China EVs & More

In this episode of China EVs & More, Tu Le and Lei Xing break down one of the most eventful weeks in the EV industry — from NIO reaching major milestones to new rumors of partnerships between Chinese and Western automakers.  
NIO is on the verge of two historic achievements: its first profitable quarter and its 100 millionth battery swap. For a company that helped pioneer China’s smart EV startup movement, the milestone represents both redemption and a new beginning.
The hosts also unpack a series of industry-shaking developments:
Rumors of potential Xiaomi–Ford and Geely–Ford collaborations
Canada’s evolving EV policy and the implications for Chinese automakers entering North America
The ongoing EV price war in China and how it’s reshaping the global auto market
Tu and Lei explain why Chinese automakers are rapidly becoming global competitors — not just through vehicle exports, but through technology partnerships, battery supply chains, and software ecosystems.
The conversation also highlights the next wave of EV competition: affordable electric vehicles. Rivian’s highly anticipated R2 SUV, Ford’s upcoming EV platform, and the Chevrolet Equinox EV could become critical in determining whether U.S. automakers can compete against Chinese EV makers in the next decade.
The episode concludes with a look at China’s fast-changing regulatory environment — from new vehicle safety rules to battery technology innovation — and why the Beijing Auto Show could reveal the next major shift in the EV industry.
From battery swapping and profitability milestones to geopolitical trade dynamics and the future of affordable EVs, this episode captures a moment when the global auto industry is rapidly transforming.

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In this episode of China EVs & More, Tu Le and Lei Xing break down the latest developments in the global EV industry as 2026 begins — including the evolving competition between Tesla, Xiaomi, BYD, and other Chinese automakers.  
January sales numbers from China reveal a complex picture. Xiaomi’s YU7 SUV surged to become the best-selling vehicle in China across all powertrains, while Tesla’s domestic demand appears to be weakening as more vehicles produced in Shanghai are exported overseas.
Tu and Lei analyze what this means for Tesla’s strategy in China and why export growth can mask softness in the world’s largest EV market.
The discussion also explores the ongoing EV price war in China, where ultra-low financing offers and aggressive discounting are putting pressure on automakers’ margins and long-term profitability. As the hosts explain, China’s EV market has entered a new phase where companies must fight not just for growth — but for survival.
The episode then shifts to the future of EV technology and battery innovation. With BYD continuing to push fast-charging infrastructure and next-generation batteries, the hosts debate whether ultra-fast charging could eventually make battery swapping less relevant outside China.
Finally, Tu and Lei turn to the North American EV market. With Rivian’s highly anticipated R2 SUV, Ford’s upcoming affordable EV platform, and Tesla’s continued dominance with the Model Y, the next few years may determine whether U.S. automakers can remain competitive as Chinese EV manufacturers expand globally.
From battery innovation and pricing wars to global expansion strategies, this episode offers a clear look at how China EV Inc. continues to reshape the global auto industry.

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In this episode of China EVs & More, Tu and Lei unpack a rapidly changing global automotive landscape where Chinese EV technology is increasingly powering the future of the industry — even outside China.  
The discussion begins with a major shift: European and global automakers are increasingly adopting Chinese EV platforms, batteries, and autonomous driving technology. Stellantis is now exploring LeapMotor technology for Europe, Ford is integrating Chinese battery tech into its upcoming affordable EV, and even German brands are leaning heavily on China to stay competitive.
Tu and Lei argue that “China for China” has evolved into “win in China to win globally.” German automakers remain deeply dependent on China for growth, while American automakers face a different challenge: how to remain competitive as Chinese innovation accelerates.
The episode also dives deep into the global autonomous vehicle race. Waymo continues scaling robotaxi operations across multiple cities, while Baidu, Pony.ai, and WeRide expand internationally and rapidly accumulate real-world autonomous miles. Meanwhile, new players like Wayve are emerging as potential challengers in the autonomy software space.
The hosts explore whether Tesla’s robotaxi ambitions can disrupt the existing ecosystem — and why platform players like Uber could ultimately become the dominant intermediaries in autonomous mobility.
Finally, Tu and Lei reflect on the future of robotics, automation, and autonomous logistics — from robotaxis to autonomous snowplows, delivery robots, railcars, and even wheelchairs — raising an important question: will autonomy create abundance or major labor disruption?
This episode captures a pivotal moment in the EV and autonomy revolution, where the competition is no longer about powertrains — it’s about technology ecosystems, speed of innovation, and global scale.

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This week on China EVs & More, Tu and Lei break down one of the biggest developments of the year in the global EV industry: BYD’s massive technology reset and charging breakthrough.  
Facing slowing domestic sales and intensifying competition in China’s brutal EV price war, BYD responded with a sweeping announcement: a second-generation Blade Battery, ultra-fast 1500 kW flash charging, and plans to build 20,000 ultra-fast charging stations to support it. The message was clear—BYD intends to stay ahead of rivals like CATL, Geely, and Tesla by pushing the technological frontier.
Tu and Lei unpack what this means for China’s EV ecosystem, including how ultra-fast charging could challenge battery swapping models and reshape charging infrastructure globally.
The episode also explores the widening gap between China’s hyper-competitive EV market and the West, where Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y still dominate despite limited product updates. They discuss why Tesla remains the benchmark in autonomy and software—even as Chinese OEMs rapidly close the gap with AI-driven platforms and advanced ADAS systems.
Other topics include:
The scale of China’s EV price war and BYD’s strategy to regain momentum
RoboSense becoming a major LiDAR supplier for BYD’s new vehicles
Why legacy automakers are struggling to keep pace with Chinese EV innovation
The rise of ultra-affordable EVs like the Geely Xingyuan
And how EV ownership experiences differ dramatically between China and the United States
With Tu now on his second EV and Lei about to take delivery of his first Tesla Model Y, the hosts also share real-world perspectives on EV ownership, charging infrastructure, and autonomy features.
Fast-moving, analytical, and sometimes provocative, this episode captures the moment when the EV industry’s center of gravity continues shifting toward China EV Inc.
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In Episode 236, Tu and Lei deliver one of their most wide-ranging and revealing conversations yet—covering Tesla’s strategic retreat from cars, China’s accelerating dominance in EVs, autonomy, and robotics, and unveiling the inaugural China EVs & More Awards - the EVies
The episode opens with Tesla’s bombshell earnings call: the Model S and Model X are effectively retired, revenues decline for a second straight year, yet the stock rallies on promises of robotaxis, robotics, and AI abundance. Tu and Lei explain why Wall Street is betting on a future Tesla that is no longer a car company—and why China’s crowded robotaxi and robotics markets make that future far less certain than investors believe.
They contrast Tesla’s promises with reality on the ground in China, where BYD, NIO, XPeng, Huawei, Geely, and Xiaomi are rapidly upgrading ADAS, launching new models, and redefining value. The discussion highlights how Western media is only now “discovering” vehicles like the Xiaomi SU7 and YU7, despite Chinese OEMs offering Model 3/Y-level features at half the price.
The second half of the episode introduces the China EVs & More Awards, recognizing the companies, products, and people that defined the year—while exposing who fell behind. From Zombie Company of the Year to EV of the Year, the awards spark debate around survival, execution, and scale in the world’s most competitive auto market.
The episode closes with a sober look at automation, delivery, labor displacement, and UBI, asking whether autonomy will ultimately create abundance—or social shock—across global mobility systems.
Insightful, provocative, and data-driven, this episode explains why China EV Inc. is no longer the future—it’s the present.
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⏱️ Chapter Timestamps (for YouTube description)
00:00 – Welcome & episode overview
01:10 – Tesla earnings shock: Model S & X phased out
03:00 – Tesla as a holding company, not a car company
05:20 – Why Wall Street still rewards Tesla
07:00 – FSD approval in China: promise vs reality
09:00 – China ADAS arms race: BYD, NIO, Huawei, XPeng
11:00 – Western media “discovers” Xiaomi EVs
13:00 – Why Chinese EV features cost half as much
15:10 – Robotaxis: Waymo vs Tesla vs China
17:00 – China EVs & More Awards intro
18:15 – Zombie Company of the Year: WM Motor
19:50 – Who Dis Award: Dreame
22:30 – Tech That Matters: Momenta
25:00 – Company That Needs a Hug: Porsche
27:20 – Flop of the Year: Li Auto i8
29:40 – Dark Horse of the Year: Leapmotor
32:10 – Comeback Kid: NIO ES8
35:00 – Executive of the Year: Zhu Jiangming (Leapmotor)
36:30 – Luxury Car of the Year: Aito M9
38:30 – MPV of the Year: Buick GL8
40:00 – SUV of the Year: Xiaomi YU7
41:40 – EV of the Year: Geely Xingyuan
44:00 – Automation, delivery & labor disruption
47:00 – UBI, AI abundance & social impact
49:00 – Final thoughts & call for audience input