Chinese carmakers race Tesla on humanoid robots; BYD launches ‘God’s Eye’: 7 EV reads

We have put together stories from our coverage on electric and new energy vehicles from the past two weeks to help you stay informed. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. China’s EV giants challenge Tesla in race to commercialise humanoid robotsChinese electric vehicle (EV) makers are opening a new front in their battle with Tesla: humanoid robots. After spending years competing on electric cars and autonomous driving technology, leading Chinese manufacturers including BYD and Xpeng are now accelerating plans to mass-produce humanoid robots, betting that advances in artificial intelligence will unlock a vast new market beyond transportation.2. China’s BYD aims for zero accidents with ‘God’s Eye’, vows crash cost coverageBYD, the world’s largest EV maker, has set its sights on achieving zero traffic accidents through self-developed autonomous driving technology, aiming to assemble next-generation cars affordable for mass consumers.3. Tesla’s China sales surge to 2026 high, but rivals crowd the rear-view mirrorA Tesla vehicle on display at a Beijing showroom. Deliveries from the carmaker’s Shanghai plant hit a 2026 high in May. Photo: AFPTesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory recorded its strongest monthly deliveries of the year in May as a broader recovery in China’s electric vehicle market gathered pace, although the US carmaker is likely to face intensifying competition from domestic rivals launching a wave of new models.4. Premium plan: China’s EV makers pin hopes on higher-margin modelsPeople inspect and pose with Nio’s ES9 ahead of the car’s launch event in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: ReutersChinese EV makers are speeding up their pivot to the premium segment, where they hope to secure higher profit margins and dodge the cutthroat market’s most vicious price competition.5. AI could redefine China’s EV market: Morgan StanleyThe focus of competition for Chinese EVs is shifting from prices to artificial intelligence capability, as carmakers try to manage weakening demand amid tightened regulations, according to Morgan Stanley.6. CATL set to boost global energy storage with world’s largest testing facilityContemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) hopes to use its energy-storage business to build on its global dominance in EV batteries, as the global oil crisis creates a surge in demand for its technologies and products.7. China’s BYD, Chery chart 80% growth overseas as EV demand spikesA shopper passes a display of Chinese-made cars, including models from Chery and Omoda, in a shopping centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 23. Photo: ReutersLeading Chinese carmakers like BYD and Chery Automobile are reaping rewards from their efforts to boost sales abroad, as they chase higher profitability amid rising demand for EVs.Further Reading