News
What's happening in China's car industry, and what it means for UK buyers: launches heading our way, sales, factories and trade, batteries and who owns whom.
Cell chemistry, ultra-fast charging, solid-state and battery swap.
Batteries and charging
Chinese battery makers now supply 56% of EV batteries fitted outside China
New SNE Research figures for January to September 2026 show Chinese cell makers widening their lead over Korean rivals outside China, with Europe accounting for much of CATL's and BYD's growth.
9 Nov 2026 · 3 min read
Batteries and charging
Yangwang U9 Xtreme hits 503km/h, the first production car past 500
BYD's electric hypercar reached 503.17km/h on a closed desert motorway in Abu Dhabi, beating its own record. Only 30 will be built, and none is coming to the UK.
8 Nov 2026 · 2 min read
Batteries and charging
Battery swapping: China's networks and the UK outlook
China now has thousands of stations that change an EV's battery in minutes. In the UK the first swapping plan is for lorries, not cars, and it is not due until 2027.
7 Nov 2026 · 3 min read
Batteries and charging
CATL starts trial battery cell production at its Hungarian plant in Debrecen
The world's largest EV battery maker has begun trial runs on the first two cell lines at a plant planned for 100 GWh a year, after safety and permit problems delayed the start.
7 Nov 2026 · 3 min read