China Recap | Mobility players on the move

China Recap is a weekly roundup tracking Chinese companies expanding abroad, covering market entries, funding rounds, product launches, and global partnerships.

China’s corporate globalization strategy is evolving fast. Industry giants are rewriting the global playbook, while a new generation of companies charts fresh paths overseas.

China Recap tracks both—focusing on strategic expansion, brand building, and localized operations—to help readers make sense of shifting trends and understand how Chinese firms are reshaping their global approach.

Here’s what made headlines last week:

China’s mobility players double down on innovation and scale

• Xpeng Motors has launched an all-new P7 sedan in Beijing, offering up to 820 kilometers of range based on CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle) standards and powered by in-house chips supporting voice, cockpit, and driving functions. Featuring 800-volt fast charging, streamlined aerodynamics, and a tech-focused luxury interior, the electric vehicle model reportedly secured over 10,000 preorders within seven minutes of launch. —Jiemian News
• Xiaomi has hired Kai Langer, former head of design for BMW’s i series, as it expands its EV ambitions. Langer will join a setup including Li Tianyuan, formerly the lead designer of BMW’s iX SUV, to help shape Xiaomi’s car lineup. The duo represents a fusion of legacy automotive expertise with the company’s tech-driven approach to EVs. —Sina
• Geely is reportedly in talks to merge autonomous driving teams from Zeekr, its R&D arm, and Megvii’s Mach unit into a joint venture established in June. The move aligns with Geely’s strategy to centralize smart driving R&D and deploy a unified system across its brands. —National Business Daily
• WeRide has begun round-the-clock robotaxi testing in Beijing by commencing nighttime operations from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. under a new city permit. The Nasdaq-listed firm aims to build an always-on autonomous mobility network, using a full sensor suite and proprietary tech to ensure safety in low light and adverse weather.
• Baidu and Lyft will launch Apollo Go robotaxi services in Germany and the UK in 2026, pending regulatory approval. The partnership combines Baidu’s autonomous driving tech with Lyft’s European footprint via Freenow, aiming to scale autonomous ride-hailing across key markets while meeting safety and compliance standards.
• Pony.ai has reportedly secured a permit to operate fully driverless commercial robotaxi services in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area. Set to launch in Jinqiao and Huamu, Pony.ai is ostensibly the only company currently licensed to serve all four of China’s first-tier cities.
• Leapmotor and Xpeng set new records in July, delivering 50,129 and 36,717 EV units respectively, as China’s price war showed signs of easing and demand shifted toward budget-friendly smart models. Xiaomi also exceeded 30,000 units, with its new YU7 SUV drawing 240,000 preorders in two days. —SCMP
• Nio delivered 21,017 vehicles in July 2025, bringing its year-to-date total to 806,731, up 25.2% year-on-year. Deliveries included 12,675 Nio units, 5,976 Onvo units, and 2,366 Firefly units. The Onvo L90 entered the market on August 1 with 1,000 test drive vehicles. Nio’s new ES8 is set to debut later this month.

PingPong to support Wero rollout in Asia

PingPong will support Wero, Europe’s new unified payment app, starting October. Backed by 16 banks, Wero enables real-time cross-border payments using a phone number or email and targets 250 million users. PingPong clients will gain access to EU retail, point-of-sale, and subscription payments through a single system. —Sina

Tianlala opens three stores in Bali

Chinese tea chain Tianlala opened three new stores in Bali on August 3, expanding to 130 signed stores in Indonesia and over 200 globally. Located in key commercial areas, the stores reportedly drew more than 1,000 visitors on day one. The brand aims to deepen its Southeast Asia presence while exploring expansion into Europe and the Middle East.

Chinese suppliers join Toyota’s Thai push

Toyota is sourcing more Chinese-made parts in Thailand to reduce costs for a new electrified car model set to launch in 2028. The company facilitated a joint venture between Thailand’s Summit Group and China’s Yuefei New Materials to produce components locally, marking the first known case of a major Japanese automaker bringing a Chinese supplier into Southeast Asia. —Nikkei Asia

That wraps up this edition of China Recap. If your company is expanding internationally, we’d love to hear about your latest milestones. Get in touch to share your story.

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