Sales Performance - In September, the total passenger car sales reached 2.25 million units, a year-on-year increase of 4.0% and a month-on-month increase of 13.4% [5] - The new energy vehicle (NEV) market sales were approximately 1.287 million units, with a year-on-year increase of 16.4% and a month-on-month increase of 17.4% [5] - NEVs accounted for 57.2% of total passenger car sales in September, an increase of 2.0% from the previous month and up 6.1% from the same period last year [5] Market Dynamics - In September, pure electric vehicle sales were about 838,000 units, showing a year-on-year increase of 32.3% and a month-on-month increase of 19.1% [6] - Plug-in hybrid sales were approximately 449,000 units, reflecting a year-on-year decrease of 4.9% but a month-on-month increase of 14.3% [6] - By 2025, cumulative sales of NEVs are projected to reach 8.634 million units, with a cumulative year-on-year increase of 22.8% [8] Top Cities for NEV Sales - The top 10 cities for NEV sales in September accounted for 25.4% of total sales, a decrease of 0.6% from the previous month [11] - The top three cities were Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Beijing, with Ningbo replacing Tianjin in the top ten [11] - NEV penetration rates in the top 10 cities exceeded 50%, with Shenzhen leading at 67.7% [11] Pure Electric Market Analysis - In September, the personal user share in the pure electric market was 87.3%, a year-on-year increase of 36.3% [18] - Cumulative data shows that personal users account for 85.9% of the pure electric market [18] - The top three segments in the pure electric market were B-SUV (16.5%), A0 class (16.2%), and A00 class (14.2%) [12] Industry Events - On September 7, CATL launched the NP3.0 battery safety technology platform in Munich, Germany, aimed at enhancing safety standards in the electric vehicle market [20] - Chery Automobile officially listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on September 25, raising 9.14 billion HKD, marking the largest IPO for a car company in the Hong Kong market this year [22] - On the same day, Mercedes-Benz announced a strategic investment of approximately 1.34 billion CNY in a local intelligent driving company to enhance its technology collaboration in China [24] Industry Policies - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is seeking public input on mandatory national standards for intelligent connected vehicles and safety requirements for vehicle door handles, aiming to improve road safety [27]

Group 1: Industry Dynamics - In the last week of September, the domestic automotive market saw significant developments including policy releases, market sales, quality supervision, and corporate actions [1] - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reported that the penetration rate of passenger cars equipped with combined driving assistance systems exceeded 60% [1][3] - From January to July, the sales of new passenger cars with combined driving assistance systems reached 7.76 million units, marking a penetration rate of 62.6%, an increase of 5.7 million units and 40 percentage points compared to the same period in 2021 [3] Group 2: Policy and Standards - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is soliciting public opinions on the mandatory national standard for "Automotive Door Handle Safety Technical Requirements" and three amendments to existing standards, with a deadline for feedback set for November 22, 2025 [4] - The Ministry of Commerce and eight other departments issued guidelines to promote the development of digital consumption, including trials for the access and road use of intelligent connected vehicles [3] Group 3: Market Performance - The China Passenger Car Association reported that retail sales of passenger cars from September 1 to 21 reached 1.191 million units, a year-on-year increase of 1% and an 8% increase compared to the previous month [6] - During the same period, retail sales of new energy vehicles reached 697,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 10% and an 11% increase compared to the previous month, with a cumulative retail of 8.267 million units for the year, up 24% year-on-year [6] Group 4: Quality Supervision - The State Administration for Market Regulation announced its first special inspection of the quality of new energy vehicle products to prevent low-price and low-quality risks in the industry [6] Group 5: Corporate Actions - Seres announced that it received approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission for the issuance of H-shares, planning to issue up to 331,477,235 shares for listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange [8][9] - Mercedes-Benz and Momenta announced a collaboration to develop a new generation of intelligent driving assistance systems, which will debut in the new electric CLA model this autumn [11]

Core Viewpoint - The investment by Mercedes-Benz Digital Technology in Qianli Technology marks a strategic move to enhance its software capabilities in China, particularly in the field of intelligent driving [1][3]. Group 1: Investment Details - Qianli Technology announced that its shareholder, Lifan Holdings, will transfer 135.6 million shares (3.00% of total shares) to Mercedes-Benz Digital Technology at a price of RMB 9.87 per share, totaling approximately RMB 1.34 billion [1]. - This transaction is characterized as both a "debt restructuring and strategic investment," as Lifan Holdings is using the proceeds to repay debts due to a failure to complete a stock pledge repurchase agreement [1]. Group 2: Company Background - Qianli Technology, formerly known as Lifan Technology, underwent a name change in February 2025 after emerging from bankruptcy restructuring in 2020 [2]. - The company is now a key platform for intelligent driving within the Geely Group, which has made significant adjustments to its smart driving teams, consolidating various divisions into Qianli Technology [3]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - The partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Qianli Technology is expected to enhance Mercedes-Benz's intelligent capabilities in the Chinese market, where it has been actively investing in smart technologies [3][4]. - Other major automotive companies, such as BMW and Audi, are also collaborating with local Chinese tech firms to accelerate their smart electric vehicle offerings, indicating a competitive landscape in the intelligent driving sector [4].

Core Insights - Momenta is set to launch a jointly developed intelligent driving assistance system with Mercedes-Benz, which will first be featured in the new domestic all-electric CLA model this autumn [1] - The system is trained using local Chinese data and incorporates a wealth of experienced driver inputs to better meet the needs of Chinese customers [1] - The system will provide intelligent driving assistance capabilities across various scenarios, including highways, urban areas, and parking, enabling from parking space to parking space functionality [1] - There are plans to expand this system to more Mercedes-Benz models in the future, supporting the brand's strategy for intelligent driving assistance [1]

Core Viewpoint - Mercedes-Benz and Momenta have officially announced a collaboration to develop an intelligent driving assistance system based on Momenta's large model, which will debut in the new domestic all-electric CLA model this fall [1] Group 1: Product Development - The intelligent driving assistance system will feature advanced capabilities for smart driving assistance [1] - The system will enable intelligent driving functions from parking space to parking space in highway, urban, and parking scenarios [1] - Future expansions of this system are planned for more Mercedes-Benz models [1]

Core Viewpoint - Mercedes-Benz and Momenta have officially announced the upcoming release of their jointly developed intelligent driving assistance system, which will first be featured in the new domestic all-electric CLA model launching this autumn [1][3]. Group 1: Collaboration and Development - The collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and Momenta has been ongoing for several years, focusing on the development of a new intelligent driving assistance system tailored to Chinese traffic conditions and driving scenarios [3]. - The system integrates Mercedes-Benz's engineering expertise with Momenta's AI technology, aiming to provide a safer and more intelligent travel experience for Chinese customers [3][4]. Group 2: System Features and Testing - The intelligent driving assistance system will offer smart driving capabilities from parking space to parking space in various scenarios, including highways, urban areas, and parking lots [1][4]. - The development process utilized local Chinese data and included extensive real-world testing across multiple cities, ensuring the system's reliability and performance under various conditions [3][4]. - The system emphasizes safety features, such as not forcing through yellow lights and yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks, while enhancing the overall driving experience through optimized vehicle dynamics and collaboration with the driving assistance system [4].

Core Viewpoint - On September 25, 2023, Chongqing Qianli Technology Co., Ltd. announced that its shareholder Lifan Holdings transferred 135.6 million shares (3.00% of total equity) to Mercedes-Benz (Shanghai) Digital Technology Co., Ltd. at a price of RMB 9.87 per share, totaling approximately RMB 1.34 billion, marking Mercedes' strategic investment in the smart technology sector [2][5]. Group 1: Investment Details - Lifan Holdings transferred shares to Mercedes-Benz Digital Technology to repay debts due to a failure to complete a stock pledge repurchase agreement [2]. - Mercedes-Benz Digital Technology will become the fifth largest shareholder of Qianli Technology and has committed not to reduce its holdings within 12 months post-transfer [2]. Group 2: Company Background - Qianli Technology, formerly known as Lifan Technology, underwent a name change in February 2025 after emerging from bankruptcy restructuring in 2020 [3]. - Geely became the majority shareholder of Qianli Technology in 2022 and has since made significant adjustments to its smart driving team, integrating various divisions and personnel [3][4]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - Qianli Technology is positioned as a key platform for smart driving within Geely's ecosystem, with its solutions being applicable to Geely's vehicles and available for external supply [4]. - The partnership with Mercedes-Benz is expected to enhance Mercedes' smart technology capabilities in the Chinese market, aligning with its ongoing investments in local smart technology firms [5][6]. Group 4: Industry Context - Other major automotive companies like BMW, Audi, and Volkswagen are also accelerating partnerships with local smart technology suppliers to enhance their competitive edge in the electric and smart vehicle market [6].

Core Viewpoint - Mercedes-Benz and Momenta are set to launch a jointly developed intelligent driving assistance system, initially featured in the new all-electric CLA model, with plans for expansion to more Mercedes-Benz vehicles in the future [1][3]. Group 1: Strategic Collaboration - Mercedes-Benz became the first international car manufacturer to invest in Momenta in 2017, marking a forward-looking approach in the intelligent driving assistance sector [3]. - The collaboration has involved close teamwork and significant investment in the development of the new intelligent driving assistance system [3]. Group 2: System Features and Development - The intelligent driving assistance system is designed to provide smart driving support in various scenarios, including highways, urban areas, and parking, enhancing convenience and comfort for users [3]. - The system is tailored to Chinese traffic conditions and driving scenarios, developed by a Sino-German team to meet Mercedes-Benz's standards while incorporating Momenta's advanced AI technology [3]. - Extensive testing has been conducted, including real-world road tests and simulation tests, ensuring the system's reliability in extreme weather and complex road conditions [3]. Group 3: Market Position and Future Outlook - The new all-electric CLA model aims to deliver a driving experience that is both safe and intelligent, with features that prioritize safety, such as not running yellow lights and yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks [5]. - The collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and Momenta is expected to significantly shorten the development to production cycle, showcasing the integration of "Mercedes standards" with "Chinese capabilities" [5].

Core Viewpoint - Mercedes-Benz and Momenta have announced a collaboration to develop an intelligent driving assistance system, which will debut in the new domestic all-electric CLA model launching this fall [1] Group 1 - The intelligent driving assistance system will feature capabilities for smart driving assistance from parking space to parking space [1] - The system is based on Momenta's Flywheel large model, indicating advanced technological integration [1] - Future expansion of this system to more Mercedes-Benz models is planned, showcasing the company's commitment to enhancing its vehicle technology lineup [1]