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We’ve been covering several prominent Chinese automakers teasing their latest EV models in the preceding weeks, ahead of the Guangzhou Auto Show. The annual event kicked off in China earlier today and immediately delivered several model debuts. Here’s a quick recap.

Auto Guangzhou is an event held each year in the largest city of southern China by the Guangzhou Zhanlian Exhibition Service Co., Ltd, usually taking place in November or December.

As one of the more popular auto shows in China in a city that’s home to several EV automakers, Auto Guangzhou makes for a wonderful stage to introduce new vehicles and adjacent technologies.

We’ve been covering several announcement from Chinese automakers the past month leading up to today’s event, including debuts from BYD, ZEEKR, and XPeng Motors to name a few. However, we also so some launches we weren’t originally aware of, including the Cyberster roadster from MG.

Here’s the lowdown of some of the BEVs that made their official debut or launch in Guangzhou today.

Lots of fresh EVs present at the Guangzhou Auto Show

Starting with the images above, XPeng Motors showcased its new X9 multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in its physical form for the first time at the Guangzhou Auto Show. The automaker’s latest model was originally revealed during its annual 1024 Tech Day in October, but this was the public’s first opportunity to see the minivan up close and get inside.

Starting at a price of RMB 388,000 ($53,800), the X9 is now available for pre-order in China for RMB 2,000 ($277) down. The official launch is expected next month ahead of deliveries in January. No word yet on whether this will be another model XPeng sends over to Europe, but we’d expect it to stay in China only, as that’s where the small but growing MPV market is truly relevant.

The imminent launch of the X9 could put some competitive pressure on PHEV manufacturer Li Auto, which debuted its first ever BEV – the Mega – also an MPV, during today’s Auto Show in Guangzhou. Up until today, we had only seen a camouflaged version of the EV driving near the automaker’s headquarters this past September, but attendees got to see the Mega in person today, along with a bold promise from its makers:

We are confident that the Li Mega will be the first choice for families priced above RMB 500,000 yuan. It will be the number one seller in that price range, regardless of energy form, regardless of body style.

Li Auto didn’t share much else about the Mega, other than that it will arrive priced under RMB 600,000 ($83,200). Pre-orders opened today of which Li Auto says it received over 10,000 in the first two hours, according to CnEVPost. The Mega’s official launch will be in December, followed by deliveries slotted for February 2024. Here are some images from Li Auto. Sort of looks like a huge Prius, no?

Another BEV that made its official public debut at day one of the Guangzhou Auto Show, was the ZEEKR 007 – the Chinese automaker’s first-ever sedan. This has been one we’ve been following closely the past two weeks after ZEEKR began teasing silhouetted images.

We’ve gotten glimpses of the exterior and interior since, but today’s reveal was the first full-blown look at the electric sedan inside and out. Like the EVs mentioned above, ZEEKR kicked off 007 pre-orders following the debut, claiming to receive over 5,000 suitors in the first 30-minutes (take that Li Auto).

The sedan starts at RMB 229,900 ($31,900) and will begin deliveries in China in January. As we previously mentioned, the 007 sedan is ZEEKR’s first EV model designed for mass-market appeal, so we’d expect this one to join its 001 and X siblings in the automaker’s newly entered markets of Europe.

Guangzhou Auto Show
Credit: ZEEKR

Two more debuts that took place during today’s Auto Show in Guangzhou came from BYD and MG Motor. Electrek‘s own Peter Johnson covered the launch of the BYD Sea Lion 07 in detail today, so we recommend checking out his report here to learn more.

Last but not least however, was the Chinese launch of the Cyberster from MG Motor. This is an all-electric roadster we covered years ago when it was announced as a mere concept. Now, the Cyberster hits the Chinese market in three available trims and the capability to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 3.2 seconds.

Guangzhou Auto Show
Credit: MG Motor

The three trims are called Glamour Edition, Style Edition, and Pioneer Edition, and start at prices of RMB 319,800 ($44,340), RMB 339,800 ($47,115), and RMB 359,800 ($49,900) respectively. Not bad!

That’s all for now, although there is plenty more EV news coming out of the Guangzhou Auto Show today and the rest of the weekend.

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China’s nationwide ‘cash for clunkers’ trade-in program causing huge e-bike boom

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China's nationwide 'cash for clunkers' trade-in program causing huge e-bike boom

While much of the Western world is still figuring out how to get more people on electric bikes, China just flipped a switch, and the results are staggering. Thanks to a generous nationwide trade-in program rolled out around six months ago, China has seen an explosive surge in electric bicycle sales, with over 8.47 million new e-bikes hitting the road in the first half of 2025 alone.

The program, which offers subsidies to riders who trade in their old, often outdated electric bikes for newer, safer, and more efficient models, has sparked a new e-bike sale boom in a country already dominated by e-bike travel. In major provinces like Jiangsu, Hebei, and Zhejiang, over one million new e-bikes were sold in each region in just six months. That’s a tidal wave of e-bike sales.

The incentives vary depending on location and the model being traded in, but for many consumers, the subsidies cover a substantial portion of a new e-bike’s price – enough to turn a “maybe next year” purchase into a “right now” upgrade. And these aren’t just budget bikes either. The program has driven demand for higher-quality models with better batteries, safer braking systems, and more reliable electronics, accelerating both adoption and innovation across the industry.

The move has proven successful in replacing the millions of older models with lower-quality lithium-ion batteries that had posed safety risks around the country. Instead, China has pushed for higher-quality lithium-ion batteries, a return to a newer generation of higher-performance AGM batteries, and even interesting new sodium-ion battery options.

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Most e-bikes in China look more like what we’d consider seated scooters

According to China’s Ministry of Commerce, more than 8.4 million consumers have participated in the e-bike trade-in program so far, contributing to a sales increase of 643.5% year-over-year and more than doubling sales month-over-month. Meanwhile, production of new electric bicycles rose by nearly 28%, as manufacturers scrambled to meet demand. The sales boosts have already been seen in the financial reports of major industry players like NIU.

And it’s not just the big players benefiting – over 82,000 small independent e-bike dealers reported average sales increases of ¥302,000 (around US $42,000), giving a serious boost to local economies.

What’s particularly striking here is how fast this happened. The program was officially launched late last year as part of a broader effort to stimulate domestic consumption and phase out outdated vehicles and appliances. But while most analysts expected gradual growth, the e-bike sector responded much more quickly. In less than a year, the trade-in subsidies have reshaped the electric bicycle market, creating a consumer-driven boom that shows no signs of slowing.

For those of us watching from outside China, it’s hard not to wonder what might happen if other countries tried something similar. While most families in Chinese cities already own an electric bike and thus see this as an opportunity to trade it in for a newer model, Western countries like the US are still figuring out how to stimulate commuters into buying their first e-bike.

It’s too soon to know exactly how long the boom will last or whether the momentum will carry into 2026 and beyond. We’ve seen bicycle industry bubbles grow and burst before. But one thing’s clear: with the right incentives, even modest ones, it’s possible to ignite real, large-scale change. China just proved it with nearly 8.5 million new e-bikes to show for it.

And if you’re wondering what it looks like when a country takes electric micromobility seriously, this is it.

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Day 1 of the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix 2025 [Gallery]

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Day 1 of the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix 2025 [Gallery]

Today was the official start of racing at the Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix 2025! There was a tremendous energy (and heat) on the ground at NCM Motorsports Park as nearly a dozen teams took to the track. Currently, as of writing, Stanford is ranked #1 in the SOV (Single-Occupant Vehicle) class with 68 registered laps. However, the fastest lap so far belongs to UC Berkeley, which clocked a 4:45 on the 3.15-mile track. That’s an average speed of just under 40 mph on nothing but solar energy. Not bad!

In the MOV (Multi-Occupant Vehicle) class, Polytechnique Montréal is narrowly ahead of Appalachian State by just 4 laps. At last year’s formula sun race, Polytechnique Montréal took first place overall in this class, and the team hopes to repeat that success. It’s still too early for prediction though, and anything can happen between now and the final day of racing on Saturday.

Congrats to the teams that made it on track today. We look forward to seeing even more out there tomorrow. In the meantime, here are some shots from today via the event’s wonderful photographer Cora Kennedy.

Stay tuned for more!

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Tesla sold 5,000 Cybertrucks Q2, Optimus is in chaos, plus: the Infinity Train!

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Tesla sold 5,000 Cybertrucks Q2, Optimus is in chaos, plus: the Infinity Train!

The numbers are in and they are all bad for Tesla fans – the company sold just 5,000 Cybertruck models in Q4 of 2025, and built some 30% more “other” vehicles than it delivered. It just gets worse and worse, on today’s tension-building episode of Quick Charge!

We’ve also got day 1 coverage of the 2025 Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix, reports that the Tesla Optimus program is in chaos after its chief engineer jumps ship, and a look ahead at the fresh new Hyundai IONIQ 2 set to bow early next year, thanks to some battery specs from the Kia EV2.

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

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Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.


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