China Auto Daily丨BAIC Group to Begin B30 SUV Assembly in South Africa Early 2026

BAIC Group Plans South African Assembly for B30 SUV in Early 2026  

BAIC Group South Africa Chief Financial Officer Anele Geza confirmed the company will commence local assembly of the newly launched B30 off-road SUV at its Eastern Cape plant as early as January 2026. This initiative marks a significant step in BAIC's strategy to expand localized production in South Africa, strengthening its industrial footprint in the region.

IM LS9 Launches with Starting Price of RMB 322,800  

On November 12, SAIC's flagship six-seater IM LS9 entered the market featuring the Lizard Digital Chassis 3.0 and Stellar Super Range Extender system. Standard equipment includes 800V architecture and dual-motor vector four-wheel drive delivering 390 kW maximum power and 670 N·m torque. The model achieves 402 km pure electric range (CLTC) and 1,508 km comprehensive range with combined energy consumption equivalent to 2.81L/100km. Intelligent features comprise 520-line ultra-view LiDAR and NVIDIA Thor chip, paired with the co-developed IM AD Max assisted driving system capable of recognizing traffic gestures with Momenta.

ORA 5 All-Electric SUV Opens Pre-sales from RMB 109,800  

GWM's ORA brand initiated pre-sales for the all-new A-segment ORA 5 electric SUV on November 12, with pre-sale prices ranging from RMB 109,800 to RMB 142,800 (approximately USD 15,500-20,100). The model incorporates GWM's fully self-developed Coffee Pilot Ultra ADAS utilizing 27 perception components including LiDAR. This enables full-scenario NOA without relying on high-definition maps while supporting over 200 parking scenarios including cross-floor memory parking. The technological package positions the ORA 5 competitively in the compact electric SUV segment.

Rho Motion: Global EV Sales Grow 23% YoY in October  

Market research firm Rho Motion reported on November 12 that global electric vehicle sales reached 1.9 million units in October, representing 23% year-on-year growth driven by strong demand across major markets. Data Manager Charles Lester noted that the price gap between EVs and internal combustion vehicles remains significantly narrower in China compared to European or North American markets, contributing to accelerated adoption rates.

*(Exchange rate: RMB 7.1 = USD 1)*