Malaysia’s Proton has just unveiled its first-ever EV, the e.MAS 7, an SUV that wants to stand out but doesn’t quite stick the landing. Beneath its Porsche styling cues and ambitious marketing, the e.MAS 7 is, at its core, a rebadged Geely Galaxy E5. It’s a straightforward exercise in badge engineering that doesn’t break new ground but does manage to look modern.

More: Huawei’s Maextro S800 Looks Like Someone Put A Maybach, A Rolls And A Porsche In The Blender

Let’s start with the basics. The Proton e.MAS 7 is a compact SUV that stretches 4,615 mm long (that’s 181.7 inches if you’re too cool for the metric system) and boasts a wheelbase of 2,750 mm (108.3 inches). If you’ve seen the Geely Galaxy, congratulations, you’ve already seen the e.MAS 7. The only visible differences are a Proton badge slapped onto the hood and the glaring absence of the Geely’s illuminated grille. Proton’s big EV debut is essentially the automotive equivalent of putting a new logo on a Word doc template and calling it “custom design.”

Porsche Vibes, but Make It Discount

The e.MAS 7and Galaxy twins borrow some pretty obvious Porsche styling cues. The full-width LED taillights? Yep, straight off a Cayenne. The greenhouse and surface sculpting? Also Cayenne-ish. The paint? Oh, you mean “Quartz Rose,” which just happens to look suspiciously like Porsche Macan EV’s Provence debut color? Totally a coincidence, we’re sure.

Proton also offers four other shades, including Platinum Silver, Turquoise Green, Slate Grey, and Lithium White, with an Indigo Blue interior, in case you’re into low-budget luxury cosplay.

Of course, the Geely Galaxy E5 and Proton e.MAS 7 aren’t the only Chinese-derived EVs borrowing heavily from Porsche’s design playbook. The taillights on the BYD Han sedan and Song L crossover look blatantly inspired by the Porsche Panamera and Cayenne Coupe, just like Geely’s own Galaxy E8 sedan.

Powertrain and Batteries

Back to Proton, the e.MAS 7 shares its underpinnings and specifications with its Geely twin. It rides on Geely’s Global Intelligent New Energy Architecture (GEA) and packs a single front-mounted electric motor producing 215 hp and 320 Nm of torque. It’ll hit 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 6.9 seconds, which is decent, making it the quickest Proton yet, but still firmly in “That’s fine, I guess” territory.

There are two options for the battery pack with a capacity of 49.52 kWh or 60.22 kWh, allowing WLTP ranges of 345 km (214 miles) or 410 km (255 miles) respectively. As reported by Paultan, Proton claims that the battery retains a health status of 90.5% after 921 complete cycles, which is the equivalent of 400,000 km (~250,000 miles)

Here’s where Proton is banking on the e.MAS 7 standing out—its price tag. The EV starts at RM109,800 ($24,400) and tops out at RM123,800 ($27,500). That’s significantly cheaper than its main rival, the BYD Atto 3, which starts at RM149,800 ($33,259), and is currently the best-selling EV in Malaysia.

Chinese electric carmaker Jiyue is on the brink of collapse despite being backed by technology giant Baidu and automotive conglomerate Geely, and it’ll take a miracle to avoid the fate of so many other failed Chinese automakers in recent years.

Jiyue was initially formed through a joint venture between Baidu and Geely, with Baidu owning 55% and Geely owning 45%. However, the company was later restructured, providing Geely with a 65% ownership stake and leaving 35% with Baidu. It launched its first model – the Jiyue 01 – last year as a stylish competitor to the Tesla Model Y. It was followed up by the gorgeous Jiyue 07 sedan, which quickly picked up a Red Dot design award after its launch.

Read: New Jiyue 07 Blazes Into EV Scene With Gorgeous Fastback Looks

However, sales have been slow, and this year, Jiyue has managed to shift just 13,834 vehicles across the country. It’s also experiencing severe financial difficulties, and according to Chinese media, chief financial officer Liu Jining and his family may have fled to Singapore, taking with him the company’s books. It’s also believed Baidu has discovered a financial hole of up to 7 billion yuan (~$962 million) that was unaccounted for and opted against investing an additional $412 million in the company.

CarNewsChina adds that chief executive Xia Yiping may have significantly overpaid suppliers. Approximately 70% of all parts used by Jiyue come from Geely, and as of February, it owed more than $200 million to its parent company for these parts.

In a statement issued last week, Jiyue said it would ditch projects that don’t improve its financial position. It also fired several departments, delayed salaries for December, and suspended social security payments to employees in November. Baidu and Geely quickly responded to the uncertainty, saying they would help Jiyue make payments for social security contributions, fund after-sales servicing for existing customers, and compensate workers who’ve lost their jobs.

A restructuring plan has been presented to shareholders, but it remains unclear if it will save the company. If Jiyue does go bust, it will follow Human Horizons as the latest Chinese car startup unable to survive increasingly fierce competition across the local market.

The Ford Transit has been one of the go-to vans for many decades, but in the age of electrification, a subsidiary of Geely wants a piece of the pie. Farizon Auto gives us a first look at its new electric van, known as the SV. While Lamborghini might not be too happy with that name, sales are scheduled to start in the first half of 2025.

Farizon is first introducing the SV in the UK and will sell it through Jameel Motors, the nation’s local Geely distributor. It’s been designed to meet the needs of European fleets and, according to the firm, has completed more than one million miles of testing, getting it ready for its market launch. Pricing details have not yet been announced.

Read: Zeekr Mix Electric Minivan Aspires To Rival The VW ID.Buzz

Underpinning the electric van is a modular architecture that includes ‘cell-to-pack’ technology, boosting battery capacity by 10%, improving body rigidity by 20%, and reducing weight by 4%. Shoppers will be able to choose between 67 kWh and 83 kWh battery packs at launch, while a 106 kWh battery will follow at a later date. Three different lengths and three body heights will also be available, ensuring companies can get the perfect-sized van for their needs.

The Farizon SV is the first van of its kind to use dual-redundancy drive-by-wire for the steering and braking systems. According to the company, this doesn’t just reduce stopping distances and improve steering response, but it also helps to increase load capacity and reduce weight by 8%. It’s expected to have load capacities ranging from 2,425 lbs (1,100 kg) to 2,866 lbs (1,300 kg), depending on the configuration. Cargo capacity will also vary between 6.9 cubic meters and 13 cubic meters.

A peek inside the cabin reveals that it’s quite basic, but that’s to be expected of a commercial van like this. The key standout is a large infotainment screen on the dashboard, joined by a digital instrument cluster. The SV also features a center front seat.

BYD makes more EVs than anyone, and it makes them for less money than most Western automakers can comprehend. But there is a cost, and it’s being paid by the workers in its supply chains, according to a new report investigating human rights risks in the EV industry.

Amnesty International’s Recharge for Rights study ranked 13 automakers according to how they address human rights risks in their mineral supply chains. BYD came bottom with a score of just 11 out of a potential 90 points, with Mitsubishi not far behind on 13 points.

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Hyundai (21), Geely and Nissan (22 apiece) came out looking like bad guys but Tesla (49) and top-rated Mercedes (51) performed far better. Not that even Benz’s score was enough to please the Amnesty investigators, who suggest that only a total of 68 points or more shows an adequate commitment to human rights issues.

Although EVs don’t produce tailpipe emissions, their batteries need huge quantities of minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt. And while many of us are aware of the environmental damage caused by mining lithium, Amnesty International says the cobalt mining industry is ripe for the abuse of workers, some of whom in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, which generates 25 percent of the world’s supply, are children.

BYD was marked down for refusing to reveal the name of the smelter, refiner, and mine that supply its minerals, but Geely, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, and GM were all guilty of a lack of transparency. In contrast, the best-rated brands were able to provide supply-chain mapping.

Human rights score

“As the global transition to electric vehicles gains momentum, drives global competition and allows for huge profit, Amnesty International is calling on all car makers to improve their human rights due diligence efforts and bring them in line with international human rights standards,” said the organization’s Agnès Callamard.

The need for automakers to prove the origins of their batteries’ minerals to be eligible for EV credits has improved transparency, Wired notes. And there are steep fines (and market access restrictions) awaiting companies who flout rules governing supply chain welfare contained in the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive that came into force in Europe this summer.

But Callamard believes there’s more to be done.

“Those lagging behind need to work harder and faster to show that human rights isn’t just a fluff phrase, but an issue they take seriously,” she says. “It’s time to shift gears and ensure electric vehicles don’t leave behind a legacy of human rights abuses – instead, the industry must drive a just energy future that leaves no one behind.”

The third-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA is just around the corner, and it’s set to debut with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine sourced from Horse Powertrain Limited—the internal combustion engine (ICE) joint venture between Renault and Geely.

Reportedly, Mercedes lent its engineering expertise to develop this ICE unit, which is expected to churn out a respectable 250 horsepower and 265 lb-ft (360 Nm) of torque. Production will take place in China, but the catalytic converter won’t be installed until the engine arrives in Germany, ensuring it complies with Europe’s strict emissions standards. The transcontinental production process may seem a bit convoluted, but it reflects the increasingly globalized nature of automotive engineering.

Read: 2026 Mercedes CLA Previewed With Concept Car Looks

While you may think it sounds a little odd for the new-generation CLA to use an engine from Geely and Renault, it’s worth noting that Geely chief executive Li Shufu owns a 10% stake in Mercedes-Benz. Geely also operates a joint venture with the German carmaker to build Smart EVs. And for those thinking this is a new development, it’s worth remembering that both the first and second-generation CLA 180d models relied on diesel engines developed in collaboration with Renault and Nissan. This crossover DNA is practically baked into the CLA’s lineage.

According to CarNewsChina, some reports hint that this four-cylinder could come paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that integrates a starter motor directly into the transmission, making for a smoother, more efficient driving experience.

The imported engine isn’t the only Chinese tech making its way into the new CLA. The compact-sized sedan will also feature an advanced driver assistance system developed by Chinese startup Momenta. While the name of the brand may not ring a bell, Mercedes-Benz has been a backer of Momenta since 2017. It’s also received investment from GM, SAIC, and Yunfeng Capital, owned by billionaire businessman Jack Ma. Momenta’s system does not rely on high-definition maps and instead supports assisted driving in urban environments.

There’s plenty more to look forward to with the new CLA. In addition to featuring efficient four-cylinder engines, several all-electric versions will be produced around an 800-volt electrical architecture. A high-performance, AMG-branded version of the EV is also in the pipeline.

Opening illustration by Josh Byrnes/Carscoops

European tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles took effect on Wednesday, after both sides failed to hammer out a resolution. The new policy slaps import taxes as steep as 45.3% on certain Chinese electric vehicles, a confrontational step that will likely reverberate across the industry.

These tariff hikes have been a long time in the making and came after an exhaustive investigation from the European Commission. Rates vary between companies depending on how cooperative they were with EU authorities. For example, SAIC, the parent company of MG, faces the steepest increase at 35.3%, in addition to the existing 10%. BYD, meanwhile, is absorbing an additional 17% tariff, and Geely’s rates have jumped by 18.8%.

Read: BYD Will Fight EU Tariffs By Producing Most EVs In Europe

Just as the new tariffs were enforced, Reuters reports that the Chinese Ministry of Commerce has told local car manufacturers they should pause investment plans in countries that voted in favor of the tariffs.

Unnamed sources say carmakers have been “encouraged” to invest only in countries that voted against the tariffs while remaining prudent about planned investments in countries who abstained from voting. Ten members of the European Union, including France, Poland, and Italy, threw their support behind the import taxes. A further 12 abstained from voting, while five members opposed them. These included Germany, the world’s third-largest economy, and an automotive juggernaut.

The insistence from the Ministry of Commerce to pause investments in countries that approved the hefty taxes could be bad news for Italy and France. Both countries have been feverishly courting Chinese car brands in recent months but voted to approve the tariff hikes. SAIC plans to open a parts center in France before the end of the year, and Italy has spoken with several companies looking to attract investment, including Chery and Dongfeng Motor.

Meanwhile, BYD appears to have played its cards just right. Long before the tariffs were even a rumor, the company committed to building a factory in Hungary, and as fate would have it, Hungary voted against the import taxes. BYD is also rumored to be weighing a shift of its European headquarters from the Netherlands to Hungary—a move that now looks not only shrewd but perhaps prophetic.

Plug-in hybrids are often billed as a stepping stone to electric vehicles as they usually offer a modest electric-only range of around 30 to 40 miles. That’s enough to cover short commutes, but not much else. Beyond that, they rely on traditional engines, leaving much to be desired for those seeking true electric freedom.

However, it’s time to rethink plug-in hybrids as CATL has unveiled their new Freevoy Super Hybrid Battery, which promises to give PHEVs a range in excess of 249 miles (400 km). That’s presumably an optimistic CLTC figure, but that range matches the EPA estimate of the Audi e-tron GT and bests some versions of the Audi Q4 e-tron and BMW i4. It also trounces EPA figures for the Fiat 500e as well as variants of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning.

More: CATL’s New LFP Battery Unlocks 373-Mile Range With 10-Minute Charge

Besides providing a significant increase in range, CATL says the battery supports 4C superfast charging. This means a quick 10 minute stop could deliver over 174 miles (280 km) of range, “dispelling range anxiety for EREV and PHEV owners.”

The magic behind Freevoy lies in advanced materials and cutting-edge chemistry. According to CATL, the battery’s design incorporates “surface modification technology for the cathode material, coupled with an innovative high-voltage electrolyte formulation, to create a nano protective layer. This effectively minimizes side reactions within the active layer.”

As CATL explains it, the inclusion of “high-activity, excited-state particles into the cathode material significantly enhances transport efficiency of lithium ions within the material. Supported by the SOC full-scene high-precision model developed by CATL, and the upgrade of BMS intelligent algorithm and hardware, the SOC control accuracy of Freevoy has been increased by 40%, and the overall pure electric utilization rate has increased by more than 10%, achieving a pure electric range of more than 249 miles (400 km).”

The company went on to say the Freevoy incorporates their sodium-ion battery technology as well as a multi-gradient layered electrode design. Of course, what really matters is the jaw-dropping range and CATL effectively said each improvement helped to add a few miles, combining to create a huge jump over traditional PHEV batteries.

Looking ahead, 30 hybrid models are set to roll out next year equipped with the Freevoy battery. Among the first to adopt it will be brands like Chery, GAC, Geely, and VOYAH, setting the stage for a new era of hybrids that might actually make going fully electric seem, well, not so urgent after all.