Caution weighs on April's auto sales China's automotive market experienced a notable slowdown in retail momentum during April, driven by a combination of factors including a surge in new vehicle launches, intense price competition, and cautious consumer behavior. The decline in demand was further influenced by the Tomb-Sweeping Day holiday and the wait-and-see attitude of buyers following the Beijing auto show, which featured dozens of new model introductions in late April. According to data from the China Passenger Car Association, retail sales from April 1 to 26 totaled 1 million units, representing a 24 percent year-on-year decline and a 19 percent drop compared to the same period in March. New energy vehicle (NEV) retail sales reached 614,000 units in April, a 11 percent year-on-year decrease, despite continued growth in NEV penetration rates. SAIC Motor, the country’s top-selling automaker, sold 328,000 vehicles in April, retaining its position as the leading brand for a fourth consecutive month. However, this marked a 12.66 percent year-on-year decline, primarily due to underperformance from its joint ventures. SAIC Volkswagen’s sales plummeted to 40,000 units in April, half the figure from April 2025, while SAIC GM’s deliveries fell 17.3 percent to 34,700 units. BYD followed closely behind SAIC, with sales of 321,100 vehicles, a 15.5 percent year-on-year drop, though this represented a 7 percent increase from March. The company’s overseas sales rose 70.9 percent year-on-year to 134,500 units, helping offset domestic competition. Despite the decline, BYD maintained its dominance in the NEV sector, selling over 1.02 million vehicles in the first four months of the year. Chery demonstrated strong growth, selling 251,400 vehicles in April, a 25.2 percent year-on-year increase.#byd #geely #china_passenger_car_association #saic_motor #chery
Geely Hybrid Car Sets Guinness World Record for Fuel Efficiency A new hybrid vehicle developed by Chinese automaker Geely has achieved a remarkable milestone by setting a Guinness World Record for fuel efficiency, achieving an impressive 45 kilometers per liter. This breakthrough comes with the introduction of Geely’s advanced i-HEV (intelligent hybrid) technology, which is designed to revolutionize the automotive industry with its innovative AI-driven power management system. The vehicle’s ability to deliver such exceptional fuel efficiency has sparked significant attention, positioning Geely as a leader in sustainable transportation solutions. The i-HEV system integrates artificial intelligence to optimize driving conditions in real time. By analyzing traffic patterns and road conditions, the technology autonomously selects the most efficient driving mode—pure electric, series hybrid, or parallel hybrid—thereby minimizing fuel consumption. This adaptive approach ensures that the engine operates at peak efficiency, reducing energy waste and enhancing overall performance. The system also boasts a thermal efficiency rate of over 48%, surpassing current hybrid technologies by a significant margin. Additionally, the electric motor generates approximately 230 kW of power, enabling rapid acceleration and smooth performance, even in urban traffic scenarios. Geely plans to incorporate this technology into its upcoming models, including the Preface and Monjaro series. These vehicles are expected to offer fuel efficiency rates of up to 25 km/l and 21 km/l, respectively, which are significantly higher than existing models. The company’s focus on sustainability aligns with global trends toward hybrid vehicles, which are increasingly favored for their reduced environmental impact and cost-effectiveness.#geely #guinness_world_record #ihev_technology #preface_series #monjaro_series
