China Auto Roundup: GM Says It’s Still Committed to China, Ganfeng Lithium Teams Up With Turkish Battery Producer

The Auto Roundup provides weekly summaries of significant developments in China’s automotive sector, focusing on electric vehicles (EVs), traditional gas-powered cars, battery technology, and autonomous driving innovations. [para. 1]

**GM's Commitment to China Despite Layoffs:**

General Motors (GM) reaffirmed its commitment to its Chinese joint ventures (JVs) with SAIC Motor Corp., despite reports of workforce downsizing, including research and development staff. [para. 2][para. 3][para. 4] Bloomberg reported that discussions between GM and SAIC might include capacity reductions as part of a broader overhaul. GM has a significant workforce presence in China, tallying over 58,000 employees. Without directly addressing the layoffs, GM China stated its intention to continue providing top-tier products and technology to Chinese consumers and emphasized the strengthening of its collaboration with SAIC for profitability and sustainable development. [para. 5][para. 6]

**Ganfeng Lithium's Joint Venture in Turkey:**

A subsidiary of the Ganfeng Lithium Group Co. has entered into a partnership with a Turkish battery producer to establish a lithium battery plant. [para. 7] Jiangxi Ganfeng LiEnergy Technology Co. Ltd. and Istanbul-listed Yigit Aku will co-invest $500 million to build the factory, projected to have an annual production capacity of 5 gigawatt-hours. [para. 8]

**EU's Anti-Subsidy Investigation on Chinese EVs:**

The European Commission is set to announce the findings of its anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese-made EVs by the month's end. [para. 9][para. 10] The investigation, initiated in October, had previously suggested that the BEV value chain in China receives unfair subsidies, posing a risk of economic harm to EU BEV producers. [para. 11]

**Challenges in Connected Car Infrastructure:**

Experts at a recent forum highlighted financial and logistical challenges hindering the development of infrastructure for connected cars in China. [para. 12] This infrastructure involves cloud technology systems that enable autonomous vehicles to interact with surrounding devices and gather real-time road data. [para. 13] Government pilot programs across 20 cities, including major hubs like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, aim to advance this technology. However, rising costs pose significant hurdles for local governments striving to extend these test zones citywide, emphasized Zhang Yongwei of China EV100. [para. 14]

**Nio's Affordable EV Brand "Onvo" Launch:**

Nio Inc. announced the launch of the first vehicles from its newly introduced, more affordable EV brand Onvo. [para. 15] The initial model, a midsize L60 SUV, rolled off the production line in Hefei and will be available next month. [para. 16] The Onvo brand, revealed in May, aims to offer more budget-friendly options compared to Nio’s primary offerings, directly competing with Tesla's Model Y and Toyota's RAV4. [para. 17]

**Frequent Updates Upset Zeekr Customers:**

Zeekr Intelligent Technology Holding Ltd., a subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd., faced customer backlash over its frequent model upgrades. [para. 18] The release of 2025 versions of the 001 and 007 sedans, featuring better specs and significant discounts, has frustrated current owners who feel that constant upgrades devalue their purchases. The new 001 includes an advanced smart driving system developed with Nvidia chips, and the 007 features enhanced ultra-fast charging capabilities. [para. 19][para. 20]