Chinese automaker Zeekr debuts first hybrid model at Shanghai auto show
23 Apr 2025 11:51AM (Updated: 23 Apr 2025 11:57AM)
SHANGHAI :Chinese automaker Zeekr debuted its first hybrid model the Zeekr 9X luxury SUV at the Shanghai auto show on Wednesday.
Andy An, the company's CEO, unveiled 800-volt fast-charging technology for hybrid vehicles.
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Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Straits Times
China says it may speed up rare earths application approvals from EU
A mining machine is seen at a mine containing rare earth minerals in Inner Mongolia, China. PHOTO: REUTERS China says it may speed up rare earths application approvals from EU SHANGHAI – China is willing to accelerate the examination and approval of rare earth exports to European Union firms and will also deliver a verdict on its trade investigation of EU brandy imports by July 5, its Commerce Ministry said on June 7. Price commitment consultations between China and the EU on Chinese-made electric vehicles exported to the EU have also entered a final stage, but efforts from both sides are still needed, according to a statement on the ministry's website. The issues were discussed between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Paris on June 3, according to the statement. The comments mark progress on matters that have vexed China's relationship with the EU over the past year. Most recently, China's decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of rare earths and related magnets has upended the supply chains central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world. The Commerce Ministry said China attached great importance to the EU's concerns and 'was willing to establish a green channel for qualified applications to speed up the approval process'. Mr Wang during the meeting 'expressed the hope that the EU will meet us halfway and take effective measures to facilitate, safeguard and promote compliant trade in high-tech products to China', according to the statement. Chinese anti-dumping measures that applied duties of up to 39 per cent on imports of European brandy – with French cognac bearing the brunt – have also strained relations between Paris and Beijing. The brandy duties were enforced days after the EU took action against Chinese-made electric vehicle imports to shield its local industry, prompting France's President Emmanuel Macron to accuse Beijing of 'pure retaliation'. The Chinese duties have dented sales of brands, including LVMH's Hennessy, Pernod Ricard's Martell and Remy Cointreau. Beijing was initially meant to make a final decision on the brandy duties by January, but extended the deadline to April and then again to July 5. China's Commerce Ministry said on June 7 French companies and relevant associations have proactively submitted applications on price commitments for brandy to China, and that Chinese investigators have reached an agreement with them on the core terms. The Chinese authorities were now reviewing the complete text on those commitments and would issue a final announcement before July 5, it said. In April, the European Commission said the EU and China also agreed to look into setting minimum prices of Chinese-made electric vehicles instead of tariffs imposed by the EU last year. China's Commerce Ministry said the EU also proposed exploring 'new technical paths' relating to EVs, which the Chinese side was now evaluating. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Online Citizen
11 hours ago
- Online Citizen
Over 300 workers retrenched without pay as CCIC Singapore enters liquidation after US sanctions
Over 300 employees of CCIC Singapore, a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned enterprise, China Certification and Inspection Group (CCIC), have been retrenched without receiving their May 2025 salaries, following the company's abrupt move into liquidation after being blacklisted by the United States. The sanctions, announced on 13 May 2025, targeted 15 companies, including CCIC Singapore, which the US Treasury Department accused of helping obscure the origin of Iranian oil shipped to China. The firm reportedly provided inspection services during ship-to-ship transfers of sanctioned oil cargo, including one involving 2 million barrels of Iranian oil. CCIC Singapore, founded in 1989 and located at Singapore Science Park, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Certification & Inspection Group (CCIC), a Chinese state-owned firm under China's State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. Affected employees were formally notified of their retrenchment on 30 May, with terminations effective the next day. According to three employees who spoke to CNA, most of CCIC Singapore's workforce—estimated to number over 300 in Singapore alone—is now jobless. Employees said they were informed that the firm's liquidation process was underway, and retrenchment benefits would only be fully paid by 30 June 2026. In the meantime, workers remain unpaid for May and received only two weeks' salary for every year of service completed. Surveyors and operations staff expressed frustration over the severance arrangement, noting that many relied on overtime and allowances to supplement basic pay. Junior surveyors earn less than S$1,000 monthly in base salary, with senior surveyors earning up to S$1,500. Speaking anonymously, employees expressed anger over the handling of the retrenchments. They described communication from management as inconsistent, citing internal emails that promised job continuity and transfers to a new entity—only to be contradicted within a day. On 14 May, an email from human resources assured employees of legal support and plans to establish a new company, backed by the Beijing headquarters. Staff were told they would be transferred without disruption. However, the following day, a second email urged recipients to disregard the earlier message. Subsequent internal communication revealed the company was downsizing and unable to pay retrenchment benefits due to frozen bank accounts. The firm's managing director later travelled to Beijing for discussions, though staff were not informed of any resolutions before receiving their termination notices. In an email sent to media on 6 June by a staff representative, employees highlighted several grievances: non-payment of wages, inadequate severance packages, lack of transparency, and absence of support for job placement. The letter described the situation as a breach of Singapore's Employment Act. 'Over 300 individuals and their families face immediate financial distress,' the letter read. 'This situation causes significant anxiety and hardship.' The letter further alleged that the offered severance—two weeks per year of service—fell well below Singapore's prevailing retrenchment standards, which can range from one to three months' pay per year of service. Employees also criticised the firm's leadership for failing to provide any apology or assurance, and questioned why CCIC's parent company had not intervened to ensure obligations to Singapore staff were met. 'This is a foreign company. They act like high and mighty, but they leave us in the lurch,' one employee told CNA. 'The top man doesn't even see us, talk to us.' As of now, the Ministry of Manpower, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), and the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM) have been approached by affected staff for assistance. CNA has also reached out to CCIC Singapore, its parent company CCIC in China, and relevant authorities for comment. No responses have been published as of the date of this report. The sanctions imposed by the US include a freeze on all US-linked assets of sanctioned entities and block any business engagement involving the US financial system. The US Treasury claims that Iran's illicit oil trade supports weapons development and terrorism, and CCIC Singapore was directly involved in enabling these operations by providing falsified documentation and inspection services. With Singapore-based assets unfrozen, affected employees have also questioned why local resources cannot be used to cover immediate financial obligations, such as salary arrears.
AsiaOne
13 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Kia Carnival Hybrid review: Hybrid power and modern updates for a spacious family MPV, Lifestyle News
We've seen all manner of large MPVs go on sale in Singapore recently. Many of these are Chinese in origin, come filled with lots of fancy tech and luxury features, and feature some form of electrification, being either full electric vehicles (EVs), or plug-in hybrids. But what if you wanted something a bit more traditional and old-school? Well, there are a handful of MPVs that stick to the classic internal combustion route and one of them is the updated Kia Carnival tested here. What's new in the latest Kia Carnival? The updated Kia Carnival has received a mid-life facelift, and it gets some pretty substantial changes externally, internally and under the hood. On the outside, it gets a larger front grille that's flanked by vertical LED headlights on either side. The overall effect gives the car a more imposing look that gives it lots of presence, especially in the test car's black colour. The rear has also been slightly redesigned, with the taillights now extending downwards at both ends from the horizontal light bar. It's a small but significant change, and gives the Kia Carnival a futuristic look that wouldn't look out of place in a sci-fi movie. The changes to the interior are somewhat more subtle, however. The most visible update is the driver instrument panel, which is now a fully digital item with a 12.3-inch display, instead of the previous analogue gauges. The controls on the dashboard have also been redesigned and refreshed, and features Kia's new switchable LCD display that can toggle between the controls for the air conditioning or media system. The biggest change to the Kia Carnival though, is under the bonnet, with the large MPV now swapping its previous 2.2-litre diesel engine for a 1.6-litre hybrid powerplant. Despite the downsized engine, it actually has more power than before. The new hybrid drivetrain now produces 241hp, an increase of 43hp over the diesel's 198hp. However, torque has been reduced to 366Nm, down from 440Nm previously. The car's gearbox also now has six speeds instead of its previous eight, and Kia says that hybrid drivetrain's power delivery reduces the need for more gears, as compared to the diesel powerplant which required more shifts. So how does the updated Kia Carnival Hybrid drive? The primary reason for the switch to hybrid power from diesel is down to the fact that Singapore has banned the registration of new diesel passenger cars from January 2025. [[nid:694420]] But while diesel enthusiasts may lament the loss of the plentiful torque of the old powerplant, the new hybrid drivetrain does bring about its own characteristics and benefits. For starters, it's no less responsive than the diesel, with the electric motor of the hybrid delivering an instant boost on acceleration with no lag. The transition from electric motor to petrol engine feels seamless as well, and the switch is virtually imperceptible. Smoothness is a pervasive theme with this car, and the Carnival impresses with its well-damped ride quality and excellent refinement. On smooth highways, the Kia Carnival glides along in great comfort and silence, while on rougher roads the suspension works well to ease out the bumps without feeling too ruffled. Of course, given the Carnival's stature as a large family MPV, one should not expect much in terms of nimbleness or agility. The steering is appropriately heavy, and while it's not exactly cumbersome to steer around corners, its size and weight is clearly evident to the driver. In terms of fuel efficiency, the Kia Carnival Hybrid delivers a claimed average fuel consumption figure of 6.5 litres per 100km, which is actually not that far off from the diesel's figure of 6.8 litres per 100km. But of course, the fact that the hybrid allows for the ability to drive on electric power means that, on the whole, it is still considered greener and more efficient than the diesel-powered model. How does the Kia Carnival Hybrid fare as an MPV then? Given its size, it's no surprise that the Kia Carnival Hybrid is extremely spacious inside. After all, this is meant to be a car that can ferry seven people in comfort over long distances. The best seats in the house are arguably in the second row, with its pair of 'VIP lounge seats' (as Kia calls them) that can recline fully, and come with heating and ventilation functions as well. But even if you're confined to the third row, there's still plenty of room to accommodate full-sized adults without needing to contort yourself to get comfortable. As a nice touch, there are also comfort features like cupholders and sunshades, so that those in the back don't feel like second-class citizens. Probably the most impressive bit about the Kia Carnival though is its generous boot space. With all the seats up, there is a massive 627 litres available, which is enough to fit two full-sized luggage bags, and then some. If you fold the third row seats down, there is an absolutely colossal 2,827 litres of space. With that kind of capacity, you could throw in a couple of bicycles and an entire selection of Ikea flat-packed furniture and still have room to spare. Is the Kia Carnival Hybrid a worthy buy then? While the Kia Carnival Hybrid is incredibly spacious and comfortable, even by large MPV standards, it doesn't exactly come cheap. The 7-seater version as tested here retails for $287,999 with COE (as of June 2025). You can save a little bit if you opt for the 8-seater version, which goes for $281,999 with COE, but you lose the ultra-comfortable 'VIP lounge seats' in the second row in favour of a standard three-seater bench. That said, it does have its appeal. The new hybrid powertrain is smooth and efficient, and the updates certainly give the Carnival a renewed sense of modernity. If you're looking for a large family MPV of the old-school, non-electric variety, the Kia Carnival Hybrid is a choice that's hard to ignore. [[nid:714096]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
