China's auto market showed a notable shift in the first quarter of 2026, with Volkswagen, Geely, and Toyota returning to the top of the sales rankings in the first two months of the year. BYD, long the market leader, slipped to fourth place, drawing widespread attention.

The trade environment for US businesses operating in or trading with China deteriorated sharply between 2025 and 2026, according to a comparative analysis of the latest National Trade Estimate (NTE) Reports, underscoring a widening gap between high-level diplomacy and on-the-ground economic realities.

MG, the European arm of China's SAIC Motor Group, confirmed that its upcoming MG4 Urban will feature semi-solid battery technology to address the range loss issues of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in cold climates. LFP batteries are known to lose significant performance in high-latitude, low-temperature environments, drastically reducing driving range. By adopting semi-solid batteries, MG aims to limit range loss even in extreme conditions from -20°C to -40°C, offering European drivers more consistent EV performance.

Huawei reported 2025 revenue of CNY880.9 billion, up 2.2% year-over-year, its second-highest on record, with net profit rising 8.63% to CNY68 billion (approx. US$9.87 billion). Growth slowed sharply from 22.4% in 2024, leaving revenue just below its 2020 peak of CNY891.4 billion and raising the bar for further expansion, analysts cited by Chinastarmarket.cn said.

A year ago, the Japanese automotive world watched Honda, the financially robust "second brother," attempt to assert dominance over its smaller sibling Nissan. The high-stakes negotiations, marked by a glaring imbalance of power, ended abruptly and bitterly.