The balance of power among China’s leading EV makers may be shifting.

This week on China EVs & More, Tu Le and Lei Xing break down a remarkable set of earnings results that reveal very different trajectories for China’s EV leaders.

NIO appears to be emerging from one of the most challenging periods in its history, delivering consecutive profitable quarters while building momentum behind the ES9, ONVO, and Firefly brands.

Meanwhile, Li Auto finds itself in an unfamiliar position. Margins are under pressure, earnings disappointed, and the company is increasingly relying on the success of its new BEV lineup to reignite growth.

And then there’s BYD.

While competitors focus on selling cars, BYD continues expanding deeper into batteries, semiconductors, AI, and autonomous driving technology. The company recently unveiled its own advanced automotive chips, reinforcing its position as one of the most vertically integrated technology companies in the automotive industry.

Tu and Lei also discuss:

⚡ NIO’s surprising turnaround and profitability outlook
⚡ Li Auto’s reset and what comes next for the L-Series and i-Series
⚡ BYD’s chip ambitions and technology strategy
⚡ XPeng’s robotaxi and robotics plans
⚡ Stellantis’ €60 billion strategy and deepening China partnerships
⚡ Volvo’s U.S. approval and what it means for Chinese technology in North America
⚡ Tesla FSD vs China’s rapidly evolving intelligent driving systems
⚡ Why the next automotive battle is about AI, software, autonomy, and scale

The EV race isn’t slowing down. But the leaderboard may be changing faster than most people realize.

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⏱️ YouTube Chapter Timestamps

00:00 The Auto Industry Has Flipped
02:00 Trump-Xi Summit & Global Auto Implications
05:00 NIO Earnings: Is the Turnaround Real?
09:00 Li Auto’s Challenges & Margin Pressure
13:00 XPeng’s Robotaxi & Robotics Ambitions
17:00 Why BYD Is Becoming a Chip Company
21:00 CATL, Chips & China’s Tech Arms Race
25:00 Stellantis’ €60 Billion China Strategy
30:00 Why Europe Needs Chinese Technology
34:00 Tesla FSD vs China’s Intelligent Driving Systems
38:00 Waymo’s Momentum & Autonomous Driving Reality
41:00 Volvo Approval & Future Chinese Market Access
44:00 What Happens Next for Global Automakers?
47:00 Final Thoughts

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Back from China, Tu Le and Lei Xing unpack one of the most consequential shifts happening in the global automotive industry: the technology relationship between China and Western automakers has completely flipped.

What began decades ago as Western companies bringing technology into China has become something very different. Today, automakers including Volkswagen, Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Nissan and others are increasingly relying on Chinese batteries, software, ADAS systems, LiDAR suppliers, and EV platforms to remain competitive.

In this episode, Tu and Lei discuss:

• Why Ford, GM, Volkswagen and Stellantis increasingly need Chinese technology
• The growing influence of XPeng, BYD, CATL, Huawei, Momenta, Hesai and Horizon Robotics
• Waymo’s rapid expansion and why autonomous driving is becoming impossible to ignore
• The reality of FSD versus China’s rapidly improving intelligent driving systems
• The implications of the Trump-Xi summit for the automotive sector
• Canada’s evolving strategy toward Chinese EV imports
• What the Beijing Auto Show revealed about the future of the industry
• Why the next battle is no longer about EVs — it’s about software, AI and autonomy

The conversation also explores whether legacy automakers risk becoming hardware manufacturers while Chinese companies increasingly control the technology stack powering the future of mobility.

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⏱️ YouTube Chapter Timestamps

00:00 The New World Order in Auto
02:00 Trump-Xi Summit and Industry Implications
05:00 Why China Now Exports Technology
09:00 Ford, GM, Volkswagen and China’s Growing Influence
13:00 XPeng, Huawei, Momenta and China’s ADAS Race
17:00 Tesla FSD vs China’s Intelligent Driving Systems
22:00 Why Lei Thinks WeRide Is Closest to FSD
27:00 Waymo’s Expansion and Robotaxi Reality
31:00 What Tu Saw in San Francisco
35:00 Canada’s Chinese EV Strategy
38:00 Why Europe Is Embracing Chinese Technology
41:00 Beijing Auto Show Reflections
44:00 What Comes Next for Global Automakers
47:00 Final Thoughts

In this special on-the-road episode of China EVs & More, Tu Le and Lei Xing drive a Li Auto i6 from Beijing to Shanghai using Li Auto’s latest hands-free VLA intelligent driving system — experiencing firsthand how quickly China’s EV ecosystem is evolving.

The trip comes immediately after the massive Beijing Auto Show, where over 1,400 vehicles, 180+ debuts, and dozens of new brands highlighted how intense and competitive China’s EV market has become.

Tu and Lei break down:

• Li Auto’s new VLA Driver Model and real-world NOA performance
• XPeng’s latest VLA 2.0 rollout and robotaxi ambitions
• BYD and CATL’s escalating battery and charging war
• Why large Chinese SUVs are now targeting North America’s most profitable segments
• The rise of Huawei-backed brands and the growing influence of Chinese tech suppliers
• How global automakers are increasingly relying on Chinese software, batteries, and ADAS systems to stay competitive

The episode also captures the realities of driving EVs in China today — ultra-fast charging, crowded charging stations, nonstop product launches, and a level of EV infrastructure that still feels years ahead of most global markets.

From autonomous driving and battery breakthroughs to the growing divide between China and the West, this episode offers a rare, firsthand look into the future of mobility — from inside the driver’s seat.

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00:00 🔥 Hook: 800KM hands-free road trip
00:30 Intro from inside the Li Auto i6
02:00 Beijing → Shanghai EV road trip explained
04:00 Li Auto VLA Driver Model hands-free demo
07:00 Charging experience in China today
10:00 Beijing Auto Show biggest takeaways
14:00 XPeng VLA 2.0 and robotaxi future
18:00 BYD vs CATL battery war
22:00 Huawei’s massive presence at the show
26:00 Why Chinese SUVs are targeting North America
30:00 Tesla vs China EV ecosystem discussion
34:00 EV infrastructure comparison: China vs West
38:00 The future of autonomous driving
42:00 Final thoughts from the road trip