Geely introduces first human-like AI agent in car with StepFun at WAIC 2025

At GIIAS 2025, BYD unveiled its largest and most immersive booth yet in Indonesia, combining VR and AR technologies with the launch of the advanced e-Platform 3.0. Showcasing a diverse electric vehicle lineup and a new lifestyle brand concept, BYD is pushing the boundaries of EV innovation and education in Southeast Asia’s automotive scene.At GIIAS 2025—the biggest and most eagerly awaited automotive event in Indonesia—BYD, short for Build Your Dreams, really stole the show. The company drew lots of attention from folks in the industry, tech lovers, and everyday consumers. They brought a pretty comprehensive display of their electric vehicle offerings and lifestyle products, making their booth a real stand-out. The overall design and presentation weren’t just eye-catching—they showcased BYD’s dedication to pushing the envelope in electric mobility, sustainability, and engaging their customers in new ways. It kinda reminded everyone that they’re serious about leading in this space. The BYD booth itself had this cool, futuristic vibe, stretching over nearly 3,000 square meters—making it one of the largest at GIIAS. The layout was carefully planned, splitting the space into different interactive zones where entertainment, learning, and tech merged seamlessly. One of the biggest hits was the BYD Vision zone, which used VR (Virtual Reality) tech to give visitors a truly immersive experience. People could put on VR headsets and, wow, explore vehicle features and innovations as if they were right inside the cars. Naturally, this led to long lines and a lot of excitement, with folks eager to see everything firsthand. They also introduced AR (Augmented Reality) tech that displayed detailed info about their latest models’ specs and design nuances. This cutting-edge tech approach really cemented BYD’s status as a front-runner in EV innovation. A major highlight was their reveal of the e-Platform 3.0—this is an advanced electric vehicle platform, you see, supporting better chassis performance and overall vehicle efficiency. It’s a core piece of their latest models, showing that BYD remains committed to foundational automotive tech, especially something that helps improve powertrain integration and keeps the ride smooth and responsive. Alongside these technical displays, they also showcased original car parts with a touch of elegance. This allowed industry insiders and tech enthusiasts alike to get a glimpse of the engineering complexity involved in BYD’s EVs—a chance to appreciate the craftsmanship beneath the surface. When it came to the vehicles themselves, the lineup on display was pretty extensive. You had models like the Atto 3, Dolphin, Seal, M6, and the recently launched Atto 1—some painted in a bright yellow that really grabbed attention. They even set up a test drive zone, featuring nearly ten EVs, so potential buyers and fleet managers could actually try out the cars’ performance themselves. This is a smart move, especially for decision-makers considering electrification for their fleets. Plus, the booth showcased the high-performance Yangwang U9 supercar, which features the cutting-edge e⁴ Platform with four independent electric motors and BYD’s unique DiSus X suspension system. This supercar could do some wild stuff—like ‘tank turns’ and wheel movements timed perfectly to music—highlighting BYD’s blend of luxury, high tech, and sporty performance. But it wasn’t just about vehicles. BYD also promoted a broader lifestyle concept through its “BYD Lifestyle” zone. Here, visitors could check out eco-friendly bags, tumblers, and character merchandise—all designed to reinforce the idea that sustainable living isn’t just about cars, but about a whole lifestyle. They also teamed up with Pi-ma! to create a series of smartphone cases inspired by automotive themes—featuring futuristic designs and natural landscapes, marrying tech with everyday products. This isn’t just about selling cars—BYD is positioning itself as a lifestyle brand that appeals to environmentally conscious folks of all ages and backgrounds. Education played a key role, too. BYD wanted to help demystify EV technology and make it more accessible. Visitors could see clear displays showing powertrain systems and read up on the benefits of EVs—like energy efficiency, safety, and lowering environmental impacts. They also offered interactive EV driving simulations, making the whole learning process fun and practical—kind of like giving visitors the skills and confidence needed to support EV adoption, especially in Indonesia’s fleet and aftermarket sectors. Looking at the bigger picture, BYD’s booth at GIIAS 2025 was a clear statement of their focus on innovation, product variety, and education. They combined advanced digital experiences—like VR and AR—with real-world test drives and engaging learning tools, positioning themselves as a key player in Indonesia’s transition to electric mobility—and, really, in Southeast Asia overall. It’s pretty clear that they’re determined to shape the future of transportation here, and I think they’re well on their way. Source: Noah Wire Services

Drawing a record 15,000 attendees and showcasing over 550 exhibitors, Automechanika Birmingham highlighted the accelerating innovation in collision repair and ADAS calibration tools, alongside major product launches and expanded global supply chain roles for Asian manufacturers.The recent Automechanika event in Birmingham, UK, really marked a significant milestone for the automotive aftermarket and collision repair tech scene, pulling in a record-breaking 15,000 visitors and showcasing around 550 exhibitors. Over the course of three lively days, the expo became quite the hub of innovation, learning, and networking. It really highlighted how quickly the industry’s changing—especially with all the complexities that come with the rise of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems, or ADAS, in modern vehicles. There was plenty to soak in—over 180 hours of specialist talks, to be honest, covering everything from vehicle detailing, speedy diagnostic repair systems, to new techniques for small area repairs. These sessions offered some pretty priceless insights, especially into the current hurdles and what the future might hold for collision repair and regular vehicle upkeep. Industry groups like Solera and Thatcham Training contributed heavily to this educational lineup by sharing their expertise—think clean sanding tech, seam replication, and also rolling out the latest Cubitron II abrasive discs, which now come in superfine grits to really improve repair quality and cut down on time. Big-name companies across the automotive aftermarket space had a strong presence, with dedicated lounges and live demo zones. Brands like 3M, Indasa, AllData, Hella, Norton Abrasives, Prevost, Thatcham Research, Walcom, and Sagola all showed off their latest gear and tech designed to make body shops more productive. For example, 3M introduced some new clean sanding and seam replication systems, while Norton Abrasives demonstrated customized workstations aimed at smoothing out workflows. You could also check out Indasa’s new HT Ceramic abrasive line, which is making waves globally, showing just how much abrasive tech has advanced—pretty handy for prepping surfaces efficiently. Product launches were definitely a highlight—over 50 new items hitting the scene during the event. One standout was Snap-On’s new V2180 wheel alignment package, featuring these honed rotating hubs—aimed at making wheel alignment both faster and more precise, which is super important given how complicated vehicles are getting. Hella also showcased its next-gen ADAS calibration tool—an absolutely vital piece of kit because with more ADAS systems in cars than ever before, calibration needs to be spot-on to keep safety and performance levels high. And GS27 launched a Ceramic Rain Cleaner, adding to the variety of products meant to keep everyday vehicle maintenance in check. Another interesting aspect was how Asian manufacturers are really stepping up their game within the global supply chain for automotive parts. Their footprint’s definitely expanding—in parts, gaskets, abrasives—you name it—making them pivotal players worldwide. It’s kind of a sign of how globalized and complex the supply chain puzzle has become in the auto repair universe. Beyond just showcasing products, Automechanika Birmingham put a real focus on skills development and ongoing education. The workshops and training hubs were packed with folks eager to learn new repair techniques, diagnostic methods, and the latest tech. It was a pretty immersive experience—not just sitting and listening, but also watching live demos and panel discussions. Whether you were a technician, a workshop manager, or an OEM specialist, there was plenty to take away to stay ahead of the game and keep up with tightening regs and high-tech car tech. All in all, the event really sent a clear message: the industry is committed to moving forward—innovating, training, adapting. As vehicles become more advanced, especially with systems like ADAS, the aftermarket's got to keep pace—upgrading its tools, skills, and processes—to ensure that repairs are safe, effective, and up to OEM standards. It’s pretty fascinating, really—how quickly this whole scene’s evolving. Source: Noah Wire Services

With major global players ramping up production and pilot projects, solid-state batteries are shifting from lab-scale innovation to real-world applications, promising safer, higher-density EV powerpacks amid ongoing technical and economic challenges.Solid-state batteries are actually seen as a pretty big breakthrough in the world of energy storage, often called the “dream battery” for the automotive realm. Why? Well, because they promise a lot—mainly high energy density combined with better safety features. This combo is especially crucial when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs) where driving range and battery safety are still major sticking points for both consumers and car makers. Over the past few years, we’ve seen rapid advances in the technology itself, along with efforts to ramp up industrial-scale production, which signals a shift — finally — from mere lab curiosity toward real-world application happening sooner rather than later. Based on data from TrendForce, the race to make these batteries commercially available involves close to a hundred companies worldwide now, most of which are steering toward sulfide-based solid electrolytes. This pathway seems to be favored because it offers higher ionic flow and is easier to handle in manufacturing, making it a front-runner for widespread use. Big Asian players like Toyota, Honda, Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution, and SK On, along with Chinese giants such as CATL and BYD, are mainly focused on sulfide electrolytes despite some hurdles—like poor stability in air and the release of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas during production. These technical issues complicate manufacturing and bump up costs. On the flip side, quite a few startups across North America and Europe are exploring other options—like polymer and oxide electrolytes—which tend to have fewer patent roadblocks and lower manufacturing risks, though they often deliver a bit less in terms of performance. Automakers aren’t just talking about batteries—they're actually testing them out in vehicles, which shows they genuinely believe this tech’s potential is happening pretty soon. For example, Mercedes-Benz began road-testing a prototype EV with advanced solid-state batteries as early as February 2025, after doing lots of lab tests first. This move underscores their commitment to pushing solid-state tech, especially since it can potentially boost energy density, cut down on weight, improve efficiency, and—most importantly—make batteries safer. Likewise, Stellantis has validated solid-state cells developed by U.S. startup Factorial Energy with its own FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology). They’re aiming to show these off in a fleet by 2026, promoting benefits like charging from 15% to over 90% in just 18 minutes at room temperature, and higher energy density compared to traditional lithium-ion packs. Meanwhile, regions around the world are ramping up efforts to build reliable supply chains for these batteries. Japan, South Korea, and China, both with support from industry giants and government backing, are developing infrastructure to boost production capacity. The plan? Well, global production is expected to exceed 100 GWh soon, covering factories already active with semi-solid state batteries as well as pilot projects making fully solid-state ones—scaling up to hundreds of MWh. This frenzy of activity means that, by around 2030, solid-state batteries could be firmly established in the market, according to industry forecasts. Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. The tech still faces big hurdles—like technical complexity, supply chain immaturity, and expensive manufacturing—that prevent full-scale mass production just yet. But, to be fair, some companies have already moved from research into pilot-scale output, with expected cell energy densities potentially surpassing 400 Wh/kg by 2027. Meanwhile, semi-solid electrolyte batteries, using oxides and polymers, are already being commercialized in China at GWh scales for EVs and energy storage. They’re kind of an intermediate step, with energy densities around 300–360 Wh/kg—getting close to that ‘best of both worlds’ sweet spot between traditional lithium-ion batteries and full solid-state options. There’s also some exciting progress on materials front—like Japan’s TDK, which recently announced achieving an energy density of 1,000 Wh/l in small solid batteries meant for gadgets like wireless headphones and smartwatches. That’s quite a milestone, especially for small devices. However, many industry experts remain cautious about simply scaling up this success for the big leagues—like cars—because mass production and some engineering challenges in robustness still pose tough obstacles. And while solid-state batteries are moving forward, the ongoing focus for EV safety right now involves improving existing lithium-ion batteries. There’ve been some high-profile fire incidents that raised alarms, mainly related to thermal runaway and impact issues. Since solid-state batteries are naturally more resistant to fire, they could eventually put an end to such problems, but until then, companies like CATL are working on improving pack designs—adding shock absorbers and structural reinforcements—to reduce fire risks and make consumers more comfortable with EVs. Looking ahead, it’s clear the development landscape is quite a mix—some major car makers are juggling multiple electrolyte options, startups are rapidly innovating in niche chemistries, and regional ecosystems are investing heavily in manufacturing capacity. Mercedes-Benz, for example, plans to incorporate silicon-based batteries into its G-Class EVs, mixing in novel materials alongside sulfide electrolytes and aiming for mass production sometime in the 2030s. Similarly, Samsung SDI is working on pilot solid-state cells boasting energy densities close to 900 Wh/l and quick-charging features; they’re aiming for commercialisation in the latter half of this decade. In summary, solid-state batteries are in a pretty fascinating transition—coming out of the experimental phase but still working toward full-scale production. While there are clear technical and economic challenges, there's also promising progress in materials science, supply chain setup, and strategic partnerships. These developments point to a transformative decade ahead for the auto industry supply chain. Companies involved in manufacturing, logistics, and service sectors should be ready—they’ll need to adapt as this technology matures, reshaping vehicle design, safety standards, and how batteries are supplied and maintained. It’s an exciting time—things are poised to change, big time, in the next few years. Source: Noah Wire Services