China developing timetable to end sales, production of gasoline cars

BYD Qin EV300The auto industry has now grudgingly accepted that battery-electric cars will make up some portion of the world's new vehicles in years to come. But a milestone in that trend may have come today, in news from China. Policy makers in the world's most populous country, and largest car market, are developing a timetable to end production and sales of...

BYD: tiny electric cars for China could be 75 percent of sales

BYD Qin EV300Chinese automaker BYD was the world's largest producer of plug-in electric cars last year, and the outlook for new markets in its home country are quite healthy, suggesting strong continued growth. BYD plans to tackle the country's inland cities, viewed as a new frontier for automakers, with a small and very affordable electric car. The industry...

Cadillac XT5 crossover gets mild-hybrid system in China

Cadillac XT5 Hybrid ChinaCadillac revealed its latest addition to the XT5 crossover range in China at the Chengdu auto show—and it has fuel efficiency in mind. General Motors' luxury division introduced the Cadillac XT5 Hybrid, which replaces two trim levels solely powered by gasoline engines. The Cadillac XT5 Hybrid is, in fact, the first mild hybrid ever offered...

China’s electric-car sales now twice those in US for Jan-June 2017

2016 BYD Tang plug-in hybrid SUV, made in ChinaHard numbers provide the latest evidence that shows China is by far the world's largest market for plug-in cars—or new energy vehicles, as they are referred to locally. The latest round of sales figures show the Chinese bought almost exactly twice the number of plug-in vehicles as car buyers in the United States did. Despite the high...

Ford pairs with Chinese maker Gotye for electric-car expansion

Ford Mustang in ChinaFord was the U.S. maker to build hybrid cars, starting in 2004, and it launched its Focus Electric hatchback in December 2011, just a year after the arrival of the Nissan Leaf. It also continues to sell Energi plug-in hybrid versions of its mid-size Fusion sedan and its compact C-Max tall hatchback, two vehicles now in their sixth model years...

Baojun E100: GM’s tiny, two-seat electric car for China

Baojun E100 electric carMost North Americans and Europeans will likely never have heard of Baojun, but it's one of many brands operated under General Motors' SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture in China. Its portfolio is mostly made up of small sedans, multi-purpose vehicles (small minivans), hatchbacks, and a crossover utility vehicle, but the brand recently undertook its...

All-electric Buick small SUV to be based on Bolt EV: report

2018 Buick EncoreThe Chevrolet Bolt EV, initially intended to be adapted from the next-generation Chevy Sonic subcompact, ended up with unique underpinnings designed solely for use as a battery-electric vehicle. Carmakers virtually never limit dedicated architectures to a single vehicle—they're simply too expensive to develop—so it's long been expected...

Chinese maker BYD plans U.S. expansion into other electric industrial vehicles

BYD Qin EV300It's been several years since Chinese electric-car maker BYD retreated from plans to sell cars in the United States, but now it may be ready to get more serious about the market. BYD has found success in building and selling electric buses for public transportation agencies, but it has not yet launched a vehicle for private consumers. The company...

Volkswagen’s 5 electric cars start in 2019: what we know so far

Volkswagen I.D. lineup, Photo: Groenl7As Volkswagen works to look toward the future, following its damaging diesel deceit, electric cars and plug-in vehicles will be front and center in its product publicity. The German automaker has already hinted at its future electric cars with a handful of concepts, but its first high-volume electric cars won't arrive until 2019. What do we know...