BMW China has announced a partnership with Huawei Terminal on March 17. This collaboration aims to deeply integrate the HarmonyOS ecosystem in the Chinese market, offering digital services that include the BMW Digital Key, HUAWEI HiCar, and the MyBMW App. Both companies are developing smart applications and features based on HarmonyOS NEXT, focusing on high-frequency scenario needs to create a seamless, all-scenario intelligent experience for Huawei HarmonyOS users.
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On June 12, news emerged that the European Commission proposed temporary anti-subsidy duties on electric vehicles imported from China. The proposed tariffs for three sampled Chinese car manufacturers are as follows: BYD at 17.4%, Geely at 20%, and SAIC Group at 38.1%. Other electric vehicle manufacturers in China that participated in the investigation but were not sampled will face an average tax of 21%.
On November 30, BMW announced a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz to establish a supercharging network in China, aiming to meet the increasing demand for luxury charging services. By the end of 2026, the joint venture plans to build at least 1,000 charging stations across China.
On October 18, BMW Group announced a leadership change: Gao Xiang has been appointed CEO of BMW Greater China, while Gao Le will return to Germany to take a board position. Shao Bin, current president of BMW (China) Automotive Trade Co., will succeed Gao Xiang as Vice President of Marketing at BMW Brilliance.
On January 3, Sanhua Intelligent Controls announced that its subsidiary has been designated as the exclusive supplier of battery cooling tubes for BMW’s new electric platform in China, with estimated sales of approximately 1.9 billion RMB during the product’s lifecycle.
In a recent development, BMW China confirmed that it will cease production of MINI electric vehicles at its Oxford plant, transferring the production line to China by the end of next year. While production of MINI vehicles will continue, the partnership with Great Wall Motors will focus on manufacturing fully electric MINI models.
In a statement, BMW Group Chief Financial Officer Nicolas Peter noted that China will remain the world’s largest market for new energy vehicles in the coming years and is a key partner in BMW’s transition towards electrification and digitalization.
On March 18, it was reported that a new joint venture, Huawang Automotive Technology (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd., has been registered, with a capital of 1.5 billion RMB. This venture will focus on automotive sales, manufacturing of auto parts, and sales of new energy vehicle testing equipment.
In the realm of battery technology, the competition among major car manufacturers is intensifying, particularly in the development of fast-charging capabilities. Brands like BYD, XPeng, and Xiaomi are introducing vehicles equipped with ultra-fast charging batteries, significantly reducing charging times to approach the refueling speed of traditional gasoline vehicles.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Transport has introduced a differentiated subsidy policy for the early retirement of old operating trucks, offering up to 95,000 RMB for new energy trucks.
On a related note, there has been a significant rise in the electrification of construction machinery, with projections indicating that the penetration rate of electric aerial work platforms will exceed 90% by 2024.
In light of recent incidents involving electric vehicles catching fire, manufacturers like Zhi Ke Automotive have issued statements addressing these concerns, reinforcing safety protocols and emergency response measures.
As the market continues to evolve, the National Market Supervision Administration has reported that there were 233 vehicle recalls in 2024, affecting over 11 million vehicles, with 89 recalls specifically for new energy vehicles.
Finally, the latest guidelines for subsidies for the replacement of power batteries in new energy city buses have been released, aiming to support the transition to more sustainable public transportation solutions.
