【SMM News】 In May, China's automobile production and sales reached 2.616 million and 2.629 million units respectively, showing month-on-month growth but a slight year-on-year decline, with the decline narrowing further. Overall, in the first five months, total automobile production and sales reached 12.235 million and 12.207 million units respectively. Among these, the production and sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) reached 5.841 million and 5.802 million units, representing year-on-year growth of 2.5% and 3.5% respectively.

[Japan's May New Car Sales Edge Up Nearly 3% YoY] Data on vehicle registrations recently released by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association showed that in May this year, domestic new car sales in Japan reached 332,997 units, edging up 2.75% YoY. Sales in the same period last year were 324,069 units, up 10% YoY. By category, passenger car sales were 276,910 units, up 2.75% YoY, and truck sales reached 55,168 units, up 2.2% YoY.

According to CPCA data, in April, passenger vehicle market sales were 1.368 million units, down 19.4% YoY and down 7.0% MoM; new energy market sales were approximately 817,000 units, down 6.2% YoY and up 2.4% MoM. In April, new energy market sales accounted for 59.7% of total passenger vehicle sales, up 8.4 percentage points from the same period last year. In April, BEV sales were approximately 571,000 units, up 3.9% YoY and up 2.4% MoM; PHEV sales were approximately 246,000 units, down 23.5% YoY and up 2.4% MoM. Cumulative new energy auto sales in 2026 reached 2.61 million units, down 18.4% YoY on a cumulative basis.

[SMM Lithium Battery Electrolyte Market Weekly Review: Electrolyte Prices Remained Stable This Week (2026.6.1-6.4)] From June 1 to June 4, 2026, electrolyte prices remained stable. Against the backdrop of poor cost pass-through in the earlier period, even though upstream raw material costs edged down, electrolyte prices are expected to remain stable in the short term.

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 the Southeast Asian automotive industry. 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 auto sales potential of NEVs 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, sincerely invites you to gather again in Bangkok to transform strategic blueprints into competitive market 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. Francool Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. was founded in April 2001 and is headquartered in Longhua District, Shenzhen. It is a national high-tech enterprise and national-level Specialized, Refined, Unique & Innovative "Little Giant" enterprise specializing in the R&D, production and sales of metal & new material working fluids, lubricants and intelligent environmental protection treatment equipment. Committed to the vision of becoming a world-leading one-stop supplier of fluid solutions, the company has over two decades of industry experience and has been listed among Shenzhen Top 100 Quality Enterprises and Shenzhen Top 400 Enterprises. Francool Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. founded in April 2001 and headquartered in Longhua District, Shenzhen, FRANCOOL Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. is a national high-tech enterprise and national-level Specialized, Refined, Unique & Innovative "Little Giant" enterprise specializing in the R&D, production and sales of metal & new material working fluids, lubricants and intelligent environmental protection treatment equipment. Committed to the vision of becoming a world-leading one-stop supplier of fluid solutions, the company has over two decades of industry experience and been listed among Shenzhen Top 100 Quality Enterprises and Shenzhen Top 400 Enterprises. In terms of development history, the company upholds the philosophy of "Customer-oriented, People-focused, Technology-driven, Sustainable Development" , and has progressively achieved a global layout. It has successively established multiple production sites in Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Kunshan, Vietnam, and Thailand. Through Francool Advanced Industrial Fluid Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd. , the company has implemented localized production and operations in Thailand, achieving full coverage of core manufacturing clusters in China and key industrial markets across Southeast Asia. Guided by the corporate philosophy of "Customer-oriented, People-focused, Technology-driven, Sustainable Development", the company has steadily rolled out its global footprint with manufacturing bases across Shenzhen, Zhongshan, Kunshan, Vietnam and Thailand. Its localized production and operation in Thailand are implemented via Francool Advanced Industrial Fluid Technology (Thailand) Co., Ltd., enabling full market coverage of core domestic manufacturing clusters and key industrial hubs across Southeast Asia. The core business focuses on three major segments, forming an entire industry chain service capability. Products span six major series and are widely applied in key fields such as consumer electronics and auto parts. Leveraging its self-developed OWS oily wastewater treatment system , the company provides one-stop environmental protection solutions, fulfilling its social responsibilities. Centered on three core business segments, the enterprise has built a full industrial chain service portfolio consisting of six major product lines widely adopted in consumer electronics, auto parts and other pivotal industries. Supported by its self-developed OWS oily wastewater treatment system, FRANCOOL delivers integrated one-stop environmental solutions to fulfill corporate social responsibilities. In terms of technical strength, the company has 3 R&D centers along with postdoctoral and doctoral research platforms, and has assembled a global R&D team. It holds a cumulative total of 122 patents of various categories and 2 software copyrights. Core products have passed multiple international system certifications, with some reaching internationally advanced levels. In terms of technical capacity, the company operates three R&D centers together with postdoctoral and doctoral research platforms and a global R&D workforce. It holds 122 patents of various categories and 2 software copyrights; core products have obtained multiple international system certifications, with some reaching world-class advanced standards. In terms of global layout, the company has 11 wholly-owned subsidiaries and over 20 offices in China. Outside China, with the Vietnam production site as the core and supported by branch offices across multiple regions, the company provides full-lifecycle services to global clients through a direct sales model. In the future, the company will focus on high-end environmental protection products, advance its global layout, and strive to build a world-leading brand for industrial lubricants . For global layout, FRANCOOL owns 11 wholly-owned subsidiaries and over 20 representative offices in China. Overseas operations pivot around its Vietnam manufacturing base and regional branches, adopting a direct sales model to deliver full-lifecycle services to worldwide clients. Going forward, the company will focus on high-end eco-friendly products, accelerate global expansion and strive to grow into a world-leading brand for industrial lubricants. Contact Information Contact Tel: 0755 28130169 Contact Us Yan Caowei 15618581967

The 2nd SMM Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference 2025 was successfully held, featuring the launch of 10 new car models, Southeast Asia brand strategies from three automakers, and SMM Thailand local steel prices. 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, with Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam each making their own strategic deployments and breakthroughs, while the industry also faces challenges such as supply chain restructuring, technology route competition, and localization compliance. Thanks to the support from all parties, SMM's Thailand and Indonesia local pricing systems have been implemented and adopted by core enterprises, establishing credible cost benchmarks for the industry. The 3rd Conference in 2026 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 Southeast Asia metal pricing from price reference to 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,sincerely invites you to reunite in Bangkok, to transform strategic blueprints into market competitive advantages together, 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: B01 is a subsidiary of Press Metal Aluminium Holding Bhd (PMAH), operating as an integrated production chain corporation. The extrusion plants are strategically located in both China and Malaysia, with 230 thousand tons production capacity. With a commitment to providing comprehensive aluminium profile solutions worldwide, PMI has established sales office in key regions including the United Kingdom, North America, Australia, Vietnam and Malaysia, ensuring a global presence. Across the integrated production chain, PMI covers Alloying R&D, Tooling Design and fabrication, remelting and billet casting, extrusion and value-added services such as surface finishing and high-precision fabrication, specializing in Alloy series 1000,5000, 6000 and 7000, the company has expertise to extrude variety of large shape aluminium profile. The company capabilities serve various industries, including automotive, marine and offshore, 3C electronic and more. To better meet the needs of the SEA automotive industry, our presence in Malaysia spans two facilities in Klang and Nilai. These facilities provide a complete vertical supply chain for automotive and precision aluminum products — equipped with advanced extrusion, anodizing, sandblasting, and automotive assembly lines to support high-volume manufacturing — and serve global Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs with components including bumper systems, sill beam assemblies, and battery trays. Contact Information Contact Contact Us Lou Kexin 19068019380

The 2025 2nd SMM Southeast Asia Automotive Supply Chain Conference was successfully held, featuring the 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 automotive industry chain in Southeast Asia. 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 resources; and advancing SMM's Southeast Asia metal pricing from a price reference to a transaction benchmark, implementing procurement applications for electrification materials, and establishing an executable pricing system. We firmly believe that true progress comes from turning consensus into action. At this conference, Shanghai Launch Automotive Design Co., Ltd. cordially invites you to gather again in Bangkok, to jointly transform strategic blueprints into competitive market 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.: A16 Stock Code: 832954 An Innovative Force Leading R&D Across the Entire Automotive Industry Chain Launch was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Shanghai. It is a "turnkey engineering" service provider specializing in R&D across the entire automotive industry chain. The company has established 33 branches worldwide and a professional team of over 4,000 employees. Its business covers the entire process, including styling design, vehicle engineering development, supply chain management, prototype trial production and testing, providing clients with one-stop vehicle R&D solutions. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Shanghai, Launch is a "turnkey engineering" service provider specializing in R&D across the entire automotive industry chain. The company has established 33 branches worldwide and a professional team of over 4,000 employees. Its business covers the entire process, including styling design, vehicle engineering development, supply chain management, prototype trial production and testing, providing customers with one-stop vehicle R&D solutions. The company drives its development with the dual engines of " automotive R&D + product innovation" The company drives its development with the dual engines of "automotive R&D + product innovation": Automotive R&D and Design : As its core business, Launch has long served international brands such as Toyota, Tesla, Ford, and Renault, as well as leading Chinese automakers including BYD, Great Wall, Geely, FAW, Dongfeng, GAC, and XPeng, continuously driving the upgrade of the global automotive industry. Automotive R&D and Design: As its core business, this segment has long served international brands such as Toyota, Tesla, Ford, and Renault, as well as major domestic automakers including BYD, Great Wall Motors, Geely, FAW Group, Dongfeng Motor, GAC Group, and XPeng. It continuously promotes the upgrading of the global automotive industry. Product Innovation Business : Leveraging its ability to integrate the entire industry chain, Launch independently develops diversified electrification platforms, covering categories such as EVs, electric motorcycles, e-bikes, and electric wheelchairs. In the future, it will accelerate the expansion of markets outside China to support the global layout of technology, industry chains, and automotive ecosystems. Product Innovation Business: Leveraging its ability to integrate the entire industry chain, Launch independently develops diversified electrification platforms, covering categories such as electric vehicles, electric motorcycles, electric bicycles, and electric wheelchairs. In the future, it will accelerate the expansion of overseas markets to support the global layout of technology, industrial chains, and automotive ecosystems. Launch has won multiple honors, including "National High-Tech Enterprise," "National Industrial Design Center," and "National-level 'Little Giant' Enterprise Specialized in Refined, Precise, and Advanced Technologies." Up to now, it has completed the R&D of more than 400 car models, covering traditional passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and new energy vehicles. The total sales of launched models have exceeded 30 million units, making Launch not only a top-tier vehicle R&D institution in China but also a global industry benchmark, continuously driving the independent innovation and global development of China's automotive industry. Launch has won multiple honors, including "National High-Tech Enterprise", "National Industrial Design Center", and "National-level 'Little Giant' Enterprise Specialized in Refined, Precise, and Advanced Technologies". Up to now, it has completed the R&D of more than 400 vehicle models, covering traditional passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and new energy vehicles. The total sales volume of the launched models has exceeded 30 million units. Launch has not only become a top-tier domestic vehicle R&D institution but also emerged as a global industry benchmark, continuously promoting the independent innovation and global development of China's automotive industry. Contact Information Contact Ma Xiao: 13612111955 Contact Us Wu Chaojun

Cui Dongshu, Secretary General of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), stated at the 2026 Future Car Pioneer Conference that China's current annual auto sales stand at around 35 million units and could reach 40 million in the near term. In the future, China's auto sales are expected to account for 40%, 50%, or even a higher share of the global market, potentially reaching 50 million units. "Cars will become intelligent carriers and mass-market durable consumer electronics. As such, the auto industry will lead China's manufacturing sector in going global."

The 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 Thailand local steel prices. The event facilitated efficient matchmaking between 12+ buyers and 60+ suppliers, preliminarily establishing a communication platform for the entire industry chain of Southeast Asia's automotive sector. Currently, the NEV industry in Southeast Asia is entering a critical development phase, with Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam each making their own strategic deployments 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 Thailand and Indonesia local pricing systems 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 resources; and advancing SMM 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,We cordially invite 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.: A05 NEV Process Fluid Solutions Quaker Houghton (NYSE: KWR) is the global leader in industrial process fluids with more than 150 years of history. Quaker Houghton has 36 manufacturing sites, more than 30 technical centers globally, serves clients in 116 countries and regions around the world, with annual revenue of $1.9 billion. We have a regional head office in Bangkok and a manufacturing plant in Rayong to serve the Southeast Asia market. Quaker Houghton (NYSE: KWR) is the global leader in industrial process fluids with more than 150 years of history. Quaker Houghton has 36 manufacturing sites, more than 30 technical centers globally, serves customers in 116 countries and regions around the world, the annual revenue is $1.9 billion. We have regional head office in Bangkok and manufacturing plant in Rayong to serve the Southeast Asia market. From passenger and electric vehicles to heavy off-road equipment, we provide process fluids, lubricants, and surface treatment products for a wide range of automotive and transportation applications. From Passenger cars and e-Mobility solutions to heavy off-road equipment, we provide process fluids, lubricants and surface treatments for a wide range of automotive and transportation needs. Solutions Optimized by Process Requirements Optimized Solutions by process requirements Metal Removal Fluids Die Casting Lubricants / Impregnation Sealants Quenching Fluids Forging Fluids Forming Fluids Cleaners Corrosion Preventatives Fire Resistant Hydraulic Fluids Greases Contact Information Contact Quaker Houghton (Thailand) Co., Ltd. 77/105-106, 25th Floor Sinn Sathorn Tower Krungdhonburi Road, Klongsarn, Bangkok Tel: +66.2.440.1262 Contact Us Guan Changkui 18715173598

According to the latest statistics from TrendForce, global sales of new energy vehicles — including battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles — reached 3.94 million units in Q1 2026, a 2% year-over-year decline, accounting for 19% of global auto sales in the first quarter. China's new energy vehicle market entered an adjustment period; meanwhile, the Western European market showed signs of recovery, and BEV sales in Japan and South Korea also saw significant growth.