The 2025 2nd SMM Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference was successfully held, featuring the on-site launch of 10 new car models, Southeast Asia brand strategies from three automakers, and SMM's local steel prices in Thailand. The event facilitated efficient matchmaking between 12+ buyers and 60+ suppliers, and preliminarily established a communication platform for the entire industry chain of Southeast Asian automotive. Currently, the NEV industry in Southeast Asia is entering a critical development phase. Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam each have their own strategic layouts and breakthroughs, while the industry also faces challenges such as supply chain restructuring, competition over technology roadmaps, and localization compliance. Thanks to the support of all parties, SMM's local pricing systems in Thailand and Indonesia have been implemented and adopted by core enterprises, establishing a credible cost benchmark for the industry. The 2026 3rd Conference will focus on three core themes: exploring the NEV auto sales potential in Southeast Asia; connecting the last mile of the supply chain and integrating regional industry chain resources; and advancing SMM's Southeast Asia metal pricing from a price reference to a transaction benchmark, implementing electrification material procurement applications, and establishing an executable pricing system. We firmly believe that true progress comes from turning consensus into action. At this conference, BEST cordially invites you to gather again in Bangkok to transform strategic blueprints into market competitive advantages, to witness and participate in this extraordinary and far-reaching industry event, and to co-create a brilliant new chapter! Click the to register now. Booth No.: B04 BEST was established in 1997 and listed on the ChiNext Board of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in 2017. As a national high-tech enterprise with 1,400 employees, it has been deeply engaged in the precision manufacturing field for nearly 30 years. Its three core businesses include: precision parts for traditional automobiles, high-end tooling and fixtures, and intelligent equipment; core components for NEVs, hydrogen fuel cells, energy storage, and liquid cooling for computing centers; and high-precision linear motion functional components for industrial machine tools and humanoid robots. Wuxi Best Precision Machinery Co., Ltd., established in 1997 and listed on the Shenzhen in 2017, is a national high-tech enterprise with 1,400 employees. It has been deeply involved in the precision manufacturing field for nearly 30 years. Its main businesses include three core areas: precision parts for traditional automobiles, high-end tooling and fixtures, and intelligent equipment; core components for new energy vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, energy storage, and liquid cooling for computing centers; and high-precision linear motion functional components for industrial machine tools and humanoid robots. The company has three major production sites in Wuxi, Anhui, and Thailand, achieving large-scale R&D and mass production. It possesses a fully vertical industry chain encompassing mold making, casting, and machining, with annual revenue exceeding 1.5 billion yuan. Its clients include globally renowned enterprises such as Garrett, Cummins, and BMW. In 2024, it established BYH New Technology Co., Ltd. in the AMATA Industrial Park (Phase II) in Chonburi, Thailand, covering an area of 80,000 m², specializing in precision casting and machining. The company has three major production sites in Wuxi, Anhui, and Thailand, achieving large-scale R&D and mass production. It possesses a fully vertical industry chain encompassing mold making, casting, and machining, with annual revenue exceeding 1.5 billion yuan. Its clients include globally renowned enterprises such as Garrett, Cummins, and BMW. In 2024, it established BYH New Technology Co., Ltd. in the AMATA Industrial Park (Phase II) in Chonburi, Thailand, covering an area of 80,000 m², specializing in precision casting and machining. Main Products Leveraging its mature processes, comprehensive quality control, and intelligent workshops, the company provides customized products and intelligent manufacturing solutions. It sincerely invites clients from all sectors to discuss cooperation and achieve win-win development! Leveraging its mature processes, comprehensive quality control, and intelligent workshops, the company provides customized products and intelligent manufacturing solutions. It sincerely invites clients from all sectors to discuss cooperation and achieve win-win development! Contact Contact Contact Us Wu Chaojun wuchaojun@smm.cn
May 31, 2026 17:26Today, SMM's pricing for SGE Ag(T+D) at 10:00 was 18,792 yuan/kg, with premiums quoted at TD -30 to -10 yuan/kg, averaging -20 yuan/kg. Precious metals futures stopped falling and rebounded slightly today, with the pace still following the back-and-forth of US-Iran tensions and US Treasury yield fluctuations. Spot market side, suppliers of national-standard silver ingots posted mainstream quotations at discounts of 30 yuan/kg to 10 yuan/kg against TD. Most suppliers in Shanghai quoted discounts unchanged from yesterday. Some suppliers reported that heavy trading yesterday afternoon left them with less spot inventory, so they held prices firm; some delivery brand silver ingot suppliers also quoted at parity and held back from selling with a wait-and-see attitude, but transactions were difficult. The market reported that after yesterday's recovery in trading, consumption returned to sluggish levels today, with the transaction center skewing toward the lower end of quotations. Non-delivery brands in Shenzhen maintained large discounts deviating from mainstream quotations, while investment demand recovered somewhat as silver prices declined in recent days. Overall, spot market activity was relatively low today.
May 19, 2026 11:38The 2025 2nd SMM Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference was successfully held, featuring the release of 10 new car models, Southeast Asia brand strategies from three automakers, and SMM's local steel prices in Thailand. The event facilitated efficient matchmaking between 12+ buyers and 60+ suppliers, and preliminarily established a communication platform for the entire industry chain of Southeast Asian automotive. Currently, the NEV industry in Southeast Asia is entering a critical development phase. Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam each have their own strategic layouts and breakthroughs, while the industry also faces challenges such as supply chain restructuring, competition over technology roadmaps, and localization compliance. Thanks to the support from all parties, SMM's local pricing systems in Thailand and Indonesia have been implemented and adopted by core enterprises, establishing a credible cost benchmark for the industry. The 2026 3rd Conference will focus on three core themes: exploring the NEV auto sales potential in Southeast Asia; connecting the last mile of the supply chain and integrating regional industry chain resources; and advancing SMM's Southeast Asia metal pricing from a price reference to a transaction benchmark, implementing electrification material procurement applications, and establishing an executable pricing system. We firmly believe that true progress comes from turning consensus into action. At this conference, Shenzhen Jinhelian Technology Co., Ltd. - UNIND sincerely invites you to gather again in Bangkok, to jointly transform strategic blueprints into market competitive advantages, to witness and participate in this extraordinary and far-reaching industry event, and to create a brilliant new chapter together! Click the to register now. Powering and Roads Ahead UNIND is a one-stop manufacturing partner for automotive stamping parts. Beyond the press itself, we operate a fully integrated in-house post-processing chain — deburring, sizing, heat treatment, surface coating, cleaning, and final inspection — delivering parts that are ready to assemble the moment they reach our customers' lines. Operating from a fully-equipped facility in Vietnam and backed by Union Industry's global supply network, UNIND serves automotive Tier 1s across Southeast Asia and beyond, with quality systems trusted by Sensata, Eberspächer, ITT, Stellantis, ZF, DRiV and ELDOR. Process Process Integrated Automotive Stamping Parts Solutions INTEGRATED AUTOMOTIVE STAMPING SOLUTIONS Stamping → Deburring → Sizing → Heat Treatment → Surface Coating → Cleaning → Inspection → Packaging & Delivery Clients We Work With Customer We Work With Contact Contact Shirley Wang M: +86 18573109058 E: shirley.wang@unindasia.com Contact Us Yan Caowei 15618581967 yancaowei@smm.cn
May 18, 2026 13:38Today, SMM's 10:00 AM pricing for the SGE Ag(T+D) was 18,351 yuan/kg, with premiums ranging from TD -30 to -10 yuan/kg, averaging -20 yuan/kg. Precious metals futures remained under pressure today. Heating rate hike expectations drove a sharp decline in precious metals, compounded by easing tariff concerns and a pullback in strategic resource premiums, leading to a significant intraday drop in silver. Spot market, suppliers of GB-standard silver ingots posted mainstream quotations at premiums of -30 to -10 yuan/kg against TD. Although mainstream discount quotations narrowed slightly amid the sharp futures decline, market transactions showed no improvement, with the trading center still clearly skewed toward the lower end of quotations. Some suppliers reported that transactions for GB-standard silver ingots remained extremely difficult even at the lower end of quotations, as downstream restocking willingness was limited and involution among numerous spot market offers continued. In the Shenzhen area, non-delivery brand quotations maintained large discounts deviating from mainstream quotations, while investment demand recovered slightly. The overall spot market remained sluggish today.
May 18, 2026 11:45NBS: In April 2026, among the 70 large and medium-sized cities, selling prices of commercial residential properties in first-tier cities rose MoM, while MoM declines in second- and third-tier cities narrowed or remained the same as the previous month. The number of cities where selling prices of newly built commercial residential properties rose or remained flat MoM increased from the previous month. In April, selling prices of newly built commercial residential properties in first-tier cities rose 0.1% MoM, with the increase pulling back 0.1 percentage points from the previous month. Among them, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen rose 0.4%, 0.1%, and 0.1% respectively, while Beijing fell 0.2%.
May 18, 2026 10:05NBS: In April, the selling price of newly built commercial residential properties in first-tier cities fell 2.1% YoY, with the YoY decline narrowing by 0.1 percentage point from the previous month. Among them, Shanghai rose 3.7%, while Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen fell 2.3%, 4.4%, and 5.3%, respectively. The selling price of newly built commercial residential properties in second-tier cities fell 3.3% YoY, with the YoY decline unchanged from the previous month. The selling price of newly built commercial residential properties in third-tier cities fell 4.1% YoY, with the YoY decline widening by 0.1 percentage point. 、
May 18, 2026 10:04SMM News, May 15: Metals market: As of the midday close, domestic market base metals fell across the board. SHFE copper dropped 1.61%, SHFE aluminum fell 1.09%, SHFE lead declined 0.6%, SHFE zinc slipped 0.24%, SHFE tin lost 2.14%, and SHFE nickel fell 1.82%. In addition, the most-traded casting aluminum alloy futures fell 1.04%, the most-traded alumina contract dropped 0.64%, the most-traded lithium carbonate contract declined 0.54%, the most-traded silicon metal contract fell 1.84%, and the most-traded polysilicon futures slipped 0.08%. Ferrous metals all fell. Iron ore dropped 0.8%, rebar declined 0.18%, hot-rolled coil fell 0.43%, and stainless steel lost 1.27%. Coking coal and coke: the most-traded coking coal contract fell 1.29%, and the most-traded coke contract dropped 0.85%. Overseas market base metals: as of 11:46, LME metals declined across the board. LME copper fell 1.46%, LME aluminum dropped 0.82%, LME lead slipped 0.47%, LME zinc declined 0.91%, LME tin lost 0.19%, and LME nickel fell 1.16%. Precious metals: as of 11:46, COMEX gold fell 1.5% and COMEX silver dropped 4.6%. Domestic market precious metals: the most-traded SHFE gold contract fell 1.53%, and the most-traded SHFE silver contract dropped 7.64%. In addition, as of the midday close, the most-traded platinum futures fell 5.47%, and the most-traded palladium futures dropped 4.87%. As of the midday close, the most-traded Europe containerized freight index contract rose 1.88% to 2,519 points. As of 11:46 on May 15, midday futures quotes for selected contracts: Spot prices and fundamentals Copper: Today in Guangdong, #1 copper cathode spot prices against the front-month contract: high-quality copper was quoted at 270 yuan/mt, unchanged from the previous trading day; standard-quality copper was quoted at a premium of 200 yuan/mt, unchanged from the previous trading day; SX-EW copper was quoted at a premium of 130 yuan/mt, unchanged from the previous trading day. The average price of Guangdong #1 copper cathode was 105,750 yuan/mt, down 2,020 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. The average price of SX-EW copper was 105,645 yuan/mt, down 2,020 yuan/mt from the previous trading day... Macro front China: [Preview: The State Council Information Office will hold a press conference on May 18 to introduce measures to strengthen and optimize departure tax refund policies and expand inbound consumption] The State Council Information Office will hold a press conference at 3:00 PM on Monday, May 18, 2026. Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping, along with officials from the State Taxation Administration, Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, will introduce measures to strengthen and optimize departure tax refund policies and expand inbound consumption, and answer questions from reporters. (Guoxin.com) [CAICT Launches AI Terminal Intelligence Grading Tests to Accelerate Implementation of New National Standards] Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the Ministry of Commerce, and other departments jointly released the national standard series "Artificial Intelligence Terminal Intelligence Grading" (GB/Z 177—2026), which clearly defines the intelligence levels of AI terminals and lays a solid foundation for building a safe, orderly, and efficient AI terminal ecosystem. CAICT is one of the primary drafting organizations of the standard series and possesses comprehensive detection qualifications and technical capabilities in product areas including smartphones, tablets, microcomputers, smart glasses, earphones, speakers, televisions, and automotive cockpits. The first round of AI terminal intelligence grading standard conformity detection has now been launched, and relevant enterprises are welcome to actively participate in testing to jointly promote the implementation of the standards and help enhance product intelligence levels. (CAICT) [PBOC Achieves Zero Injection and Zero Withdrawal for the Day, with a Net Withdrawal of 51 Billion Yuan for the Week] PBOC conducted 500 million yuan of 7-day reverse repo operations today. As 500 million yuan of 7-day reverse repos matured today, zero injection and zero withdrawal were achieved for the day. This week, PBOC conducted 2.5 billion yuan of reverse repo operations. As 53.5 billion yuan of reverse repos matured this week, a net withdrawal of 51 billion yuan was achieved for the week overall. (Jin10 Data) US dollar: As of 11:46, the US dollar index rose 0.17% to 99.04. Data released by the US Department of Commerce on Thursday showed that US retail sales continued to grow in April, but against the backdrop of rapidly rising energy prices, the market believed that consumer data was partly influenced by inflation-driven price increases, and actual consumption momentum may not have been as strong as the headline data suggested. Data showed that US retail sales rose 0.5% MoM in April, the lowest since January, in line with market expectations. The previously reported March figure was revised down to a gain of 1.6%. US consumer confidence had already fallen to a historic low in early May, and the pace of inflation exceeded wage growth for the first time in three years, raising market concerns that consumer spending could slow down significantly going forward. US Fed's Williams: Monetary policy is slightly restrictive. I see no reason to raise or cut interest rates at this point. US Fed Governor Barr: We are not in a recession, but job growth is weak. I have not yet decided what action to take at the June FOMC meeting. According to the CME "FedWatch": The probability of the US Fed keeping rates unchanged through June was 96.8%, while the cumulative probability of a 25-basis-point interest rate cut was 3.2%. The probability of the US Fed keeping interest rates unchanged through July was 93.8%, with a 3.1% probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point interest rate cut and a 3.1% probability of a cumulative 25-basis-point rate hike. (Jin10 Data) Data: The US May New York Fed Manufacturing Index, US April industrial production MoM, and China's April total electricity consumption YoY will be released today. Also noteworthy: 2026 FOMC voter and Cleveland Fed President Hammack will deliver opening remarks at an online discussion on central bank independence; permanent FOMC voter and New York Fed President Williams will participate in a discussion; Fed Governor Barr will speak on the balance sheet; the National Energy Administration will release total electricity consumption data around the 15th of each month; Fed Chairman Powell's term will end; US President Trump will pay a state visit to China. Crude oil: As of 11:46, oil prices in both markets rose, with WTI up 1.36% and Brent up 1.29%. Middle East conflicts and uncertainty over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz supported oil prices. US President Trump stated: "We don't need to open the Strait of Hormuz," adding that efforts were being made to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for regional countries. India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on the 14th that an Indian-flagged merchant vessel was attacked near the Omani coast close to the Strait of Hormuz, but all crew members were safe. The Ministry expressed regret in a statement that day over the continued targeting of merchant ships and seafarers. However, the statement did not mention the specific name of the attacked vessel or the identity of the attackers, only stating that all Indian crew members on board were safe. UK-based Windward maritime analytics company said on social media on the 14th that an Indian-flagged cargo ship sank after a suspected drone attack in Omani waters near the Strait of Hormuz, and all crew members had been successfully rescued. (Xinhua) According to retailers in Delhi on Friday, India raised gasoline and diesel prices by approximately 3 rupees per liter (about $0.03); this was the country's first fuel price increase in four years, aimed at offsetting part of the losses incurred from surging global oil prices. Affected by the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz and severe shipping disruptions triggered by the Iran war, global oil prices once surged to highs of over $120 per barrel before pulling back to around $100–105 per barrel. Currently, the retail price of diesel in Delhi was 90.67 rupees per liter, and the retail price of gasoline was 97.77 rupees per liter. Three state-owned enterprises — Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation — collectively controlled over 90% of more than 103,000 fuel stations across India, and these three companies typically adjusted diesel and gasoline retail prices in tandem. (Jin10 Data) In addition, Bank of Japan officials stated that prices of a wide range of commodities, including oil and chemical products, rose due to uncertainties surrounding the Middle East conflict and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The YoY increase in wholesale prices in April was the largest since May 2023. (Jin10 Data) Spot Market Overview: ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►
May 15, 2026 14:16[BYD Energy Storage and Corvus Energy AS Sign Strategic Cooperation Agreement] BYD Energy Storage and Corvus Energy AS held a strategic cooperation signing ceremony at the CIBF exhibition in Shenzhen. The agreement aimed to fully integrate the resources and technological advantages of both parties to establish a more comprehensive and in-depth strategic partnership in the maritime new energy sector. The two parties will make concerted efforts in technology collaboration, resource sharing, and market expansion to jointly advance the R&D, certification, and large-scale commercialization of high C-rate LFP marine battery systems and bring them to the global market.
May 14, 2026 17:04Silver ingot market premiums remained at a slight discount this week. Spot premiums edged down WoW. The rising absolute price of silver continued to suppress downstream demand, buying sentiment remained weak, and social inventory of spot silver ingots continued to accumulate.
May 14, 2026 16:46In mid-May 2026, CAAM and the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance successively released data on the auto and power battery markets for April 2026. CAAM stated that in April, auto production and sales declined slightly compared to the same period last year, with the cumulative decline in production and sales narrowing further. Among them, domestic demand still needs improvement and stimulation; exports continued to grow rapidly, providing stable support for the overall market........SMM has compiled relevant data on the auto market and power battery market for April 2026 for readers' reference. Auto Sector CAAM: Auto Production and Sales Reached 2.575 Million and 2.526 Million Units Respectively in April In April, auto production and sales reached 2.575 million and 2.526 million units respectively, down 11.7% and 12.9% MoM, and down 1.7% and 2.5% YoY. From January to April, auto production and sales reached 9.614 million and 9.574 million units respectively, down 5.5% and 4.8% YoY. CAAM: NEV Production and Sales Both Grew in April, with NEV Sales Accounting for 53.2% of Total Auto Sales In April, NEV production and sales reached 1.32 million and 1.344 million units respectively, up 5.5% and 9.7% YoY . NEV sales accounted for 53.2% of total new auto sales. From January to April, NEV production and sales reached 4.285 million and 4.304 million units respectively, with production down 3.2% YoY and sales up 0.1% YoY . NEV sales accounted for 45% of total new auto sales. CAAM: NEV Exports More Than Doubled YoY In April, auto exports reached 901,000 units, up 3% MoM and up 74.4% YoY . From January to April, auto exports reached 3.127 million units, up 61.5% YoY . In April, NEV exports reached 430,000 units, up 16% MoM and up 1.1 times YoY ; traditional fuel vehicle exports reached 472,000 units, down 6.5% MoM and up 49% YoY . From January to April, NEV exports reached 1.384 million units, up 1.2 times YoY; traditional fuel vehicle exports reached 1.743 million units, up 34.6% YoY. CAAM commented that since the beginning of this year, China's economy has started strongly, with major indicators exceeding expectations. China's automotive industry has maintained steady progress in transformation and upgrading, foreign trade has demonstrated strong resilience, and overall competitiveness has continued to improve. The recently concluded Beijing auto show showcased cutting-edge achievements in electrification, intelligence, and cross-industry integration, vividly demonstrating that China has become the core market and innovation hub of the global automotive industry. Regarding the April auto market, CAAM stated that in April, auto production and sales declined slightly compared to the same period last year, with cumulative production and sales declines narrowing further. Specifically, domestic demand still needs improvement and stimulation; exports continued to grow rapidly, providing stable support for the overall market. In detail, the passenger vehicle market declined, the commercial vehicle market maintained growth, and NEVs operated steadily. On April 28, the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau held a meeting to analyze and study the current economic situation and economic work, and made a series of important arrangements. The meeting emphasized the need to fully utilize macro policies, deeply tap domestic demand potential, accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system, and systematically respond to external shocks and challenges. This will help improve the domestic auto market, consolidate foreign trade advantages, and promote stable operation and high-quality development of the industry. CPCA also released data on the April passenger vehicle market. April national passenger vehicle retail sales reached 1.384 million units, down 21.5% YoY and down 16.0% MoM; cumulative retail sales from January to April reached 5.604 million units, down 18.5% YoY. The April national passenger vehicle market exhibited complex characteristics of "total volume under pressure with structural divergence." NEV side, April passenger NEV retail sales reached 849,000 units, down 6.8% YoY and down 0.3% MoM; January-April passenger NEV retail sales reached 2.758 million units, down 17.2% YoY. April conventional fuel passenger vehicle retail sales were 530,000 units, down 37% YoY and down 33% MoM. NEV export side, as the scale advantages of China's NEVs become apparent and market expansion demand grows, Chinese-manufactured new energy brand products are increasingly going global, with overseas recognition continuing to rise. April passenger NEV exports reached 406,000 units, up 111.8% YoY and up 18.3% MoM, accounting for 52.7% of passenger vehicle exports, up 8 percentage points YoY; among which, BEVs accounted for 57.2% of new energy exports (65.5% in the same period last year), and A00+A0 class BEVs as the core focus accounted for 51.2% of BEV exports (46% in the same period last year). CPCA stated that this year's passenger vehicle market, affected by multiple factors including NEV purchase tax policy adjustments, weak consumer confidence, and high oil prices, has exhibited an operating trend of "China slowing down, exports growing rapidly; fuel vehicles contracting, new energy dominating."High oil prices dealt a heavy blow to domestic retail of internal combustion engine vehicles, directly affecting the domestic retail recovery process. From January to February this year, internal combustion engine vehicle retail declined by 740,000 units YoY, accounting for 40% of the passenger vehicle retail decline; in March, internal combustion engine vehicle sales declined by 345,000 units YoY, accounting for 52% of the passenger vehicle retail decline; in April, internal combustion engine vehicle sales declined by 365,000 units YoY, with the decline share further expanding to 84%. Under the atmosphere of cost anxiety, consumer demand is accelerating its shift from internal combustion engine vehicles to new energy vehicles, and the market's "fuel-electric divergence" pattern is becoming increasingly prominent. However, on the export side, the opposite was true: from January to February, internal combustion engine vehicle exports grew by 100,000 units YoY, accounting for 25% of the passenger vehicle export growth; in March, internal combustion engine vehicle exports grew by 100,000 units, accounting for 32% of the passenger vehicle export growth; in April, internal combustion engine vehicle exports grew by 130,000 units, climbing to 38%. Due to the notable effects of recent anti-involution measures in the auto market, the scale of price cuts was small, promotional levels remained stable, and many consumers' expectations of waiting for price reductions gradually faded, with some users in stalemate beginning to make car purchases. The Beijing Auto Show in April has become the world's largest auto show, with enormous industry chain scale and influence, providing a strong boost to auto sales recovery in late April. Characteristics of the passenger vehicle market in April 2026: First, overall volume was under pressure with significant structural divergence, with "cold fuel, hot new energy" becoming the biggest focal point. The core reason for the domestic retail decline was the "collapse of fuel vehicles," with new energy retail penetration rate reaching 61.4% (breaking through 60% for the first time in history), and the pace of electrification substitution exceeding expectations. Second, domestic brand share continued to strengthen, with traditional domestic brands successfully transforming, while joint venture brands lagged in electrification progress, solidifying the "domestic brand dominance" pattern. Third, exports showed explosive growth, with new energy accounting for 52.7% (breaking through 50% for the first time in history), driven by the "new energy + domestic brands" dual engine, making "going global" the core growth engine. Fourth, passive destocking characteristics were evident, with channel inventory declining rapidly, listed dealers suffering comprehensive losses, and dealer survival pressure continuing to intensify. Fifth, dramatic structural changes within new energy occurred, with B-class EVs surging and economy EVs under pressure, showing "high-end rising, low-end struggling." Sixth, new model contribution declined: April producer sales of new models launched in 2026 reached 108,400 units, accounting for 5.1% of total volume, while new models launched in 2025 sold 130,000 units in April 2025, with some classic car models maintaining stable leading sales positions. Power battery segment Power and ESS battery sales up 39.0% YoY in April, up 48.9% YoY cumulatively from January to April In April, China's power and ESS battery sales reached 164.2 Gwh, down 6.2% MoM, up 39.0% YoY . Among them, power battery sales were 108.9 GWh, accounting for 66.4% of total sales, down 5.0% MoM and up 25.8% YoY; ESS battery sales were 55.2 GWh, accounting for 33.6% of total sales, down 8.5% MoM and up 75.5% YoY. From January to April, China's cumulative power and ESS battery sales reached 601.2 GWh, up 48.9% YoY cumulatively . Among them, cumulative power battery sales were 400.9 GWh, accounting for 66.7% of total sales, up 31.9% YoY cumulatively; cumulative ESS battery sales were 200.4 GWh, accounting for 33.3% of total sales, up 100.4% YoY cumulatively. China's Power Battery Installations Up 15.2% YoY in April, Cumulative Installations Up 1.6% YoY from January to April In April, China's power battery installations were 62.4 GWh, up 10.4% MoM and up 15.2% YoY . Among them, ternary battery installations were 11.5 GWh, accounting for 18.5% of total installations, up 7.6% MoM and up 24.2% YoY; LFP battery installations were 50.8 GWh, accounting for 81.5% of total installations, up 11.0% MoM and up 13.4% YoY. From January to April, China's cumulative power battery installations were 187.2 GWh, up 1.6% YoY cumulatively . Among them, cumulative ternary battery installations were 37.4 GWh, accounting for 20.0% of total installations, up 8.9% YoY cumulatively; cumulative LFP battery installations were 149.8 GWh, accounting for 80.0% of total installations, down 0.1% YoY cumulatively. Leap Motor Continued to "Lead" Among New Forces in April, BYD's Overseas Sales Hit a Record High April sales/delivery data for new automaking forces were released. Leap Motor continued to "lead," delivering 71,387 units in April, up 73.9% YoY. Delivery momentum continued to surge, with back-end production running at full capacity simultaneously. Currently, Leap Motor's A10 factory capacity has exceeded 1,000 units/day. Starting from April, Leap Motor's intelligent features also entered a phase of large-scale popularization. Currently, urban navigation-assisted driving has been made available for experience across multiple Leap Motor car models, and in the future, nationwide urban NAP and parking-space-to-parking-space navigation assistance will be rolled out in batches. Leveraging its full-domain self-developed capabilities, Leap Motor has achieved full coverage of assisted driving from the 100,000-yuan-level A10 to the flagship D19, making smarter and safer advanced intelligent assisted driving no longer a privilege of the few, but an accessible part of everyday travel. Li Auto delivered a total of 34,085 new vehicles in April. As of April 30, 2026, Li Auto's cumulative historical deliveries reached 1,669,442 units. As of April 30, 2026, Li Auto had 511 retail centers nationwide, covering 160 cities, and 550 after-sales repair centers and authorized service centers, covering 223 cities. Li Auto had put into use 4,077 Li Auto supercharging stations nationwide, with 22,509 charging piles. XPeng Motors delivered 31,011 new vehicles in April. As of April, cumulative deliveries of the XPeng MONA M03 exceeded 250,000 units, ranking first among pure electric sedans in the 100,000-200,000 yuan segment for 19 consecutive months. As of April 30, XPeng's charging network covered over 430 cities, with over 3,550 cumulative self-operated charging stations, including over 3,000 self-operated ultra-fast charging stations. To ensure smooth travel during the Labour Day holiday, XPeng completed dedicated inspections and maintenance of charging stations along highways and at popular scenic areas. Xiaomi Auto delivered over 30,000 units in April. On May 6, Xiaomi Auto announced that the new-generation SU7 had received over 80,000 locked orders in just 48 days since its launch. The new-generation SU7 Standard Edition was priced at 219,900 yuan, the Pro Edition at 249,900 yuan, and the Max Edition at 303,900 yuan. NIO delivered 29,356 new vehicles in April, up 22.8% YoY. Among them, the NIO brand delivered 19,024 units; the ONVO brand delivered 5,352 units, up 21.6% YoY; and the firefly brand delivered 4,980 units. In the first four months of this year, NIO delivered a total of 112,821 vehicles, up 71.0% YoY. To date, NIO has cumulatively delivered 1,110,413 vehicles. In April 2026, the all-new NIO ES8 achieved 13,020 new vehicle deliveries. To date, the all-new ES8 has accumulated over 100,000 users and set the record for the fastest delivery of 100,000 units among high-end car models priced above 400,000 yuan in China. In addition, the all-new ES8 has been the sales champion among large SUVs and car models priced above 400,000 yuan for four consecutive months. BYD, China's leading EV maker, recorded auto sales of 321,123 units in April. Exports exceeded 130,000 units, hitting a new all-time high. Cumulative NEV sales surpassed 16.1 million units. On May 9, BYD and China Auto Rental (CAR Inc.) officially signed a Flash Charging China strategic cooperation agreement and a 100,000-unit vehicle procurement framework agreement in Shenzhen. Under the agreement, the two parties will conduct in-depth cooperation around the "Flash Charging China Strategy," deploying BYD flash charging pile facilities at eligible CAR Inc. stores nationwide to build a widely covered, efficient, and convenient charging service network, jointly enhancing user travel experiences. Meanwhile, the two parties signed a 100,000-unit vehicle procurement framework agreement, further consolidating BYD's core position in CAR Inc.'s NEV fleet and supporting its continued expansion of green transportation capacity. The CPCA stated that the current auto market is at a critical stage of smooth transition from "policy-driven" to "market-guided" and "product-driven." Although the market is under pressure in the short term, with multiple heavyweight new car models entering the market around the auto show period, supply-side efforts are expected to gradually drive demand-side recovery, and the overall auto market is expected to see a more robust rebound in Q2. In addition, CPCA Secretary General Cui Dongshu noted that the NEV penetration rate exceeded 60% in April, a "leapfrog" development compared to approximately 52% in March, with a key reason being the sharp decline in internal combustion engine vehicle demand, which in turn pushed up the NEV penetration rate. Recently, some automakers announced raises in optional intelligent driving features pricing, drawing market attention. In response, Cui Dongshu stated that China's auto market currently exhibits significant differentiation in automaker gross margins: high-end automakers maintain relatively high gross margin levels, with many models still sustaining gross margins above 20% supported by pricing, facing relatively small profitability pressure and having no substantive need to raise prices; low and mid-end automakers, however, face notable profitability pressure. Yet as industry competition continues to intensify and the overall market is in a state of volume contraction, broad-based price increases by automakers lack feasibility. Looking ahead to May, the CPCA stated that May this year has 19 working days, consistent with the 19 working days in May 2025. Auto market production and sales are expected to continue the prior gradual rebound trend. From the end-user pace and consumption perspective, the MoM recovery momentum of the May auto market is generally improving. The 2026 truck renewal subsidy standards remain unchanged, while passenger vehicle trade-in subsidies were reduced, and the impact of passenger vehicle sales losses is expected to diminish over time. Sales losses previously caused by the cooling of industry price wars and sales promotions falling short of expectations have been gradually absorbed. The Labour Day holiday combined with local auto shows activated car purchase demand, driving pre-holiday order locking and post-holiday concentrated deliveries, with monthly trends showing strength early and stability later. The surge in fuel prices is an exceptionally significant factor affecting consumption, bringing uncertainty to market sales. Currently, residents' income expectations remain cautious, wait-and-see sentiment toward car purchases persists, and coupled with tightening auto finance and higher credit thresholds, rigid demand is supported only by local subsidies and automaker concessions. China's consumption recovery is mild, with notable structural differentiation. Under the intertwined influence of multiple factors including international oil price fluctuations and intensive new product launches, these will dominate the May auto market performance. The Labour Day long holiday is a dividend driving MoM sales recovery, but consumption shortcomings are difficult to repair quickly, constraining YoY growth. High oil prices have reshaped car purchase preferences and accelerated the electrification transition, while the comprehensive new energy industry chain continues to empower export growth. The overall picture presents a weak recovery pattern of "MoM recovery, YoY pressure, domestic demand differentiation, exports leading, and continuously rising NEV penetration rate."
May 13, 2026 18:14