China × Cleantech — July 2020
Welcome to China × Cleantech — June 2020. Our China x Cleantech series covers top cleantech stories in China each month.
EV Sales
Tesla & The Minions — China EV Sales Report
On July 25, José Pontes reported on the sales number of the Chinese EV market for June 2020. In June the sales number were still negative compared to last year but there was a 6% decline year on year because of last year’s end-of-incentive rush and José Pontes is expecting this trend to end. Model 3, again, was far in the lead in terms of monthly sales, with 15,023 units.
José again stated that, while the numbers were lower than last year’s, they are expected to start returning to positive growth by the end of the year.
José expounded on the top 5 best selling new energy vehicles as well as some promising newcomers. Including the trend of the return of the city EV, signaled by the second best selling EV being the Baojun E-Series.
NIO Sets Sales Record In May But Is Still Far Behind Tesla
On the 1st of July, Steve Hanley reported on reports on NIOs sales numbers in May, firstly mentioning the ongoing changes to the incentive program has caused the NEV vehicles sales to be somewhat “topsy turvy.”
He reported on a press release that showed that NIO in May sold in total 3,436 units, which is 215.5% more units year on year. Although, he points out that NIO is still behind Tesla and multiple other car companies and that NIO has room to improve.
NIO Reports Record Sales In June
On the 3rd of July, Steve Hanley reported on reports on NIOs sales numbers in June, There were 3,740 vehicles sold in June 2020, a 179.1% growth rate compared to June of 2019.
He then went into details of why this NIO matters, about its place in the Chinese EV market, and about its achievements so far.
Tesla
Tesla Model 3 Sales Surge Ahead In China
On the 9th of June, Steve Hanley reported on the ongoing Tesla Model 3 sales surge. He gave the background that Tesla sold 3,635 Model 3 in April (COVID-19 had an impact) and 11,095 Model 3 in May. This puts Tesla ahead of over NEV in China by a wide margin.
Tesla Begins Taking Cybertruck Orders In China, Will Drive One Across America
On the 5th of July, Steve Hanley reported that Tesla has started taking orders for the Cybertruck in China, first noting that the Tesla Cybertruck is probably one of the most highly anticipated pickup trucks to date, with over people 532,000 around the world expressing interest in it.
Tesla is now taking orders in China, which is understandable, but large pickup trucks are very uncommon here. The majority on the road is filled with fleets of electric, gas, and road crew vehicles that are smaller than American pickup trucks. Steve ends by discussing Tesla Cybertruck related news.
Tesla’s Efficiency Advantage: Cheap & Abundant LFP Batteries Will Power Mass-Market EVs
On July 25th, Dr. Maximilian Holland reported on Tesla using lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries in its Tesla Model 3 in China. This news came from Tesla 2nd quarter earnings call. Elon Must discussed how the high efficiency of the Tesla Model 3 allows for LFP batteries to have good range and benefit from the lower price point.
Dr. Maximilian Holland then goes into why LFP batteries are beneficial, such as the lower price and abundance of the constituent materials.
Tesla & Chongqing (China) Talk Projects — Probably Not A Factory
On the 15th of June, Johnna Crider reported on the news that Tesla is in talks in China with the municipality of Chongqing to speed up a project in that area. It’s unlikely to be a second factory, more likely a sales and service center for the ever-growing number of Teslas. I have personally heard similar news of talks in Hefei, so it’s probably not uncommon for Tesla to engage local governments to find the best fit for both parties.
Awesome Purple Tesla From “Game Of Peace” Comes To Life In China
On the 31st of June, Iqtidar Ali reported on news of the ongoing guerrilla marketing to young urban consumers by revealing a wrapped Purple Tesla Model 3 at the HKRI Taikoo Hui Shopping Mall in Shanghai. The Purple Tesla Model 3 is featured in Game For Peace, which is the Chinese version of PUBG. These contemporary marketing techniques are common for Tesla, which has made an effort to avoid traditional media.
Autonomy & Self-Driving
DiDi Launches Robotaxis
On the 6th of June, Zachary Shahan reported on the news that the massive Chinese ride-hailing company Didi Chuxing (DiDi) is launching a robotaxi service in Shanghai. The service seems to be focused around Shanghai’s Automobile Exhibition Center, the surrounding business districts, and subway stations and hotels in downtown Shanghai.
The service is manned with a safety driver and is limited, but Zach discuses how this is just part of DiDi’s self-driving ambitions. Read the whole article for more information.
China Global Cleantech
BYD Tang EV Lands & Parties In Norway
On the 1st of July, Zachary Shahan reported on the news that the BYD Tang will be coming to Norway, which is something they have been asking about for years. The BYD Tang EV will be sold in Norway by RSA a Scandinavian car and retail distributor. The 2020 BYD Tang is expected to be delivered to Norwegian customers in January of 2021, for more details on this news read the full article.
Chile Orders 150 Electric Buses From BYD!
On the 1st of July, Zachary Shahan reported on the news that BYD will be supplying the capital city of Chile, Santiago, with 150 electric buses while throwing a bucket of “shame” at North American cities. This brings the total number of electric buses in Chile to 455 and they are on track for 800 by the end of 2020. For more details read the article.
I would like to note that if we want to see our cities change, we have to vote at local, regional, and national levels to get people in office who support a green, just transition and campaign/protest for the issues that matter.
You Can Now Lease An All-Electric Sedan In Ghana For Just $160 Per Month!
On the July 27th, Remeredzai Joseph Kuhudzai highlighted that in Ghana you can lease an all-electric sedan for $160 per month. That car is the JAC iEV7L/JAC iEV7S/Chery Tiggo 3X EV. The company leasing these cars is SolarTaxi. Read the full article for why this matters and, honestly, it is interesting seeing the wider implications that electric vehicles will have on Africa and the world.
Kandi To Begin Selling Inexpensive EVs In America
On the July 31st, Steve Hanley reported on the news that Kandi will bring its inexpensive EVs to Americas, while discussing how not everyone needs an F-150 to get to work in an office park or a Tesla to self-drive them in sprawling traffic. Kandi Technologies is accepting orders on August 18 for the K27 a 4-door electric sedan and the K23 an electric SUV. They plan to deliver in the 4th quarter of 2020 in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area.
The Kandi K27 sedan is priced at $20,499. After the federal tax credit, the net price comes to $12,999. The Kandi K23 compact SUV sells for $29,999, which would make it $22,499 after the federal tax credit.
See our previous China × Cleantech reports for more info from the red giant. Subscribe to the China X Cleantech newsletter to not miss a beat.
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