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Starting this new thread to capture automotive news happening around the world, in case you miss it. Anyone can contribute to the thread by sharing news that you have come across. Xiaomi’s Third Model Is A Full-Size EREV SUV That Could Launch In 2026 Xiaomi isn’t willing to rest on its laurels and has started testing its third model, codenamed the N3. This new model will take the form of a large SUV designed to rival the Li Auto L9. The new SUV will look radically different than the brand’s other models. It’s unclear if the company will develop the powertrain in-house. Range-extender EVs are proving popular for those seeking maximum driving range. Stellantis Boss Carlos Tavares Suddenly Resigns The first and only Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares, the 66-year-old executive, decided to step down, effective immediately. Weeks before stepping down, Tavares said struggling brands would have a couple of years to save themselves, either from extinction or from being sold off. The search process for a replacement is already “well underway,” which tells us that Stellantis isn’t all that surprised Tavares has called it quits. Until a successor is announced in the first half of 2025, the company will appoint a new interim executive committee chaired by John Elkann. He’s the Stellantis Chairman, Executive Director, and Ferrari Chairman. This is not the only significant change within Stellantis in recent months. Two months ago, Santo Ficili was named CEO of Maserati and Alfa Romeo, replacing Davide Grasso and Jean-Philippe Imparato, respectively. Invasive Seaweed Could Be The Next Biofuel To Keep Gas Cars On The Road Forget hydrogen power or synthetic gasoline, fuel made from an invasive seaweed species could be key to our obsession with gas-powered cars A team of researchers on the Caribbean island of Barbados have been working to create a new sustainable fuel to power cars on the island. Instead of using carbon capture or recycled cooking oil, the scientists have turned to an invasive species of seaweed that is taking over the island nations. The algae is combined with dung from a local farm and waste water from a rum distillery. Once that delicious-sounding cocktail is pumped into a fermenter, a gas is released that can then be used to power cars on the island. The team says any car can be converted to run on the gas via a simple and affordable four-hour installation process, using an easily available kit, at a total cost of around $2,500 (£1,940). China EV global sales in Nov: Xiaomi 22,050, Xpeng 30,895, Geely 122,453, BYD 504,003 In November, China’s EV market was mostly up, with Li Auto and Nio being exceptions. Xpeng grew by about 30%, Geely by 13%, Xiaomi by 6%, and BYD remained nearly flat, with a 0.7% rise compared with October. BYD sold 504,003 passenger NEVs, up 0.7% from 500,526 units the month before and up 67.2% from 301,378 in the previous year. Geely Auto got second spot with 122,453 sold NEVs, up 12.6% from 108,722 in October and 88.3% from 65,034 units the previous year. In 2024 (January – November), Geely Auto delivered 777,029 NEVs, up 82% from the same period last year. Changan got the third spot with 100,000 NEV sales, up 17.6% from 85,000 units in October. Data posted by Changan are most likely rounded, despite being it explicitly said by the company. Deepal achieved record-breaking sales of 36,026 units in November 2024, a 29.3% increase from 27,862 units in October and a 123.0% rise from 16,157 units in the same month last year. Volkswagen-backed Xpeng reported sales of 30,895 units in November 2024, up 29.2% from 23,917 units in October and 54.2% from 20,041 units a year earlier.