China Auto Daily丨Beijing Auto Exports Surge 56% in Q1 2025

Beijing Auto Exports Surge 56% in Q1, Driving Regional Growth

April 19 —The auto industry in Beijing saw its exports jump by 56% year-on-year, amounting to RMB 12.81 billion (USD 1.76 billion*) in Q1 2025, according to Beijing Customs on April 19th. The overall imports and exports of the Beijing area (including central units in Beijing) reached RMB 719.89 billion, with exports hitting RMB 148.09 billion, a 2.2% increase from the same period last year. The export growth of the auto industry was the most significant, contributing to a 3.2 percentage point rise in the regional export growth rate.

Smart Cockpit Adoption Hits 73% in China, Outpacing Global Trends  

April 19 — Industry reports reveal China's new vehicle smart cockpit penetration has reached 73%, significantly higher than the 58% global average. According to the report, the market penetration rate of cars equipped with combined driving assistance functions in China has grown rapidly and has now entered a stage of scaled application. The penetration rate has soared from 23.5% in 2021 to 57.3% in 2024, and it is projected that the market penetration rate of L2-level, partially autonomous driving function cars will exceed 70% this year.

CPCA's Cui Reports Record Auto Exports in 2025  

April 20 — China Passenger Car Association Secretary-General Cui Dongshu noted "exceptional highs" for vehicle and component exports in 2025. Data shows China's import and export scale in 2025 has steadily increased with improved development quality, although the export growth rate has slowed compared to previous years. Among them, auto exports reached an ultra-high level in 2025, and auto parts also hit a record high, both experiencing a strong surge. The export growth of motorcycles was also very strong.

Chery Debuts RELY Pickup Brand with Ambitious Product Roadmap

April 20 — Chery launched its RELY pickup division, promising 16+ variants across ICE, PHEV, EREV and BEV platforms. Brand GM Zhang Jiaming outlined plans for annual new model introductions through 2028 to achieve full market coverage.

NIO's Firefly Brand Launches at RMB 119,800

April 19 —NIO's new brand Firefly launched its first model with two design styles, the Free Edition and the Glow Edition, priced at RMB 119,800 (USD 16,440*) and RMB 125,800 (USD 17,260*) respectively. The new model has already been introduced into more than 300 NIO stores nationwide and will start delivery on April 29th. Developed to the latest Euro-China new car safety evaluation dual five-star standards, the Firefly features a body with a high-strength steel-aluminum hybrid ratio of 83.4%. Additionally, the new model boasts a torsional stiffness of 35,700 Nm/deg, a 2,000 MPa submarine-grade rear longitudinal beam, nine standard airbags across the series, and 13 active safety features. Firefly shares NIO's energy network, with access to over 26,000 NIO charging piles and over 1.23 million third-party charging piles upon delivery, and will later connect to NIO's fifth-generation swap stations.

Refreshed Wuling Bingo Starts at RMB 53,800 with Upgraded Tech  

April 19 — The 2025 Wuling Baojun was officially launched with five configurations, with special offer of RMB 53,800 (USD 7,390*) to RMB 78,800 (USD 10,810*). The car features:

- three range options: 203km, 333km, and 410km

- Fast charging: 35-minute 30-80% recharge

- Tech upgrades: Dual 10.25" screens, LingOS voice assistant, and improved NVH

*Exchange rate: RMB 7.2866 = USD 1