1. Passenger Vehicle Retail Sales Up 5.8% in Q1

According to the Ministry of Commerce, China’s total retail sales of consumer goods in Q1 reached ¥12.5 trillion, up 4.6% year-on-year. The retail sales volume of passenger vehicles increased by 5.8% YoY.

2. Huawei's Zhijie Brand Launches New R7 and S7 Versions

At the Zhijie Brand Night event in Shanghai on April 17, the Zhijie R7 extended-range model launched at ¥299,800–¥319,800. The new S7 Ultra was introduced with a rights-based price of ¥319,800, and a new Ultra Sport version priced at ¥329,800.

3. Volkswagen to Debut Self-Developed ADAS at Shanghai Auto Show

On April 17, Volkswagen Group announced it will unveil its China-developed Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, tailored specifically for China's complex and diverse road conditions.

4. IM Motors Signs Strategic Deal in the Middle East

IM Motors announced a partnership with UAE-based SMART MOBILITY International, a leading NEV distributor in the region, to expand high-end EV offerings in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

5. Geely's Acquisition of Jaguar Denied

Geely Holding VP Yang Xueliang officially debunked the rumor on April 17 that Geely had acquired Jaguar, clarifying that the story originated from an April Fools' joke.

6. Major Carmakers to Attend Huawei Qiankun Tech Conference

Huawei’s Qiankun Intelligent Tech Conference will be held on April 22 in Shanghai. Confirmed attendees include:
Dongfeng M-Hero, Deepal, Voyah, JAC Group, SAIC Group, GAC Group, BAIC BJEV, and Avatr.

7. Horizon Robotics Unveils L2 Urban ADAS – HSD

At its 2025 product launch on April 19, Horizon Robotics unveiled its L2-level HSD (Horizon SuperDrive™) urban driving assistance system, along with an official partnership with Chery Auto to adopt HSD technology.

8. NIO’s Firefly Sub-Brand Launches First Model

On April 19, NIO’s new sub-brand Firefly officially launched its first model, also named Firefly, available in two variants:

9. Stellantis and Leapmotor to Localize Production in Malaysia

On April 18, Stellantis Group and Leapmotor announced plans to start localized assembly in Malaysia at Stellantis’s Gurun plant in Kedah, as part of their Southeast Asia expansion strategy.

10. Pony.ai to Debut Next-Gen Robotaxi at Shanghai Auto Show

On April 18, Pony.ai announced that it will unveil its 7th-generation Robotaxi lineup globally at the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, featuring its latest autonomous driving system in a full-scale rollout.