CHINA: Xiaomi SU7 Reviews, EV Exports Surge and Audi A6L Etron | 26 Mar 2026

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Capital One's tech team isn't just talking about multi-agentic AI. They already deployed

one. It's called chat-concierge and it's simplifying car shopping using self-reflection

and layered reasoning with live API checks. It doesn't just help buyers find a car they

love. It helps schedule a test drive, get pre-approved for financing, and estimate

trading value. Advanced, intuitive, and deployed. That's how they stack. That's technology

at Capital One.

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Welcome back to EV News, China. Coming up today, the Xiaomi new SU7 Reviews are in. EVX

Sports surge. And the Audi A6L E-Trom. Plus, they tuned later in the show, I'll tell you

how China just overtook Japan on a global stage. Welcome to EV News, China. The podcast

all about the world's biggest EV market. Every day, I bring you the headlines, insights,

and analysis from the heart of China's booming EV industry. And decode, how fast-moving

developments in the East shape of the global EV landscape. Xiaomi has given the SU7 its

first facelift after two years on sale in China. The electric saloon launched in 2024 as

arrival to the Porsche Ticon. The update brings small styling changes, a quieter cabin,

more power, and faster charging. The exterior changes are modest. Xiaomi's tweaked the front

and rear bumpers, added new wheel and colour options. The SU7 now uses flip up electronic

door handles, which owners can also operate. Manually, they replace the flush hidden handles

previously fitted. Those handles drew regulatory scrutiny after they partly contributed in a fatal

crash. Inside, Xiaomi's redesigned the centre console to match the Xiaomi Y U7. That's the

crossover. It now gets the same screw-in dashboard accessory ports from the Y U7. Xiaomi's also fitted

laminated glass throughout the car, and added soft touch materials to the dashboard and upper door

panels. Reviewers who attended four separate early drive events in Beijing have praised a much

quieter interior. For instance, inside China Auto's Mark Rainford said some rivals in the Chinese

market still remain marginally quieter. But Xiaomi's also made some big changes under the skin.

800-volt architecture standard across all SU7s. The SU7 Max is nearly 900 volts. That brings faster

DC charging. There's longer range. The long range variant is now on the China cycle. Optimistic,

it favors urban driving. 560 miles, 902 kilometers. And it will add 416 miles in 15 minutes.

Early drive suggests Xiaomi's not spent the budget on trim alone. For instance,

everything electrics early at Richards praised a more natural, progressive throttle response.

Feeling more combustion-like, and China-drivens will sundan. Highlighted, sharper turning,

and improved handling. And it's selling really well already.

Let's also stay with Xiaomi for our second story today. They've become BYD's largest external

battery customer. The China passenger car associations, February numbers are in, and they show that

Xiaomi took 17.9% of BYD's batteries. That put Xiaomi ahead of BYD sub-brands,

and the likes of denser and fang-ching bow. Even so, BYD still kept half of its total battery

output for BYD branded vehicles. And the shift matters, because Xiaomi Auto's growth has been

sharp. Its total sales, cumulative sales, have been over 59,000 in January and February combined.

So far this year, that it's up 47.5% compared to the same time. Last year, BYD battery supply was

one of the key factors in that growth. Xiaomi's launch timing helped the updated SUV 7,

which launched on the 19th of March. Lajun said it received more than 30,000 reservations,

and it's delivery ceremony the first one. A wider battery market remains firmly in

not BYD, but CATL's hands. CATL kept the top spot in China's power battery market in February,

with more than 50% of the share. Its installation volume in February was 3.1 times out of BYD.

That was at a 17 share.

Alright, moving on. China exported 750,000 vehicles last month. That was up 79% on February

last year. That took January and February exports to 1.55 million vehicles, up 61% over the same

two months last year. Driven by EVs, China exported 320,000 EVs last month, up 120% year on year.

And of the total exports in January and February combined, it's about 23rd to 1.3rd. So 440,000

bevs, 240,000 plug-in hybrids, and that mix matters. In February, bevs were about a third,

just under a third, of China's total vehicle exports, plug-in hybrids 15%. EVs remained the main

driver of China's global automotive expansion, with combustion models still a large part of the trade.

passenger cars 84% of China's exports overseas last month SUVs were driving the growth plug-in hybrid

pickups, showing some growth as well. Tesla's export volumes from China fell,

sequentially, didn't materially change the broader rise in Chinese EV shipments, though,

which says as much about the breadth of the export push as any of the league tables.

Europe and Asia remained the main destinations, if you're wondering where Chinese EVs end up.

The top five export destinations for NEVs by volume, so this is by volume last month, Brazil,

UK, Belgium, Italy, Thailand. We'll get on to how well China's doing in a moment as it will be

the final story of the podcast today. Let's move on. Audi has started pre-sales of its A6L,

the e-tron in China, adding a mid to large luxury electric saloon in their push in the world's

biggest EV market. It's the joint venture, FAW Audi unveiling four variants of the A6L

e-tron pricing starts at 313 RMB, that's $42,000 USD, and it rises to about $64,000.

The car sits on the Volkswagen Group Platform PPE Premium Platform Electric,

and it comes from Audi FAW's EV plant. That plant is Audi's first purpose-built electric

vehicle facility in China. Audi has paired the hardware with Huawei technology, Huawei's

Chan Kun ADS drive resistance system, it includes urban, point to point, navigate on autopilot,

NOA, and advanced parking. That matters because the A6L e-tron follows the Q6L e-tron,

which launched last August, and uses the same Huawei technology. On paper, the numbers are

really strong. A6L, the sedan saloon, is an 800-volt architecture vehicle. Battery pack,

that is 107 kWh. Now, on the China cycle, Audi claims 815 km, DC fast charging, 270 kWh.

Under optimal conditions, a 10-minute charge adds 302 km, easy for me to say.

Now, GAC Groups Ion, Ion UT has entered production at the facility in Austria.

This is an overseas story now, so that's operated by Magna and Magna's Gratz Facility in Austria.

It becomes the second GAC model to be built in Austria. The first was the Ion V. That is an

all-electric SUV. The move follows the partnership. The GAC and Magna formalized last November.

At the time, the two companies said it would localize vehicle production for Europe.

That plant sits within GAC's wider push to expand manufacturing. Gratz in Austria,

now looks more like a production base for Chinese car makers entering Europe. X-Pun chose the

same plant. Last September, to assemble two new models, production should begin

of those vehicles soon, if not already started. The program marked the first time the site

had taken on full vehicle assembly for a Chinese OEM. Let's talk about cherry, opening pre-sales

for the Fulwyn T9L, a mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV. Prices start from 140,000 RMB. That's 20,000 US

dollars. The range is four trims. The Fulwyn T9L comes in either the 135 Air Pro or 230 Pro and Max

trims. We first saw it in the regulatory filings last December. It then opened blind orders in January.

Now it's a formal pre-sale. Inside, they talk a lot about their smart cabin using chips built on

the three nanometer, which is the latest greatest chips that you'd find in your high-tech gadgets.

With the Fulwyn UI 2.0 cherry claims and all scenario voice assist multi-brand smartphone

integration and microphone-free KTV mode. Top trim versions add 16-way zero-gravity front seats.

That won't be on the $20,000 vehicle, but even the top trim goes out to about $25,000 US

dollars equivalent. You get your 16-way zero-gravity seats, ventilation, heating, massage, memory,

lumber support, leg rest comes out. Second row seats also recline between 25 and 35 degrees.

Second row seats have ventilation and heating. Rear passengers get a 17.3-inch

ceiling-mounted screen. You get ambient lighting. You get a big panoramic sunroof, electric

sunshade and a 23-speaker audio system. Drive resistance depends on the trim. Base models get the

Falcon 200 ADAS system. Mid-range trims get the Falcon 500. Top versions Falcon 700,

which adds roof-mounted lidar and loads of computing power. 560 tops of computing power. 27

sensors in total. That's highway navigation on autopilot, highway NOA, city NOA, and what they call

all-scenario parking. It also adds the smart driving blue lights, which are becoming more popular

on the exterior of vehicles. So you know, for cars indicating and moving towards your lane,

and it's got the blue lights on, it's not the driver driving it. All versions use the 32.7

kilowatt-hour pack. So it's pretty decent for a hybrid. So it's 32.7 kilowatt-hour CLTC pure

electric range depending on the trims is either 135 or 230 kilometers. They advertise the total

range of this obviously with the fuel and we're less interested in that on this podcast. But

this is one of those cars that they advertise with the big number. 2000 kilometers. 2000 kilometers of

range. You simply don't need it, but there is a spec war going on at the moment with Chinese EVs

in terms of giving the really big number. Let's take a break and we'll come back and talk shooting

breaks. That's interesting. And Japan, back in the mode.

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Capital One's tech team isn't just talking about multi-agentic AI. They already deployed one.

It's called chat concierge and it's simplifying car shopping using self-reflection and layered

reasoning with live API checks. It doesn't just help buyers find a car they love. It helps schedule

a test drive, get pre-approved for financing, and estimate trading value. Advanced, intuitive,

and deployed. That's how they stack. That's technology at Capital One.

Tyler Reddick here from 2311 Racing. Another checkered flag for the books. Time to celebrate with

Chamba. Jump in at chambacasino.com. Let's Chamba. No purchase necessary, VGW Group Void we're

prohibited by law. CCNC, 21 plus. Sponsored by Chamba Casino. Capital One's tech team isn't just

talking about multi-agentic AI. They already deployed one. It's called chat concierge

and it's simplifying car shopping using self-reflection and layered reasoning with live API checks.

It doesn't just help buyers find a car they love. It helps schedule a test drive, get pre-approved

for financing, and estimate trading value. Advanced, intuitive, and deployed. That's how they stack.

That's technology at Capital One.

Welcome back to the podcast. Now, here's a really interesting story about shooting breaks.

Long time listeners now I'm a sucker for an estate car or a wagon. Have owned one before.

And for me, I'd rather one of those than the NSUV, but SUVs are the car of choice for so many.

China's shooting brake segment moved really fast in just a seven day period earlier this month.

You had Huawei's new Chan Kun brand, the Isterland brand, launching the GT7 on March 17th

earlier this month. SAIC, then I've held the Z70, pre-sale price of $33,000.

And that's sudden burst, capped years of slow expansion of shooting breaks. The market really

started with the Zika 001 back in October 2021, establishing shooting breaks as desirable

in China's EV market. Deliveries went from 6000 in the first three months to 72,000 by 2022.

The Zika 001 using the SEA platform and going big on handling, styling for the family,

an SUV like space, but in a shooting brake form factor. Then Neo, with its ET5T,

launched in 2023, a proper station wagon. The car carries a sloping roof line, coupé like

stance and hatchback tailgate, becoming Neo's second best seller, helped by a more Nordic style

interior, which was interesting. Neo's battery swap network of course, and the leasing scheme.

SAIC's Z70 is all about a lower price, but not really lower hardware. SAIC announcing

pre-sales on March 23rd, three days ago, the Z70, probably the lowest price model in the Huawei

HIMA or HEMA lineup, including that 896 line LIDAR as standard. Others matching the formula

upmarket, so take denser, which is one of the more premium BYD brands. The denser Z9 GT,

that thinks 5.2 meters long, that's 204 inches, and a wheelbase of 3.1 meters, 122 inches.

Sales have stayed around 300 units a month. The pure electric Z9 GT is done well. BYD will try again

with a new version, which debuts their all new megawatt fast charging technology. And what about

Avatar? Now, wanting a piece of the same fight. The Avatar 060 will be their first shooting break,

and the first model under their renewed partnership with Huawei Chan Kun. The pure electric

four-wheel-drive version, triple motor, 712 kilowatts, 90 kilowatt hour,

Chen Ching, super fast charging battery, delivering more than 460 miles, or 740 kilometers CLTC.

It's fascinating. None of these are massive sellers. None of these are market leaders in their

segments, but at least they're on offer. And I think many people listening around the world would

at least like to have the option of either the saloon, sedan, or the shooting break or a state

version of a car. Very popular in Germany, or Germany's auto barns, tons of them flying around.

And like I say, they're practical, but I like driving them because it's not a big SUV,

my wife would be of a different opinion. She likes to set a little bit higher. Finally,

let's talk about this story that I found to do with Chinese automakers selling more than Japan.

Now, it's a fascinating snack. Chinese automakers, this is not just a pure EV story, but we do get

into EVs in it. Chinese automakers sold 27 million vehicles last year. Worldwide, up 10%. Japanese

automakers, the behemoth that is the Japanese also industry, sold 25 million. So Chinese car

makers, we know ahead of Japan globally, but that's the first time in over 25 years, at least

since the year 2000. Now, obviously you got the big beast in Toyota leading the world with 11.3

million units sold of their vehicles. But wider, it's really interesting looking at the shift. BYD,

moved ahead of Ford. So BYD is now sixth globally, moving ahead of Ford. I've previously reported

that, but GLE moved ahead of Honda to take eighth. And now what's interesting is six Chinese brands

are in the global top 20. Now all the 2025 data is in. Who are those Chinese brands in the top 20? BYD

and GLE I've mentioned, but also Cherry, Changan, SAIC and Great Wall Motor. In the top 20, Japan has

five. China has six. The first time Chinese brands outnumbered Japanese brands ever in the global top

20. Total vehicle sales in China last year. I have reported on this 34.4 million all vehicles.

Whereas the Japanese inside China, Toyota, Honda, Nissan all together, added together with

three million vehicle sales there. Their combined market share used to be 20% of the Chinese market.

Now, Japanese makers have 9% of the China market. The pressure now reaches Japan's home market too,

because the Chinese brands are going into Japan. Suzuki, President Toshihiro Suzuki said the BYD's

little seagull entering Japan will be good for the small EV segment. But it's definitely

a competition that Suzuki needs to step up to. China's industry body expects the gap to widen as

well with the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers forecasting total Chinese sales this year,

of almost 35 million, forecasting EV sales in China, exceeding 19 million. That's up 15%.

Further strengthening China's role in the global EV transition. And that is your podcast for today.

Thanks for listening. See you on the next one.

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Capital One's tech team isn't just talking about multi-agentic AI. They already deployed one.

It's called chat concierge and it's simplifying car shopping using self-reflection and layered

reasoning with live API checks. It doesn't just help buyers find a car they love. It helps

schedule a test drive, get pre-approved for financing, and estimate trading value, advanced,

intuitive and deployed. That's how they stack. That's technology at Capital One.