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Reuters
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Automakers rush to meet surging China demand for long-range hybrids
SHANGHAI, April 25 (Reuters) - Chinese automakers and foreign rivals are launching ever more advanced long-range hybrids to meet rising demand in the world's largest auto market. Unlike many other major markets, China treats EVs and hybrids as one "new energy vehicle" sector where brands are competing to give consumers an array of electrified options with longer driving ranges. Stay up to date with the latest news, trends and innovations that are driving the global automotive industry with the Reuters Auto File newsletter. Sign up here. At the Shanghai auto show this week, for instance, Geely ( unit Zeekr unveiled the 9X - a large plug-in hybrid SUV that can travel on electric power alone for 400 km (249 miles) before its gasoline engine kicks in. That range is nearly as long as many fully electric vehicles and far longer than typical plug-in hybrids in the United States, Europe and other markets. Chinese automakers have also developed a thriving business in so-called extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), which have small petrol engines that serve only as a generator to extend the range of their large batteries. Both EREVs and plug-in hybrids grew faster than pure EVs in the China market last year, pushing the whole electrified sector to about half of all new cars sold, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association. EREV sales jumped 79% to 1.2 million vehicles and plug-in hybrids soared by 76% to 3.4 million, while EV sales grew 23% to 6.3 million units. Fully electric models grew faster than both varieties of hybrids in the first quarter of this year and still lead China's new-energy sector. But the hybrid boom in China and globally has more traditional automakers adding gasoline-electric models to their lineups after previously focusing solely on expanding EV offerings. Volkswagen plans a new vehicle platform for full EVs and EREVs as part of an effort to reverse its slowing sales in China, where all foreign automakers have struggled. VW board member Ralf Brandstaetter said drivetrain flexibility was critical to the German carmaker's effort to "find our edge." Mercedes-Benz ( opens new tab CEO Ola Kaellenius called hybrids "definitely a trend in China" as he addressed reporters at the Shanghai show, predicting they would "coexist with battery-electric vehicles for a longer period of time." TRANSITIONAL TECHNOLOGY? Some automakers - most notably Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab - have dismissed hybrids as a transitional technology that only hinders the rapid EV transition needed to slow climate change. Many U.S. and European environmentalists have endorsed that view. Some pure-play Chinese EV makers are also sceptical that hybrids will endure, particularly in China where government and industry have built a massive EV-charging network. "It just doesn't make sense," said William Li, CEO of EV maker Nio ( opens new tab. But many Chinese automakers are keen to give buyers whatever they want amid a consumer-price war that continues to challenge their profitability. Plug-in hybrids also provide a way for them to navigate around trade barriers in their prime expansion target of Europe, which has slapped tariffs on Chinese EVs and EREVs. Geely unit Lynk & Co said in February that it will launch a plug-in hybrid SUV, the 08, in June with an electric-only range of 200 km, the longest available in Europe. Felix Kuhnert, an automotive analyst at consultancy PwC Germany, called China's industry "technologically less dogmatic" than some global competitors, taking the approach that "if the customer wants more range in their electric car, then they should get it." That fairly describes the position of Chinese EV maker Leapmotor ( opens new tab, which has launched four EREV models even though its CEO Zhu Jiangming said typical EV driving ranges of about 500 kilometres allow consumers to "buy an electric car without a problem." The company views EREVs as an option for consumers willing to pay more for even more range. "We think it's just for luxury cars," a segment where consumers don't blink at paying an extra 20,000 yuan ($2,744) to alleviate range anxiety. MORE HYBRIDS COMING According to data from research firm JATO Dynamics, automakers in China launched 16 new EREVs and 37 new plug-in hybrids in 2024, compared to 32 new fully electric models. Forecasts provided to Reuters by one major automaker anticipate EREVs and plug-in hybrids will together account for about 35% of sales in China, the world's largest auto market, compared to about 45% for EVs. The sector has drawn investment from Chinese battery giant CATL ( opens new tab, which in October launched its first battery devoted to extended-range hybrids, with a range of 400 km. CATL said the battery is used by various Chinese EV brands, including Li Auto ( opens new tab, and would be installed in nearly 30 models made by industry giants including Geely and Chery ( Bo Yu, a China-market expert for research firm Jato Dynamics, predicted automakers in the country would continue investing and innovating in the hybrid segment for the foreseeable future. "We're going to see more of them," she said. ($1 = 7.2895 Chinese yuan renminbi)
Reuters
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Elon Musk's late and unfulfilled Tesla promises
April 22 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab CEO Elon Musk has a long history of making ambitious promises and often delivering late. Many of his biggest ideas are still in the works. Musk has described himself as pathologically optimistic, saying he does deliver in the end, "which is the important thing". Stay up to date with the latest news, trends and innovations that are driving the global automotive industry with the Reuters Auto File newsletter. Sign up here. Here are some of Musk's promises that were completed late, and others that are still pending: FULL SELF-DRIVING TECHNOLOGY Musk's most famous unfulfilled promise is Tesla's effort to create self-driving software. Musk initially spoke about self-driving capabilities in 2015, saying autonomous cars would be available within three years. But he missed that deadline and has promised almost each year since 2020 that Tesla's vehicles would achieve full self-driving capabilities. In 2023, Musk called himself the "boy who cried FSD" - an admission of his missed targets. Tesla has said it would release an "unsupervised" version of FSD, which presumably would not require human oversight, in California this year, without offering more information. AFFORDABLE TESLA EV DELAYED Musk first announced plans for a mass market, roughly $25,000 car in 2020 but offered no specifics about the vehicle at the time. Reuters exclusively reported last year that Tesla scrapped its plans for the low-cost car sometimes described as the Model 2. Tesla subsequently said it would create affordable cars that would be built on current product lines, rather than the new vehicle previously envisioned. Musk said in April 2024 that Tesla would introduce the "new models" by early 2025. Tesla has said the more-affordable models would start production in the first half of 2025, although Reuters reported exclusively last week that plans for an affordable Tesla, which include a stripped-down version of its best-selling Model Y SUV made in the U.S., would be delayed by months. CYBERCAB ROLLOUT Musk said in 2019 he was "very confident" Tesla would have operational robotaxis by 2020. In October 2024, he announced plans for a self-driving robotaxi, called a Cybercab, to go into production from 2026. Cybercab production could be disrupted, Reuters reported, because Tesla has paused component imports from China after tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump jumped to 145%. CYBERTRUCK Musk introduced its Cybertruck pickup truck in 2019 and planned to start manufacturing around late 2021. Production actually started in 2023. NEXT-GENERATION ROADSTER ELECTRIC SPORTS CAR The company in late 2017 announced a new version of its Roadster would launch in 2020. In 2021, Musk pushed the launch of the Roadster to 2023, citing global supply chain bottlenecks. In 2023, he said Tesla hopes to start production of its long-delayed Roadster the following year. Musk announced last year Tesla would aim to ship its long-delayed next-generation Roadster in 2025.
Reuters
16-04-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Ferrari will continue to invest in petrol, hybrid and EV powetrains, CEO says
MILAN, April 16 (Reuters) - Luxury sportscar maker Ferrari ( opens new tab will continue to develop petrol, hybrid and full-electric vehicles, its Chief Executive Bendetto Vigna said on Wednesday during the company's annual shareholders' meeting. "Indeed ... we continue to invest in all three powertrains - internal combustion engine, hybrid, and full electric - to offer our clients maximum freedom of choice," Vigna said. Stay up to date with the latest news, trends and innovations that are driving the global automotive industry with the Reuters Auto File newsletter. Sign up here. Known globally for its roaring petrol engines, Ferrari started selling hybrid models in 2019 and will unveil its fist fully-electric (EV) model in October.
Reuters
08-04-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Cadillac ending production of three-row, gasoline-powered XT6 SUV
DETROIT, April 8 (Reuters) - General Motors GM.N is discontinuing the Cadillac XT6 gasoline-powered three-row SUV at the end of 2025, the automaker said on Tuesday. The XT6 is built at Spring Hill Assembly in Tennessee where GM also produces the smaller gasoline-powered Cadillac XT5 SUV, which GM will continue making through the end of 2026. The Spring Hill plant also has the Cadillac electric SUVs Lyriq and Vistiq. Stay up to date with the latest news, trends and innovations that are driving the global automotive industry with the Reuters Auto File newsletter. Sign up here. GM's luxury brand has been focused on offering an all-electric lineup to customers. The move is not related to recently imposed auto tariffs, the company said. "Cadillac has introduced six new products in less than a year that represent the future of the brand," the company said in a statement. "We will continue to make the necessary adjustments to the portfolio to maintain growth in critical luxury segments." Cadillac discontinued the gasoline-powered XT4 SUV earlier this year. CNBC reported the end of the XT6 SUV earlier on Tuesday. Last week, Reuters reported first that GM would increase production of full-size trucks at its Indiana plant. Those trucks are also built in Mexico and Canada.
Reuters
06-04-2025
- Automotive
- Reuters
Toyota to boost EV models to 15, targets producing 1 million by 2027, Nikkei says
TOKYO, April 7 (Reuters) - Toyota (7203.T), opens new tab aims to have about 15 electric vehicle models developed on its own by 2027 and is targeting production of about 1 million cars a year by then, the Nikkei newspaper said on Sunday. Toyota declined to comment, saying the information was not announced by the company. Stay up to date with the latest news, trends and innovations that are driving the global automotive industry with the Reuters Auto File newsletter. Sign up here. Toyota has five EV models developed in-house, manufacturing them only in Japan and China, the Nikkei said. Expanding production to the United States, Thailand and Argentina can help hedge against tariff and foreign exchange risks and cut delivery times, it added. The 15 EV models include some under its Lexus luxury brand, the business daily said. Toyota now expects to produce about 800,000 units in 2026, effectively down nearly 50% from its original plan, Nikkei added. Toyota has previously said it intended to sell 1.5 million EVs per year by 2026 and 3.5 million by 2030, calling the numbers benchmarks for shareholders rather than targets. In 2024, it sold almost 140,000 EVs globally, up by about a third from a year earlier. They accounted for less than 2% of its total global sales of over 10 million.
