 6C flash charging battery can achieve a recharging efficiency of "1 km per second," while the next-generation 10C flash charging battery can further compress the recharging time for 10-80% SOC to just 7 minutes, making "charging more convenient than refueling." To address the issue of performance degradation in extremely cold environments, the company has developed an intelligent temperature control system and low-temperature electrolyte, enabling the battery to operate stably at -30°C and achieve over 90% capacity at -20°C through a full life cycle temperature adaptive strategy. At Sunwoda's booth, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) composite-wing UAV system equipped with Sunwoda's low-altitude aircraft battery made its debut. EVE launched the "In-situ Upgrade Plan" for its OMNI all-round battery. Jiang Jibing, Vice President of the company, stated that "in-situ upgrade" refers to achieving different energy capacities, driving ranges, charging speeds, and vehicle power requirements through the innovation of chemical material systems within the same dimensions. For example, transitioning from an LFP material system to an LMX material system, and then to medium-nickel and high-nickel NCM, not only allows for flexible adjustments in energy capacity and driving range but also in charging time and different power requirements for the vehicle. Through in-situ upgrades, the R&D time for battery systems can be shortened to 3-6 months, and R&D costs can be reduced by 80%. CALB (03931.HK) showcased its top-tier batteries and full-domain system solutions at the auto show, with its top-tier batteries being paired with SAIC-Audi E5 sportback, Mazda EZ-60, Le Tao L90, and Arcfox T1 for their global debuts. In addition, Geely Holding Group announced at the Shanghai Auto Show that it had completed the strategic integration of its battery businesses and officially established a new battery industry group—Zhejiang Jiyao Tongxing Energy Technology Co., Ltd. The original Brick Battery and Shendun Short-blade Battery will be unified under the "Shendun Brick" brand, integrating self-developed and self-produced battery safety systems with battery cell products. Zheng Xin, Vice President and CSO of Geely Holding Group, told reporters from Cailian Press that the future battery industry will inevitably concentrate towards the top players as competition in the automotive industry intensifies. Geely's integration of battery businesses is actually aimed at winning this elimination round, creating popular battery cells, and forming new competitiveness. Currently, the new Brick Battery cells mainly focus on the LFP route, specializing in short-blade batteries with dimensions of 500-600mm. The Brick Battery cells will first serve high-end brands—Zeekr. At the same time, they will also be applied to Geely Auto's strategic models, such as the Geely Galaxy E5 model equipped with the original Shendun Short-blade Battery, achieving equity in short-blade battery applications and enabling Geely Auto's strategic models to utilize short-blade battery cells. "Flash Charging" Battle: Megawatt-level Ultra-fast Charging Compresses Recharging Time to "Minutes" Against the backdrop of the global energy structure transformation, the EV industry is experiencing explosive growth. Megawatt-level ultra-fast charging compresses recharging time to "minutes," approaching the refueling experience of internal combustion engine vehicles. Megawatt-level charging typically refers to charging technology with an output power reaching megawatt-level (1MW and above), offering significant improvements in charging power and speed compared to current mainstream fast charging technologies. At this year's auto show, BYD introduced its latest megawatt flash charging technology. According to a staff member at the company's booth, BYD's megawatt flash charging technology is centered around a 1000V high-voltage architecture and a 10C high-rate battery, achieving a charging current of up to 1000A and a charging power of 1 megawatt, enabling a peak charging speed of "2 km per second." Additionally, the megawatt flash charging technology is ready for mass production upon launch and will be equipped on the Tang L and Han L models. It adopts energy storage allocation technology to alleviate grid pressure. In terms of batteries, CATL's latest second-generation Shenxing ultra-fast charging battery achieves a peak charging power of 1.3 megawatts at 12C, enabling a driving range of over 520 kilometers after just 5 minutes of charging. Sunwoda targets the pain points of commercial vehicle electrification transformation with its commercial vehicle battery equipped with 1.4MW ultra-high-power charging, achieving a 15-minute rapid recharge that boosts transport efficiency by 400%. Huawei, Zeekr, and Star Charge's megawatt-level charging piles also made their debut at the auto show. Huawei's new megawatt ultra-fast charging product, launched just before the auto show, features a peak power of 1.5 megawatts for its all-liquid-cooled megawatt-level ultra-fast charging, capable of recharging 20 kWh per minute. Its dual-gun continuous charging current reaches 2400A, enabling heavy-duty trucks to charge to 90% (approximately 300 kWh battery capacity) in just 15 minutes. Zeekr premiered its V4 Jichong megawatt pile at the auto show, with a single-gun peak power of 1.3 megawatts and a single-gun peak current of 1300A. It is reported that the first V4 Jichong megawatt station has been established in Hangzhou, with a total power of 1440kW. Follow-up pilot projects will be launched in core cities such as Shenzhen to accelerate the entry of NEVs into the "single-gun megawatt era." Star Charge launched two megawatt flash charging products at this year's auto show. A staff member at the booth told reporters from Cailian Press that the single-gun current is 1200A, supporting a maximum voltage of 1000V and a power of 1.2 megawatts, capable of charging two vehicles simultaneously. When both guns are operating at full power, the total power reaches 2.4 megawatts. According to the staff member, the dual-gun strategy is adopted for cost considerations, being lower in cost than a single-gun setup while ensuring safety. The product employs liquid cooling technology, which allows the charging cable to remain thin and easy to use without overheating. The product is equipped with a rectifier cabinet that converts alternating current to direct current for vehicle charging. One rectifier cabinet can be paired with multiple charging terminals, with the charging guns sharing the cabinet's power. Industry insiders pointed out that the technological innovations and market layouts of companies like BYD, Huawei, and Zeekr are providing new solutions for rapid EV charging. With further technological maturity and gradual market expansion, megawatt-level fast charging technology is expected to become the mainstream charging method for future EVs, driving the further development of the NEV industry. However, the long-term development of megawatt-level charging still needs to overcome some pain points, such as excessive load pressure on the power grid. Wang Huawei told reporters from Cailian Press that, in terms of grid load, the industry is building an ecosystem that integrates PV ESS and vehicle charging, effectively integrating energy sources to reduce the impact on the grid and safety risks, while also balancing short-term peak shaving and energy distribution fluctuations across various application scenarios. A staff member at CATL's booth told reporters from Cailian Press that the logic behind building energy storage stations is similar to that of battery-swapping stations. At a chocolate battery-swapping station, the pure mechanical process of battery swapping takes less than 80 seconds, with the total time, including entering and exiting the station, being around 100 to 105 seconds. William Li, founder of NIO, stated that ultra-fast charging poses significant challenges to power capacity, requiring the prior construction of energy storage facilities, which are not cheap. Moreover, the charging process from the grid to the energy storage facility and then to the battery involves two instances of power loss, whereas battery swapping, like charging, only incurs one instance of power loss, resulting in higher energy utilization efficiency. However, Li also noted that NIO has never viewed ultra-fast charging and battery swapping as mutually exclusive options but has consistently adhered to an energy route that supports charging, swapping, and upgrading. He believes that discussions about battery swapping and ultra-fast charging should return to user value and the technology itself. Battery swapping enables a 3-minute rapid recharge, a speed that no ultra-fast charging method can surpass. Battery swapping is fully automated, providing a more comfortable experience even in rainy or snowy weather without the need to leave the vehicle. Meanwhile, under frequent ultra-fast charging conditions, whether manufacturers can provide battery warranties for 8, 10, or even longer periods remains to be verified. Although ultra-fast charging technology significantly shortens recharging time, it faces challenges such as grid load and non-uniform charging protocols. The battery-swapping model, due to its high costs and fragmented standards, relies on scale and ecosystem collaboration for breakthroughs. Robin Zeng, Chairman of CATL, once stated that by 2030, battery swapping, home charging, and public charging piles will each account for one-third of the market.

Price Hikes, Layoffs, and Production Shifts: The "25% Tariff" Is Reshaping the US Auto Industry. According to Xinhua News Agency, the 25% tariff on imported vehicles announced by US President Trump officially took effect on April 3. In response, US automakers are adopting various strategies to cope with this uncertainty, including adjusting pricing, incentives, and production plans. (Wall Street News)