China Auto Daily丨Leapmotor C16 New 5-Seat EV Available at USD 23,400

Leapmotor C16 Launches 5-Seat Variant from RMB 168,800 (USD 23,400)  

The 2026 Leapmotor C16 debuted on June 18 with new 5-seat and upgraded 6-seat configurations, priced at RMB 151,800–181,800 (USD 21,100–25,300). The BEV version features an 81.9 kWh battery (630 km CLTC range), CTC 2.0 chassis integration, and 800V SiC fast charging platform (30-80% in 18 minutes). The EREV variant offers a 38.7 kWh battery (280 km electric/1,150 km total range) with 19-minute recharging from 30%-80%.  

Maextro S800 Enters Mass Production with 5,000 Orders  

JAC Group’s premium brand Maextro commenced batch production of the S800 SUV at its Hefei super factory on June 18. Chairman Xiang Xingchu confirmed 5,000 firm orders secured within 19 days of its May 30 launch. Development of Maextro’s second and third models is accelerating. The milestone follows JAC and Huawei’s June 17 strategic agreement to co-develop ADAS, smart cabins, and vehicle-cloud systems.  

Huawei’s Xu Zhijun: 5G-V2X Penetration to Hit 95% by 2030  

Huawei Rotating Chairman Xu Zhijun projected at MWC Shanghai that 5G-connected vehicles will comprise 30% of China’s 2025 passenger car sales, rising to 95% between 2026 and 2030. He urged industry players to capitalize on smart connectivity opportunities amid regulatory support for V2X infrastructure upgrades.  

Gotion High-tech Begins Road Testing the GEMSTONE All-solid-state Battery Packs  

Gotion High-tech announced on June 18 that its GEMSTONE all-solid-state battery PACK system has entered on-road validation after completing initial development. The company’s first solid-state 0.2GWh pilot production line is now operational, targeting commercialization by late 2026.  

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