Amid fast-paced changes that fill the business community with excitement, angst and trepidation, EqualOcean will publish a series of roundup articles to document the major events related to Chinese companies going global every week.
Weekly Overview (21/06-027/06)
1.XPENG’s (小鹏) Malacca Plant Officially Begins Production, First G6 Rolls Off the Line, Marking Its Third Localized Manufacturing Base Worldwide
2.Leapmotor International (零跑汽车) Opens Battery Assembly Facility in Spain with Planned Annual Capacity of 65,000 Packs; CATL (宁德时代) to Produce Battery Cells at the Same Site
3.CATL (宁德时代) Partners with Octopus Energy to Build a Heavy-Duty Truck Battery Swapping Network Across Europe
4.Shopee Integrates ChatGPT Across Southeast Asia and Brazil
5.Cainiao (菜鸟) Expands Further in the Netherlands: 26,000-Square-Meter Fulfillment Center Opens as Global Overseas Warehouse Network Surpasses 50 Facilities
6.European Union Plans Anti-Subsidy Tariffs on Chinese Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
7.SANY (三一集团) Exports More Than 880 New Energy Heavy Trucks in a Single Shipment, Setting a New Industry Record for China
8.“Africa’s Mobile Phone King” Transsion Holdings (传音控股) Makes Second Bid for Hong Kong Listing, Betting on AI and IoT for Its Next Growth Engine
9.China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (中国信通院, CAICT) Launches the “Computing Power Token Global Ecosystem Initiative”
10.Cao Cao Mobility (曹操出行) Partners with May Mobility to Expand Robotaxi Services into Europe, Marking the First Overseas Autonomous Driving Initiative by a Chinese Ride-Hailing Platform
11.State Grid Corporation of China (国家电网) Breaks Ground on Brazil Northeast UHV Transmission Project, China’s Third Overseas Ultra-High-Voltage Power Project
12.Orbbec (奥比中光) Reaches Cooperation Intent with Germany’s Freudenberg Group to Bring 3D Vision Technology to the Global Smart Manufacturing Sector
13.Gemini App Launches “Get in the Game” Interactive FIFA World Cup Feature
Selected Developments
1.XPENG’s Malacca Plant Officially Begins Production, First G6 Rolls Off the Line, Marking Its Third Localized Manufacturing Base Worldwide
[Event] Recently, XPENG (小鹏汽车) announced that the EPMB plant in Malacca, Malaysia, has officially begun production, with the first XPENG G6 units rolling off the assembly line and production ramp-up starting simultaneously. This is XPENG’s third overseas localized manufacturing base after Graz, Austria, and West Java, Indonesia, marking a new stage in its Southeast Asia strategy.
Malaysia is an important foothold for XPENG in Southeast Asia. On one hand, the region’s new energy vehicle market is still growing rapidly, and local assembly can help reduce tariffs and logistics costs while improving delivery efficiency. On the other hand, the Malacca plant will also help XPENG better integrate into local supply chains, sales channels and after-sales systems. Compared with its earlier export-led model, Chinese EV startups are accelerating their shift from “selling cars overseas” to “building production capacity and operating systems overseas.”
From contract manufacturing in Europe to localized production in Indonesia and Malaysia, XPENG is building a more diversified global footprint. For Chinese NEV companies, overseas factories are no longer just capacity additions. They are also key tools for responding to trade barriers, getting closer to regional markets and strengthening brand credibility.
2.Leapmotor International Opens Battery Assembly Facility in Spain with Planned Annual Capacity of 65,000 Packs; CATL to Produce Battery Cells at the Same Site
[Event] Recently, Leapmotor International, the joint venture between Stellantis and Leapmotor (零跑汽车), opened a new battery assembly facility in Malón, Spain. The facility is designed to produce 65,000 battery packs annually, with potential expansion to 100,000 packs. At the same site, CATL (宁德时代) will also produce battery cells, while Stellantis plans to begin assembling the Leapmotor B10 locally from late 2026.
The significance of this project lies not only in Leapmotor’s entry into Europe’s manufacturing system, but also in the broader integration of China’s NEV supply chain into Europe through a “vehicle + battery” model. In the past, Chinese automakers mainly entered Europe through vehicle exports. As EU trade policies become more stringent, local assembly, battery localization and supply chain coordination are becoming increasingly important for Chinese carmakers seeking long-term growth in Europe.
The collaboration among Leapmotor, Stellantis and CATL also reflects an upgrade in the overseas expansion model of Chinese NEV companies. It is no longer just about one brand entering a foreign market, but about extending an entire industrial capability overseas. In the future, companies that can build manufacturing, supply chain, distribution and compliance capabilities abroad will be better positioned to compete in Europe’s NEV market.
3. CATL Partners with Octopus Energy to Build a Heavy-Duty Truck Battery Swapping Network Across Europe
[Event] Recently, CATL (宁德时代) and UK energy technology company Octopus Energy announced the establishment of a joint venture to bring CATL’s Qiji battery swapping technology to the European market. According to the plan, the two sides aim to build the first demonstration battery swapping stations by 2027 and expand the network to more than 30 stations by 2035, mainly serving electric heavy-duty trucks in Europe.
Electrification of heavy-duty trucks has long faced challenges such as long charging times, high operational efficiency requirements and insufficient infrastructure. Battery swapping can shorten refueling time to some extent and is more suitable for high-frequency transport and long-haul logistics scenarios. This cooperation means CATL is moving beyond the role of a battery supplier and becoming a participant in energy infrastructure, exporting not only battery products but also swapping technology, standards and operating systems.
For China’s NEV supply chain, this project has strong demonstration value. Europe has clear demand for energy transition and commercial vehicle decarbonization, but infrastructure construction still requires long-term investment. By entering Europe’s heavy-duty truck energy replenishment network through a joint venture, CATL can strengthen the participation of Chinese companies in global new energy infrastructure and create new opportunities for Chinese technical standards to go global.
4. Shopee Integrates ChatGPT Across Southeast Asia and Brazil
[Event] Recently, Sea, the parent company of Shopee, reached a strategic partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT capabilities across eight markets, including Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Brazil. Users will be able to receive product recommendations through natural language conversations, while sellers can use AI tools to generate product descriptions, marketing content and operational materials.
Shopee is a major e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Brazil. Its full integration of ChatGPT means AI is moving from an auxiliary tool to a core platform infrastructure. For consumers, search and recommendation may shift from keyword-based browsing to conversational interaction. For sellers, product listing, content generation, advertising and customer service will all be further reshaped by AI.
This has direct implications for Chinese cross-border sellers. In the past, their competitive advantages in Southeast Asia mainly came from supply chains, pricing and product selection. As platforms become increasingly AI-driven, operational efficiency, content localization and data response capabilities will become more important. In the future, the ability to use AI tools well may become a new dividing line for cross-border e-commerce sellers in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
5. Cainiao Expands Further in the Netherlands: 26,000-Square-Meter Fulfillment Center Opens as Global Overseas Warehouse Network Surpasses 50 Facilities
[Event] Recently, Cainiao’s (菜鸟) new fulfillment center in the Netherlands officially began operations. Covering about 26,000 square meters, the center will serve local and cross-border e-commerce order fulfillment in Europe, further improving warehousing, sorting and delivery efficiency for Chinese merchants in the European market. With this project, Cainiao’s global overseas warehouse network has surpassed 50 facilities.
Overseas warehouses have become key infrastructure for Chinese cross-border e-commerce and brand globalization. Compared with direct cross-border shipping, overseas warehouses can shorten delivery times, reduce return and exchange costs, and improve the consumer experience. For Chinese companies moving from “selling products” to “building brands,” logistics fulfillment capability directly affects repeat purchases and brand trust in overseas markets.
Cainiao’s continued expansion in Europe also shows that Chinese cross-border logistics companies are evolving from single-service transportation providers into global supply chain service providers. As e-commerce competition in Europe intensifies, companies that can provide stable local fulfillment will be better able to help Chinese merchants adapt to overseas consumer habits and platform rules.
6. European Union Plans Anti-Subsidy Tariffs on Chinese Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles
[Event] Recently, according to Germany’s Handelsblatt and other media reports, the European Commission has completed preliminary preparations and plans to impose additional anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese-made plug-in hybrid vehicles in the coming weeks. The move may involve manufacturers including BYD (比亚迪), Chery (奇瑞) and SAIC Motor (上汽集团). Previously, the EU had already taken anti-subsidy measures against Chinese battery electric vehicles. This time, the scope of regulation is being extended further to plug-in hybrid models.
Plug-in hybrid vehicles have become an important product category for Chinese automakers entering overseas markets. On one hand, PHEVs are relatively adaptable in terms of range, refueling convenience and pricing. On the other hand, in some overseas markets, they are seen as an important transition option for consumers moving from fuel vehicles to fully electric vehicles. If the EU imposes further tariffs, Chinese automakers will face greater pressure on their product portfolios and pricing strategies in Europe.
This development shows that China’s auto globalization is entering a more complex trade environment. Europe is no longer focused only on competition in pure electric vehicles. Plug-in hybrids, supply chains, local manufacturing and subsidy policies may all become new regulatory focal points. For Chinese automakers, future strategies in Europe will rely more on local manufacturing, joint ventures and supply chain compliance, rather than product cost-performance alone.