SMM, August 3 News: On August 3 early trading, the broader market was under pressure and consolidated, while high-end manufacturing segments moved independently. As of the close on August 3, the Motor II sector rose 2.67%, with individual stocks such as Jiangxi Special Electric Motor hitting the daily limit up, and Wolong Electric Group, Yifan Transmission, Bafang Electric, Keli Motor, MOONS', and Jiangsu Leili leading the gains. The strength in motor sector futures was supported by multiple drivers: first, Unitree Robotics is about to launch its subscription and Tesla raised its long-term capacity target for humanoid robots, heating up expectations for mass production of joint servo motors; second, the rare earth permanent magnet sector rose simultaneously, with upstream permanent magnetic material prices increasing, boosting profit expectations for high-performance motors; third, the replacement policy for IE4/IE5 high-efficiency motors continues to be implemented, opening up room for stock replacement of traditional industrial motors; combined with stockpiling expectations from downstream automakers and equipment manufacturers in mid-to-late August, some market funds favoured the motor sector, driving the collective rise. Market News [State Council Executive Meeting Decides to Approve Four Nuclear Power Projects Including Liaoning Zhuanghe Phase I] The State Council Executive Meeting decided to approve four nuclear power projects including Liaoning Zhuanghe Phase I. The meeting pointed out that nuclear power units should be built and operated to the highest global safety standards, with strengthened full-chain and all-domain safety oversight to ensure nuclear safety is absolutely risk-free. [China Approved 8 New Nuclear Power Units, with Total Project Investment Exceeding 170 Billion Yuan] In 2026, China opened the floodgates for new nuclear project approvals. According to CCTV News on July 31, the State Council Executive Meeting held that day decided to approve four nuclear power projects including Liaoning Zhuanghe Phase I. It is reported that the new projects approved at this meeting include Zhejiang Jinqimen Nuclear Power Plant Phase II (Units 3 & 4), Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant Phase III (Units 5 & 6), Liaoning Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Plant Phase I (Units 1 & 2), and Shandong Laiyang Nuclear Power Plant Phase I (Units 1 & 2), totaling 8 new units. Nuclear power projects have historically been an important boost to expanding effective investment, and it is estimated that the total investment of these new projects will exceed 170 billion yuan. (Jin Shi Data) [State Administration for Market Regulation: '15th Five-Year Plan' to Foresightfully Deploy High-Level Detection Platforms for Strategic Emerging Industries such as Integrated Circuits, New Energy, Biomedicine, and Humanoid Robots] The State Administration for Market Regulation held a press conference on July 21 to introduce the development achievements of China's inspection and testing service industry during the '14th Five-Year Plan' period. During the '15th Five-Year Plan' period, the administration will implement the Innovation Pilot for Inspection Testing to Promote Industrial Optimization and Upgrading, and the Three-Year Action for National Quality Inspection Center Quality Improvement and Optimization, foresightfully deploying high-level detection platforms for strategic emerging industries such as integrated circuits, new energy, biomedicine, and humanoid robots, and using digital transformation to drive service model innovation. Strengthen deep collaboration with industry chain leaders and research institutes, jointly tackle a number of key core technologies, and promote the upgrading of inspection and testing from a single service to "industry chain synergy," shifting from being a "post-event quality gatekeeper" to a "full-process innovation enabler." Coordinate the capacity building for green and low-carbon, food safety, and high-risk industrial product testing, and build a solid quality defense line for industrial development and people's livelihood safety. [China's robot industry chain sees explosive orders; a robot company receives over 10,000 orders in a month] Currently, publicly listed firms are gradually releasing their semi-annual reports and earnings forecasts. In H1 this year, the robot sector reported widespread positive earnings. From core parts to complete machine integration, from motion control to AI computing hardware, the robot industry chain is shifting from "concept-driven catalysts" to a new phase of "order volume growth and profit realization." MIIT data shows that from January to May, the revenue of China's above-designated-size robot enterprises exceeded 90 billion yuan, up 26.9% YoY, with an average annual growth rate of over 20% over the past five years. A robot company just launched a new humanoid robot product at the end of last month and received over 10,000 orders in less than a month. Another company's head stated that their frameless motor is a core component for humanoid robot joint actuation, and in H1 this year, the company's orders on hand exceeded 1 million units, an increase of more than nine times compared to last year. (Jin10 Data) [General Administration of Customs: In H1, China's exports of lithium batteries, wind turbines, and other green energy-related products increased by 37.6% and 35.6% respectively] The State Council Information Office held a press conference today to introduce China's foreign trade performance since the beginning of this year. Currently, the global green and low-carbon transition is deepening, and the construction of new energy and rising consumer demand align well with China's green products. In H1, China's exports of lithium batteries, wind turbines, and other green energy-related products increased by 37.6% and 35.6% respectively; green mobility products such as EVs, electric railway locomotives, electric motorcycles, and bicycles grew by 68.7%, 45.1%, and 31.5% respectively. Tesla Optimus project lead Ashok Elluswamy announced on social media on July 30, 2026, that the long-term annual capacity target for Optimus had been revised to 10 million units. This figure is ten times the originally planned capacity of 1 million units, marking a comprehensive upgrade in Tesla's humanoid robot capacity planning. [Google DeepMind launches Gemini Robotics 2 robot AI model] Google DeepMind has launched the Gemini Robotics 2 model. According to the introduction, Gemini Robotics 2 enables robots to reason about every action, thereby unlocking a broad range of tasks. For example, it can enable a humanoid robot to walk, squat, stretch, and manipulate objects to clean a cluttered room. It can even collaborate with other robots to complete tasks faster. This deep intelligence can also run locally on devices while seamlessly adapting to entirely new robot bodies within just a few hours. Meanwhile, Google DeepMind also launched two other robotic AI models — Gemini Robotics ER 2 and On-Device 2. Gemini Robotics ER 2 is the most powerful embodied reasoning (ER) model, a vision-language model (VLM) that will enable robots to communicate with humans, understand the physical world, and plan multi-step tasks lasting several minutes. On-Device 2 is the most efficient vision-language-action model (VLA), optimized to run locally on robotic devices. The model can now quickly adapt to entirely new robot entities with just hours of data. [Dayang Motor: Plans to Repurchase Shares Worth 120 Million–160 Million Yuan] Dayang Motor announced that the company plans to repurchase shares worth 120 million to 160 million yuan for future employee stock ownership plans or equity incentive plans, with a repurchase price not exceeding 11.5 yuan per share. [Xiangtan Electric: Expected Significant YoY Growth in Revenue from Synchronous Condensers and Flywheel Energy Storage This Year] Xiangtan Electric stated on an interactive platform that the company has actively developed new products in recent years, advancing R&D in synchronous condensers, flywheel energy storage, marine power, aviation electrification, and high-speed motors , achieving notable results in market promotion of synchronous condensers and flywheel energy storage. Revenue from these products is expected to see significant YoY growth this year; marine power, aviation electrification, and high-speed motors have also made some progress in market promotion. [BYD Plans to Launch Humanoid Robot in August This Year] Recently, reports suggested that BYD's humanoid robot is about to be launched. On July 28, BYD responded that it plans to launch the humanoid robot at "Di Space" in August. (Jin10 Data) [Unitree Robotics' Wang Xingxing: The "ChatGPT Moment" for Embodied AI Could Arrive Within Two to Three Years] According to the World Internet Conference news, the 2026 World Internet Conference Digital Silk Road Development Forum, themed "Smart Convergence on the Silk Road, Digital Opening of a New Journey – Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace," held its opening ceremony in Xi'an, Shaanxi, on July 22. Wang Xingxing, founder and CEO of Unitree Robotics, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. Over the past few years, humanoid robots have made rapid progress from walking to dancing, from kung fu combat to simple services. Wang Xingxing believes that the "ChatGPT moment" for embodied AI is expected to arrive within as soon as two to three years: by then, robots will be able to directly work and achieve many basic functions in most unfamiliar scenarios. Therefore, everyone should make various plans and arrangements in advance based on their actual situation, so as to seize new opportunities in the intelligent era. (Jinshi Data) [Unitree Robotics: Preliminary Inquiry Date Is August 5, Offline Subscription Date Is August 10] Unitree Robotics announced that the company is conducting its initial public offering and listing on the STAR Market. The offering will be conducted through a combination of strategic placement, offline issuance, and online issuance. The company plans to publicly issue 40,446,434 shares, accounting for 10% of the total share capital after the issuance, with the total share capital after issuance at 404,464,340 shares. The preliminary inquiry date is August 5, 2026, and the offline subscription date is August 10, 2026. The company has a special voting rights mechanism arrangement, under which the actual controller, Wang Xingxing, controls a total of 68.78% of the voting rights through a differentiated voting rights arrangement. [Unitree Robotics’ Chen Li: Core Technologies of Joint Motors Entirely Self-Developed, Upstream Only Relies on Copper Wire, Magnets and Other Raw Materials] From July 3 to 4, the 2026 Yabuli Forum Innovation Annual Conference was held in Shanghai. Chen Li, co-founder of Unitree Robotics, stated that the company has achieved independent R&D and production of core parts and has integrated the underlying technology architecture, possessing the capability to independently develop and produce a full range of products including quadruped robots, humanoid robots, robotic arms, pumps, dexterous hands, etc., covering diverse application scenarios. In response to the view that joint motors rely on external procurement, Chen Li said that the core technologies of Unitree’s joint motors are entirely independently developed, with the upstream only involving the supply of basic raw materials such as copper wire and magnets, achieving a completely independent and controllable supply chain. He stated that by independently developing the full set of core technologies, Unitree's products maintain industry-leading levels in cost-effectiveness, reliability, stability, and consistency. At the same time, the company continues to invest in the R&D of core technologies such as robot control, perception, navigation, and AI algorithms, and has cumulatively applied for multiple patents. (Jinshi Data) [Report: China’s Embodied AI Market Size Has an Average Annual Compound Growth Rate of 22% to 23%] The "China Embodied AI Industry Development Report (2026)" was released in Shanghai on July 2. The report states that China has become one of the fastest-growing embodied AI markets in the world. According to calculations by multiple research institutions, the market size of China’s embodied AI is expected to grow from approximately 213.3 billion yuan in 2018 to 1.09 trillion yuan in 2026, with an average annual compound growth rate of 22% to 23%. The report notes that China possesses the world’s only and most complete full-chain industrial support for embodied AI, spanning from core sensors, servo motors, and harmonic reducers to whole-machine assembly and algorithm adaptation, forming a highly clustered industrial ecosystem. The agglomeration effect of parts supply industries in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta regions allows new prototype iteration speeds to significantly outpace those in Western countries, and China’s embodied AI sector enjoys particularly prominent cost advantages, with overall manufacturing costs 30% to 50% lower than outside China. [Musk Elon: Optimus robot production will progress extremely slowly in the early stages because all technologies are being developed from scratch] Tesla CEO Musk Elon posted a photo of himself at the Optimus humanoid robot production line at the Fremont factory in California, US, on social media, sparking discussions about Optimus’ mass production progress. Some users noted that Tesla has recently reduced public demonstrations of Optimus, possibly because mass production progress has already exceeded market expectations. In response, Musk replied: “No, Optimus production is going to be extremely slow at the beginning because everything is brand new. It’s not like building cars.” [Bernstein: Japanese automakers’ interest in humanoid robots rekindled] Analysts at Bernstein said in a report that interest from Japanese automakers in humanoid robots appears to be reemerging. They pointed out that Mitsubishi Motors has said it signed a memorandum of understanding with a Japanese startup to jointly develop and mass-produce humanoid robots. The analysts noted that Japanese automakers have a long history of involvement in robotics. By 2050, global humanoid robot shipments could reach 49 million units, and the market would expand to approximately $729 billion. Given the overlap in core technologies (including actuators, sensors, batteries, control units, and AI software), this makes humanoid robots an attractive sector where automakers and suppliers have already accumulated expertise through vehicle deployment. Motor Spot Price To learn more about tax-inclusive weekly prices for various models such as three-phase asynchronous motors, variable frequency motors, DC brushed motors, flat motors, gear motors, linear motors, coreless motors, and motor cores, please click to view(). Voices from All Sides A research report from Huaxin Securities pointed out: Domestically, Yushu’s inquiry and subscription dates have been confirmed; outside China, the Optimus mass production process is accelerating toward implementation, Tesla has clarified capacity targets and issued parts procurement guidance, and the first mass production line is about to come online. We are bullish on the humanoid robot sector ushering in a definitive market trend. It is recommended to prioritize positioning in certain targets within the Tesla chain, which benefit from capacity ramp-up and are expected to drive order growth; at the same time, pay attention to quality enterprises with core parts R&D capabilities and adapted to the mass production needs of humanoid robots, and seize the beta opportunities in the sector. CITIC Securities pointed out that Tesla combines leading AI large model technology with large-scale manufacturing capabilities, and the company is in the top tier of the global embodied AI industry chain. It firmly believes in the mass production and application prospects of Tesla's robots. Tesla's Optimus is about to enter the production phase, and the Cybercab is undergoing testing as planned. It is recommended to focus on core players in the industry chain. A research report from China Securities stated that in July, different rare earth varieties exhibited significant differences in performance. Pr-Nd oxide rose first and then declined, terbium oxide jumped and then pulled back, and dysprosium oxide remained generally stable. Supply side, tight raw material supply issues at scrap plants led to a notable decline in production. According to SMM, Pr-Nd oxide production was down 11% MoM in July, and there may be marginal improvement in August, but overall production remains suppressed. Downstream, the high-temperature holiday season led to reduced operations at motor factories, with demand pulling back. August remains in the off-season, but the September-October peak season is a traditional peak consumption period. Market expectations for the start of demand recovery remain strong. In mid-to-late August, downstream stockpiling is expected to restart, breaking the supply-demand weakness and driving prices to stabilize and move upward. Wanlian Securities pointed out that the humanoid robot industry is currently at the dawn of transitioning from technological breakthroughs to large-scale commercialization. Supply side, Tesla, Unitree Robotics, Agibot, and UBTECH are steadily advancing the mass production pace. Demand side, an aging population and climbing labor costs serve as long-term drivers. Simultaneously, with policy and capital forces jointly boosting, AI large models continuously infuse soul into robots. Humanoid robots are expected to form an emerging industry, gradually moving from B-end to C-end, with vast future market space. Yingda Fund recently released the Q2 2026 report of its fund. The Q2 report of the Yingda Flexible Allocation Fund managed by fund manager Liu Yubin shows that, looking ahead, the fund remains optimistic about opportunities in the humanoid robot industry chain, particularly the Tesla Optimus supply chain. It holds positions centered on core Tier 1 suppliers and key parts top-tier players, strengthening a performance and order-driven approach, and focusing on the mass production progress of global leaders and the pace of commercialization of the domestic supply chain. Liu Yubin judges that data is the core foundation for the iteration of general embodied AI. Subsequently, he will increase allocation to quality targets that combine self-developed data acquisition hardware barriers and build complete end-to-end data closed loops, while continuously improving the portfolio framework. (Jinshi Data APP) Want to know more about the fundamentals, technicals, and policy aspects of the motor industry? Please participate in

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. will build a US$27.5 million hydrogen refuelling station in Carson, California, to support the transition of public transit fleets to zero-emission fuel cell buses. The facility will be capable of dispensing up to 25,000 kilograms of hydrogen per day, making it one of the largest hydrogen bus refuelling stations in the United States. The project is expected to support California's clean transportation goals by providing hydrogen fuel for hundreds of fuel cell buses operating across the Los Angeles region.

In recent years, the official figures for NEV driving range and battery energy density have been continuously refreshed. However, many may not realize that these improvements do not entirely stem from breakthroughs in electrochemical systems—iterations in cathode materials, anode materials, and electrolytes often take years. More direct changes have occurred at the structural level inside battery packs. CTM, CTP, CTB, and CTC represent several technological routes where battery integration levels continue to increase. Their common logic is simple: reduce intermediate layers to "stuff" the battery more tightly into the auto body. But the trade-offs between space utilization, manufacturing cost, and repairability vary from one generation to the next. 1. CTM (Cell to Module): The Traditional "Layered Doll" Approach In the early stages of NEV development, battery pack assembly followed a relatively conservative approach. Battery cells were first assembled into modules, the modules were then arranged into a battery pack, and finally, the battery pack was fixed under the vehicle floor. Battery cell → module → battery pack → auto body formed four independent layers. The pros and cons of this solution were clear. The advantage was repair convenience—a faulty module could be replaced individually without touching the entire battery pack. Simultaneously, the module casing provided additional protection for the cells, leading to relatively mature structural safety. But the cost was just as direct: module casings, connectors, and cooling pipes took up significant space, resulting in a space utilization rate of only about 40% inside the battery pack. This meant that, for the same volume, the CTM solution could hold the fewest battery cells, limiting its driving range potential. CTM was the industry's default choice for a long time because it aligned with the traditional automotive supply chain's division of labor—battery enterprises supplied modules, and automakers handled integration. But this division also created a structural ceiling: the volumetric utilization rate of the battery pack was difficult to break through. 2. CTP (Cell to Pack): Eliminating the "Middleman" The core modification in CTP was skipping the module layer, allowing cells to directly form the battery pack; space utilization improved from around 40% to over 70%. Simultaneously, by reducing module casings, connectors, and fasteners, the number of battery pack parts decreased, leading to lower manufacturing costs. Two different technological choices for CTP implementation existed in the industry. One was the thoroughly module-free solution represented by BYD's blade battery. By shaping cells into long strips and arranging them directly into the battery pack, supported by a honeycomb-like structure, it enhanced space utilization while also assuming some structural functions. The other was the highly integrated solution represented by CATL's CTP 3.0 (Qilin battery). It combined cells with multi-functional elastic interlayers into integrated energy units and integrated components like crossbeams, longitudinal beams, water-cooling plates, and thermal pads to further optimize internal layout and thermal management. The Qilin battery achieved a volumetric utilization rate of 72% and a system energy density of 255 Wh/kg. From a market penetration perspective, CTP has achieved a dominant mainstream position. Mainstream NEV manufacturers in China have launched mass-produced car models equipped with CTP solutions, ranging from independent brands to joint ventures, covering a broad price range from entry-level to high-end products. Meanwhile, the market share of traditional CTM solutions continues to shrink, currently remaining only in some micro-vehicles or specific export models. Overall, CTP has become the most prevalent battery integration technology route at the current stage. 3. CTB and CTC: The Battery Becomes Part of the Auto Body The concept behind CTB (Cell to Body) is to merge the battery pack's top cover with the vehicle floor. Cells are installed directly onto the vehicle floor, eliminating the need for a separate battery pack top cover. One of the main benefits of this solution is freeing up vertical space, allowing for a more spacious cabin or creating conditions to lower the vehicle's stance. Simultaneously, when the battery pack participates in bearing vehicle loads, torsional stiffness can increase by over 70%. BYD's Seal series and Xiaomi's Pengcheng series are representative models featuring CTB solutions. BYD officially announced that the Seal's body torsional stiffness reached 40,500 N·m/°. Xiaomi Auto announced a CTB battery volumetric efficiency of 77.8%. CTC (Cell to Chassis) goes a step further, integrating the battery system more deeply with the chassis or underbody, further blurring the structural boundary of the battery pack as an independent assembly. In some solutions, the battery system is also integrated collaboratively with thermal management, electric drive, and high/low-voltage control modules. Representative examples of this approach include the Tesla Model Y (Texas factory version) and the Leapmotor C10 equipped with the CTC 2.0 Plus solution. The technical goals of CTB and CTC are aligned—exchanging space utilization and body stiffness through structural integration. The difference between the two routes is more apparent in engineering implementation: CTB simplifies on top of the existing body architecture, retaining a relatively independent chassis frame; CTC treats the chassis and battery as a single whole from the outset, placing higher demands on the vehicle platform's upfront definition. Market data indicates that while CTB and CTC are still in the relatively early stages of penetrating from the high-end to the mass market, this technological route has begun to filter down to lower price brackets. The 2026 MG4 brought CTB technology down to the price range of 60,000 to 100,000 yuan, showing that structural integration solutions are no longer exclusive to high-end car models. Concerns Over Structural Integration Solutions The most direct challenge facing CTB and CTC structural integration solutions is repair economics. In traditional CTM solutions, some faults could be repaired by replacing the module. After CTP eliminated modules, the battery pack could usually still be removed as an independent assembly, but the smallest repairable unit and repair difficulty on-site depended on the specific structure. CTB and CTC, however, further increase the degree of integration between the battery and auto body, potentially increasing the difficulty of disassembly, detection, and damage assessment. According to industry estimates, the single-occurrence repair cost for a CTB/CTC solution is 3 to 5 times that of a CTP solution under the same damage conditions. This poses new challenges for insurance companies, the repair system, and the residual value management of used cars. Currently, some automakers, when promoting CTB solutions, simultaneously launch supporting services like "battery-body integrated warranty" or "chassis armor" to alleviate consumer concerns, but this issue has not yet formed a standardized solution at the industry level. Additionally, CTB and CTC solutions demand significantly higher vehicle manufacturing precision and after-sales detection equipment. Once the battery is integrated with the body, the removal process involves disassembling and reassembling structural body parts, requiring potential upgrades to traditional 4S shops' repair equipment and technical capabilities, involving the restructuring costs of the entire after-sales system. Evolutionary Direction From CTM to CTP, and then to CTB and CTC, the evolutionary direction of battery pack integration technology is clear—fewer layers lead to higher space efficiency and greater body stiffness. This is a forward path driven by space efficiency and manufacturing costs. But this trend is not a linear acceleration. For CTB and CTC to achieve large-scale adoption, besides engineering breakthroughs, simultaneous progress is needed in supporting systems like repair standards, insurance pricing, and used car evaluation. Based on current industry data, CTP will continue to hold its mainstream position, while the penetration rate of CTB/CTC will depend on two variables: the degree of standardization in structural integration solutions and the pace at which repair costs and insurance systems adapt.

[Beijing's H1 Passenger Car New L2 Assisted Driving Penetration Rate Reaches 77.5%, L3 Mass-Produced Models First to Land] At the Media Roundtable of the 2026 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference, Su Guobin, Deputy Director of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, introduced that in H1 2026, the penetration rate of Level 2 combined assisted driving among new passenger cars in the city reached 77.5%, higher than the national average level of 70%; BAIC Arcfox Alpha S became one of the first L3-level conditional autonomous driving mass-produced car models nationwide, taking the lead in achieving legal road operation and commercial deployment of high-level autonomous driving; supported by the country’s first high-level autonomous driving demonstration zone, Beijing has cumulatively issued over 1,500 test licenses, with safe testing mileage exceeding 65 million kilometers. In terms of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei collaboration, Beijing is jointly building an intelligent connected NEV technology and ecology port with Tianjin and Hebei, which has attracted over 200 industry chain enterprises, with 53 signing and settling. Next, Beijing will focus on four aspects: industrialisation of high-level autonomous driving, “Dual Intelligence” 4 construction, core technology breakthroughs, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei industrial collaboration, to build a world-class industrial cluster.

Russia has officially lifted its rail transport ban on sulfur originating from Kazakhstan transiting through Russian territory for export. The Federal Agency for Railway Transport (Roszheldor) imposed the ban on May 24, 2026, suspending the shipment of Kazakh sulfur to Russian seaports and railway checkpoints. The restriction forced exporters to reroute shipments via alternative corridors, with logistics costs for Tengiz and Kashagan sulfur roughly doubling through the port of Batumi, according to sources. The lifting order was signed on July 24, 2026, following instructions from First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. Russian Railways (RZD) has notified its subsidiaries to resume accepting railcars carrying Kazakh sulfur, with shipments directed to port stations on the Oktyabrskaya, Severnaya, Kaliningradskaya, Severo-Kavkazskaya, Privolzhskaya and Dalnevostochnaya railways. Kazakhstan is a major sulfur producer and exporter, with annual exports exceeding 4 million tonnes, the bulk of which traditionally flows through Russian ports. The lifting of the ban is expected to restore normal export routes for Kazakh sulfur.

SMM Cobalt Morning Briefing: The cobalt industry chain was generally in the doldrums this week. Refined cobalt prices drifted lower, affected by import data exceeding expectations, the demand off-season, and downstream summer breaks. Sellers and buyers of cobalt intermediate products had a wide psychological price spread, making it difficult to advance transactions, and prices remained temporarily stable. Market inquiries and transactions for cobalt sulphate, cobalt chloride, and Co3O4 were sluggish, with downstream users mainly pushing for lower prices and making just-in-time procurement. Cobalt powder prices continued to hit bottom, while cobalt carbonate was also under pressure.

Against the backdrop of ongoing automotive lightweighting, aluminum alloys are rapidly expanding into more application scenarios such as structural body parts, battery packs, and chassis systems. Among them, 6-series aluminum alloys, which combine strength, formability, corrosion resistance, and lightweighting advantages, have become one of the key directions for automotive aluminum development. As NEVs raise higher requirements for vehicle safety, driving range, and manufacturing efficiency, the market is posing new challenges to the overall performance of 6-series aluminum alloys. How can the balance between material strength and toughness be further improved? How can formability, joining performance, and service reliability be balanced? How can the new demands brought by the continuous upgrading of automotive manufacturing processes be met? These questions are becoming a key focus for the automotive materials industry... Against the backdrop of the continuous upgrading and iteration of automotive aluminum alloy materials, we are honored to have invited Dr. Zhu Xiao, R&D Director of Liaoning Xiangyu Aluminum Co., Ltd., to attend the SMM (8th) Automotive Supply Chain Conference and deliver a keynote speech titled —— " Performance Iteration Direction of 6-Series Aluminum Alloys in the Automotive Sector ," combining industrialization implementation experience to share solutions for the R&D, process optimization, and mass production of next-generation 6-series aluminum materials tailored for NEV complete vehicles. Dr. Zhu Xiao is a senior engineer, a high-end manufacturing talent recognized by the MIIT, and a high-end industrial talent under Liaoning Province's "Xing Liao Ying Cai" program. He is primarily responsible for the development of new products, new technologies, and new processes at Xiangyu Aluminum, the application of engineering technologies, science and technology projects, and intellectual property-related work . Over the past five years, he has led five national and provincial-level scientific research projects, including those under the National Key R&D Program and Provincial Science and Technology Major Projects, won the Liaoning Province Science and Technology Progress First Prize twice, obtained over 50 nationally authorized patents, and published more than 30 papers, achieving multiple technological breakthroughs in the forming and product processing of high-end aluminum alloy materials . Focusing on automotive lightweight material upgrades, secure this practical knowledge-sharing session, and explore with top aluminum material R&D experts the opportunities for the iterative development of 6-series aluminum alloys. Conference Agenda Overview The conference spans two days, featuring one main forum + three sub-forums + an automaker end-user procurement networking session + an automaker cost and new technology exchange meeting , each session packed with highlights. September 10, Full Day – Main Forum ▶ Main Forum & Automotive Globalization Session ▶ Lightweight Materials Session: Aluminum, Magnesium, Steel ▶ Commercial Vehicle Session: Battery, Intelligence, Lightweighting September 11, Morning ▶ Sub-forum 1: Automotive & Robotics Collaborative Forum ▶ Sub-forum 2: Automotive Chassis Development Forum ▶ Sub-forum 3: Automotive Lightweighting & High-End Steel Innovation Forum September 11, Afternoon ▶ Automaker Procurement Supply-Demand Networking Session (Scroll down for details) ▶ Automaker Cost Communication & New Technology Seminar Full Agenda September 10 – Main Forum & Automotive Globalization Session 9:00-9:15 Opening Remarks 09:15-09:40 Development Trends of China's Automotive Industry During the 15th Five-Year Plan Period Guest Speaker: Xu Haidong, Deputy Secretary-General, CAAM 9:40-10:30 Roundtable Dialogue: The Next Five Years of the Automotive Supply Chain – Going Global, Low Carbon, and Intelligence · Opportunities and risks of Chinese enterprises establishing factories overseas (Southeast Asia, Europe, Mexico) · Impact of carbon border taxes (CBAM) on aluminum/steel exports and response strategies · How AI and digitalization can assist with metal material R&D and supply chain management Companies to be Invited (TBD): Lizhong Group Jintuo Technology NIO Volkswagen 10:30-10:50 Coffee Break & Exhibition Tour 10:50-11:10 Under the Overlay of "Involution" and "Going Global": Changes and Strategic Choices in the Automotive Industry Companies to be Invited (TBD): SAIC, Chery 11:10-11:30 Redefining Materials for the Next-Generation Vehicle Platform: The Material Selection Logic for 2030 Car Models Companies to be Invited (TBD): NIO, XPeng Motors, Xiaomi Automobile 11:30-12:00 Safety First, Materials as the Foundation – The Metal Material Logic in the Design of Power Battery Safety Systems Guest Speaker: Jia Shuyuan, Battery Assembly Design Lead Engineer, R&D Institute, Dongfeng Motor Group Corporation 12:00-13:30 Lunch Buffet September 10 – Lightweight Materials Session: Aluminum, Magnesium, Steel 13:30-13:50 Applications and Development Trends of Composite Materials in NEV Lightweighting Guest Speaker: Shen Weidong, Senior Director, Professor-Level Senior Engineer, SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. 13:50-14:10 The Limited Volume of the Magnesium Alloy Industry – Can It Really Open the Automotive Market? Companies to be Invited (TBD): Shanxi Regal 14:10-14:30 New Opportunities for Magnesium Alloys in NEVs: Motor Housings, Electronic Control Cases, Instrument Panel Frames Presenting Company: Mao Mingzhi, Meridian Lightweight Technologies Co., Ltd. 14:30-14:50 Performance Iteration Direction of 6-Series Aluminum Alloys in the Automotive Sector Guest Speaker: Zhu Xiao, R&D Director, Liaoning Xiangyu Aluminum Co., Ltd. 14:50-15:10 Innovative Applications and Solutions of High-Strength and Tough Special Steel in Automotive Chassis Safety Components Companies to be Invited (TBD): Ansteel 15:10-15:30 Steel Auto Body and Integrated Solutions Companies to be Invited (TBD): Great Wall Motor, Rizhao Steel 15:30-15:45 Coffee Break September 10 – Commercial Vehicle Sustainable Development Session: Battery, Intelligence, Lightweighting 15:45-16:05 Commercial Vehicle Market Analysis and Outlook Invited: Lu Huaping, Secretary General, National NEV Commercial Vehicle Ecological Joint Committee (Commercial Vehicle Alliance) 16:05-16:25 BYD Commercial Blade Battery Fast Recharge Technology and Ecosystem Development Guest Speaker: Dr. Deng Qingming, Director, Global Commercial Vehicle Business Center Solutions, BYD Battery 16:25-16:45 Commercial Vehicle Battery Technology and Core Component Development To be Invited (TBD): REPT Battero Energy Co., Ltd. 16:45-17:05 Lightweight Material Technology and Development Trends for Commercial Vehicles To be Invited (TBD): Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd. September 11 – Automotive & Robotics Collaborative Forum 9:20-9:40 Shared Supply Chain: When Automotive Parts Companies Build Robots – Downward Disruption or a World Apart? Guest Speaker: Huang Li, Senior Vice President, Huizhou Desay SV Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd. 9:40-10:00 Scenario Applications of Embodied AI Robots in Automotive Manufacturing Guest Speaker: Zhang Chaopeng, Embodied AI Robot Expert 10:00-10:20 Current Status and Outlook of High-Performance Aluminum Alloys in Humanoid Robot Applications Guest Speaker: Cheng Hanming, President, Hongjin New Materials Group Research Institute 10:20-10:40 Mid-Session Break 10:40-11:00 From Automotive to Embodied AI: Supply Chain Synergy and New Paradigm Leap Driven by Common Technology Origins Guest Speaker: Lei Xiong, General Manager, Ningbo Joyson Lingxi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. 11:00-11:20 Convergent Innovation and Industrialization Implementation Pathways for Automotive and Embodied Robotics Guest Speaker: Yang Shaoping, Purchasing Director, Humanoid Robot (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. 11:20-11:40 Lightweighting Challenges and Material Selection Analysis for Automotive & Humanoid Robots Guest Speaker: Huang Jiaqi, Material Expert, lron Humanoid Robot 11:40-12:00 AI Robots – Frontier Technology and Outlook for Robotics Guest Speaker (TBD): Chen Weidong, Tenured Professor and Doctoral Supervisor, School of Automation and Perception, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; Executive Vice Dean, Medical Robotics Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University September 11 – Automotive Chassis Development Forum 9:00-9:30 The Process Route Debate: From Casting to Extrusion for Aluminum Alloy Subframes Companies to be Invited (TBD): ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Bosch 9:30-10:00 Exploring Integrated Die-Casting Chassis: Beyond the Rear Floor, How Far Can Chassis Structural Parts Be Integrated? Companies to be Invited (TBD): Seres Automobile, Guangdong Hongtu, ZEEKR, GAC Huadi 10:00-10:30 Application Prospects of Electromagnetic Thermal Control Technology in Large Integrated Die-Castings Guest Speaker: Renowned Industry Expert 10:30-11:00 The Way Forward for Integrated Die-Casting: From "Expansion" to a "Rational" Perspective Companies to be Invited (TBD): GAC Group, LK Group 11:00-11:30 Domestic Substitution of Aluminum Forgings for Chassis: Mass Production and Performance Validation of Steering Knuckles and Control Arms Presenting Company: Hangzhou Rima Precision Forging Co., Ltd. 11:30-12:00 The Deep Change of Skateboard Chassis on Vehicle Development Models: From "One Car, One Chassis" to "One Chassis, Multiple Cars" Companies to be Invited (TBD): Volkswagen September 11 – Automotive Lightweighting and High-End Steel Innovation Forum 09:00–09:30 Synergistic Development of Vehicle Corrosion Protection, Dual Carbon Goals, and Cost Reduction – Compliant Application of Green Coatings and Low-Carbon Automotive Steel Companies to be Invited (TBD): Institute for Carbon Neutrality in Steel, University of Science and Technology Beijing 09:30–10:00 Innovation in High-Performance Body-in-White Steel Technology and Vehicle Manufacturing Implementation Presenting Company: Zhang Honghong, Deputy General Manager, Suzhou Pressler Technology Co., Ltd. 10:00–10:30 Fatigue Performance Optimization and Long-Life Durability Technology for High-End Special Steel in New Energy Vehicles Presenting Company: Baowu Jufei Special Steel Co., Ltd. 10:30–11:00 Building a Multi-Dimensional Lightweight Material Selection System for Complete Vehicles and Multi-Material Collaborative Application Companies to be Invited (TBD): CITIC Pacific Group 11:00–11:30 Vehicle Engineering Adaptation and On-the-Ground Application of Advanced Joining Technologies for Automotive Steel and Dissimilar Metals/Heterogeneous Materials Companies to be Invited (TBD): Shougang Group Research Institute of Technology, Ansteel Iron & Steel Institute 11:30–12:00 Upgrading of High-Purity Special Steel Smelting Processes and Material Applications for Core Components of Electric Drive Systems Companies to be Invited (TBD): Dongbei Special Steel, Fushun Special Steel, Beijing Jianlong Heavy Industry Group September 11 – Automaker Procurement Supply-Demand Networking Session 13:30–16:00 Procurement Networking Session + Going Global Networking Session September 11 – Automaker Cost Communication and New Technology Seminar 15:00–16:00 Automaker Cost Communication and New Technology Seminar

The latest data from the General Administration of Customs shows that in June 2026, China's air conditioner exports reached 5.11 million units, up 11.5% YoY; cumulative exports from January to June totaled 39.16 million units, down 4.6% YoY.

In the height of summer, good news keeps pouring in. At 19:57 on July 18, 2026, Jilin Xinda Steel Co., Ltd.’s 365㎡ sintering machine started feeding and production on time as planned. On-site signal bells rang, and the belts on the proportioning and mixing line started sequentially, feeding materials evenly according to the set proportions. The first pallet car slowly moved out of the red-hot ignition furnace. The ignition effect was good, the material surface appeared bluish-blue, and the bed was flat and uniform. The entire system ran smoothly throughout, and the startup material was successfully turned into finished products, marking the successful one-time commissioning of the 365㎡ sintering machine. The company has advanced its comprehensive efforts to achieve ultra-low emissions and accelerated its green transformation, reaching a new level of development.

If you have looked at the car sales charts over the past two years, you would have noticed a striking change: the once-dominant joint-venture internal combustion engine vehicles are being replaced by a string of unfamiliar domestic NEV names. In April this year, the domestic retail penetration rate of passenger NEVs surpassed the 60% mark for the first time. Against the backdrop that over 6 out of every 10 new cars sold are now electrified, the shift from ICE vehicles to NEVs is likely becoming the broader industry trend. But behind the excitement, ordinary people are more confused: with prices falling again and again, is it that technology has lost its value, or is competition just too fierce? With all the talk of "smart driving" and "800V", which features are truly practical and which are gimmicks? To answer these questions, you don't need to understand complex battery chemistry formulas, nor do you need to study financial reports. We just need to refocus on three fundamental industry logics. Once these three points are clarified, the broad trend will become clear. Logic 1: Why Cars Must Be Electrified Many people attribute the widespread adoption of NEVs to "policy subsidies" or "license plate advantages". These did indeed provide an early boost to the industry, but now, the more fundamental reason is a dual drive from energy security and experience upgrades. From a national perspective, China's dependence on foreign oil has long exceeded 70%, while electricity comes from diverse sources (coal, hydropower, wind, solar, nuclear). Replacing imported oil with self-sufficient electricity is a strategic choice for a mature industrial power. Therefore, electrification is not a passing fad but a set direction spanning decades. In terms of user experience, electric drive delivers a level of smoothness, quietness, and instant response that internal combustion engine vehicles in the same price range struggle to match. This experiential gap, rooted in the drivetrain, means that many people find it hard to go back to driving an ICE vehicle once they have driven an NEV. So, electrification is no longer a question of "whether or not", but rather "how fast versus how slow". Logic 2: Why Are Cars Getting Cheaper? People often ask: "Do these price cuts mean quality is being compromised?" But in reality, the decline in prices is essentially a natural outcome of the industry chain's maturity. The main reasons include the following: Raw material price normalization: Spot lithium carbonate prices fell from a peak of nearly 600,000 yuan per mt in 2022 to around 150,000 yuan per mt currently, directly contributing to lower battery costs; Process innovation: The popularization of integrated die-casting has reduced auto body manufacturing time by over 50%; Economies of scale: Annual sales of passenger NEVs in China have already reached the 10-million-unit level, significantly diluting the high R&D costs. Just like LCD TVs, which fell from tens of thousands to thousands, not because quality worsened but because the industry mastered large-scale manufacturing. A pragmatic judgment is that the era of buying a good car at a bargain price has indeed begun. From the current industry situation, producers are locked in fierce competition, and for consumers who are about to buy a new car, whether to seize the opportunity to "take advantage" of NEVs should depend on their own driving radius. Logic 3: Why All the Talk About "Intelligence"? Electrification first answers the question of "where does the power come from", but intelligence redefines the "user experience". This is the most fundamental difference between NEVs and internal combustion engine vehicles. The core value of traditional ICE vehicles—engine, transmission, chassis—is set at the factory (except for hardware modifications) with little room for subsequent changes. Today's smart NEVs, however, are shifting their core value toward software and data iteration . After purchase, the car can be upgraded over the network to optimize driving range logic, improve driver assistance, and even change the entire in-car interface—something unimaginable before. As for driver assistance, the situation in 2026 is already quite clear. The penetration rate of Level 2 driver assistance in NEVs exceeds 50%, and the installation rate for Level 2+ has risen to nearly 30%. Driver assistance has become a standard feature in NEVs. In specific scenarios: Highway NOA is already very mature. In the 100,000-150,000 yuan price range, there are over 70 models equipped with highway pilot assist, and some mainstream brands have completed multiple rounds of OTA upgrades. After setting a destination on the highway, the system can autonomously change lanes, overtake, and navigate on/off ramps, and this experience is now quite stable. Urban NOA has also been rapidly rolling out over the past two years. A few years ago, it was only available on models priced above 300,000 yuan, but now, some NEV model in the 140,000-yuan range can run urban NOA. One brand has even equipped an 110,000-yuan model with urban NOA. To be honest, though urban NOA is rapidly popularizing, the actual number of users isn't as high as one might think. Data shows that the activation rate for urban NOA is less than 30%—many people have the feature in their cars but rarely use it daily. On one hand, urban road conditions are indeed complex, and the system occasionally still hesitates or requires human takeover; on the other hand, it shows that there is still some way to go from "having this feature" to "truly integrating it into everyday driving scenarios." Here's a car-buying tip: test how responsive the infotainment system is, whether it can handle multiple tasks simultaneously, how accurate the navigation is, and how well the voice recognition understands natural speech. These fundamental experiences that you'll use every day are the key factors in determining whether the car is "worth it" for you. Summary Looking back at these three logics: Automotive electrification is driven by energy structure and physical experience, making it an irresistible trend. Price declines are a natural outcome of industry maturity, so we should treat them rationally. Intelligence is the major direction of value shift, but we need to distinguish between what already delivers qualitative improvements to the driving and riding experience now and what still needs time to mature. Technology is still advancing, and the market is still changing. But by returning to your true needs—how convenient is charging, how many kilometers do you commute daily, what is your car purchase budget—the answer is often clearer than you think. SMM New Energy Research, Lithium Battery End-User Analyst, Fu Linqi 021-51558494