View full infographic +01 / 60
BYD: one group, several identities
BYD, DENZA, YANGWANG and FANGCHENGBAO sit within one wider automotive portfolio.
Explore the technology & sources →← TechnologyTHE AUTOMOTIVE ATLAS / 60 VISUAL STORIESThe future
The future
has traction.
Meet the names reshaping the car. Look beneath the bodywork. Follow the ideas from Chinese engineering to a connected global industry.
60 illustrated stories45 brand & company profiles6 patent case studies
China at the centre.
The world in the frame.
The world in the frame.
Six chapters connect brands, batteries, charging, motion, intelligent vehicles and patents. European and North American examples appear where the engineering overlaps. Sources and model-specific qualifications accompany every story.
CHOOSE YOUR CHAPTER
Sixty ways to look beneath the surface.
Open any poster to enlarge it. Read its explanation, inspect the evidence or download the individual image.
60 infographics across 6 chapters
The names behind the badge
Chinese groups, marques and the suppliers behind them.
View full infographic +
View full infographic +02 / 60
Geely: follow the platform connections
Geely Auto, ZEEKR and Lynk & Co belong on the same group map—but keep their distinct identities.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +03 / 60
SAIC: own brands and joint ventures
SAIC combines its own vehicle brands with joint-venture businesses. The distinction matters.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +04 / 60
Chery: learn the family before the model
A useful starting map separates Chery’s principal marques from its overseas product lines.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +05 / 60
GWM: different jobs, different vehicles
Great Wall Motor’s portfolio includes HAVAL, WEY, ORA and TANK, with distinct vehicle propositions.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +06 / 60
Changan: marques, partners and systems
Changan’s portfolio includes CHANGAN, NEVO, DEEPAL and AVATR.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +07 / 60
The established groups behind new EV names
VOYAH, MHERO, AION, HYPTEC, Hongqi and Bestune connect to long-established Chinese manufacturers.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +08 / 60
NIO: three brands, distinct propositions
NIO Inc. presents NIO, ONVO and firefly as three separate brands.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +09 / 60
The newer EV manufacturers to recognise
XPENG, Li Auto, Xiaomi and Leapmotor represent different approaches to building intelligent electrified cars.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +10 / 60
The ecosystem beyond the badge
A vehicle maker, a battery supplier and a software partner can all contribute to the same car.
Explore the technology & sources →Inside the battery
Chemistry, structure, thermal control and material recovery.
View full infographic +11 / 60
BYD Blade: chemistry meets geometry
BYD’s Blade Battery combines lithium iron phosphate chemistry with long, slender cells. Its engineering story is about materials and packaging together.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +12 / 60
CATL Qilin: removing the middle layer
Cell-to-pack integration changes the architecture surrounding the cells. It is a packaging strategy, not the name of a battery chemistry.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +13 / 60
Cell-to-body: the battery joins the structure
In BYD’s SEAL, the battery is integrated with the body floor. This is a further design choice beyond arranging cells efficiently inside a pack.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +14 / 60
Sodium-ion: another route to storing energy
CATL and Changan presented a sodium-ion passenger-vehicle programme in February 2026. The interesting question is where the chemistry fits, rather than whether it replaces every lithium battery.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +15 / 60
Solid-state is not one finished product
Battery announcements use similar-sounding labels for materially different electrolyte designs and stages of development. Read the chemistry and the development stage separately.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +16 / 60
Thermal management: the hidden plumbing
An electric car needs coordinated temperature control for its battery, propulsion electronics and cabin. The thermal system is an important part of the vehicle’s efficiency story.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +17 / 60
Battery management: the invisible supervisor
The battery management system turns measurements into limits and estimates. It coordinates the usable battery rather than merely displaying a percentage on the dashboard.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +18 / 60
Battery safety: beyond one spectacular test
A dramatic puncture demonstration is memorable. Vehicle battery assurance requires a broader test programme, clear conditions and evidence at the relevant system level.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +19 / 60
The second life of battery materials
Battery recycling is a sequence of collection, processing and refining. A high recovery figure for one metal is not the same as recycling the whole battery without loss.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +20 / 60
Battery chemistry is a set of trade-offs
The chemistry that suits a compact city car may not suit a long-range premium vehicle. Engineering begins with the job the battery must do.
Explore the technology & sources →The charging revolution
Voltage, power, swapping and the conditions behind the headline.
View full infographic +21 / 60
High voltage: a worldwide engineering direction
Higher-voltage vehicle architectures are used by Chinese, European and North American manufacturers. The number on the brochure is a starting point, not a complete charging specification.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +22 / 60
Megawatt charging: read the fine print
BYD’s March 2025 Super e-Platform announcement described a 1,000V architecture and charging power reaching 1,000kW. The peak is impressive; the complete session still matters.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +23 / 60
The charging curve matters more than the peak
A charging session is a changing flow of energy. The average power across the useful interval tells you more about elapsed time than one record-setting instant.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +24 / 60
Twice the voltage, half the current
At the same transferred power, raising voltage reduces current. This simple relationship helps explain the appeal of high-voltage EV architecture.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +25 / 60
Preconditioning: prepare the battery before the plug
A battery may accept energy more effectively when it reaches the charging stop at an appropriate temperature. Preparing it on the way can be as important as choosing a powerful charger.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +26 / 60
NIO swapping: exchange the battery, keep moving
Battery swapping separates replenishing the vehicle from recharging the removed pack. It also requires a compatible vehicle, a stocked station and an operating service ecosystem.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +27 / 60
AC and DC: where the conversion happens
The battery stores energy electrochemically and charges using direct current. AC and DC charging differ largely in where the electrical conversion is performed.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +28 / 60
V2L, V2H and V2G: three different promises
Sending energy out of an EV can mean powering an appliance, backing up a building or interacting with the grid. These are different capabilities with different equipment requirements.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +29 / 60
The plug is only the first handshake
Charging compatibility includes physical contacts, voltage and current limits, communication, software and the charging operator’s access rules.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +30 / 60
Range claims need the same measuring stick
CLTC, WLTP and EPA figures come from different test procedures. Placing their headline distances side by side can create a misleading ranking.
Explore the technology & sources →Motion, remade
Motors, power electronics, chassis control and manufacturing.
View full infographic +31 / 60
The powertrain becomes a compact machine
An electric car hides a coordinated system of motors, power electronics, gears and control hardware beneath its quiet surface.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +32 / 60
The semiconductor that controls the surge
The traction inverter turns a battery’s direct current into the precisely controlled alternating current that an electric motor needs.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +33 / 60
Three ways to make a motor magnetic
Permanent magnets, induction and electrical excitation create a rotor’s magnetic field in different ways, with different engineering compromises.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +34 / 60
An electric drive with a fuel-powered companion
Range-extended electric vehicles use an engine-generator to support electric propulsion. Their energy story differs from a battery-only car.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +35 / 60
Braking can send energy home
Regenerative braking lets an electric motor act as a generator, returning some of the car’s motion energy to the battery.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +36 / 60
The car that moves heat around
A heat pump moves thermal energy between places rather than relying only on direct electrical resistance heating.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +37 / 60
Four wheels, four decisions
Controlling the torque at individual wheels adds another tool for managing traction and vehicle rotation.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +38 / 60
When steering becomes a signal
Steer-by-wire replaces the conventional mechanical steering link with an electronic control path, requiring carefully engineered redundancy.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +39 / 60
A factory learns to cast the floor
Large aluminium castings can consolidate a vehicle’s structure, changing both the factory process and the approach to repair.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +40 / 60
The invisible load on every journey
Aerodynamic drag depends on shape, frontal area, air density and the square of speed through the air.
Explore the technology & sources →The intelligent vehicle
Perception, software, computing and human responsibility.
View full infographic +41 / 60
The car needs more than one sense
Vehicle perception combines measurements with algorithms. A sensor’s presence alone does not establish what a car can safely do.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +42 / 60
Turning many measurements into one world
Sensor fusion aligns measurements so a driving system can estimate what surrounds the vehicle and how it is moving.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +43 / 60
Assistance is not autonomy
Automation levels describe responsibility, not how futuristic a vehicle’s display looks or how many manoeuvres it can perform.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +44 / 60
The road is not one operating domain
Road type, speed, weather and region can define whether a driving feature is permitted and capable of operating.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +45 / 60
The car can change after delivery
Over-the-air updates can improve supported functions without physically replacing the vehicle, but they still have hardware and approval limits.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +46 / 60
A new nervous system for the car
Zonal electrical architecture groups connections by physical area while powerful central computers coordinate broader vehicle functions.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +47 / 60
Computing power needs a purpose
Automotive computers process sensor data and run software under tight constraints on latency, heat, power use and functional safety.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +48 / 60
The cabin joins your digital world
The smart cockpit connects displays, voice interfaces, apps and personal devices. Convenience depends on thoughtful interaction and supported services.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +49 / 60
Testing roads that do not exist
Simulation can expose a driving system to controlled variations that are difficult, expensive or unsafe to reproduce on public roads.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +50 / 60
Security becomes part of the vehicle
Wireless connections, apps, diagnostic ports and software updates create useful capabilities and possible routes for cyberattack.
Explore the technology & sources →The invention trail
Six patent case studies—and how to read the evidence.
View full infographic +51 / 60
BYD: cool the connections, not only the cells
Battery cells are only part of a pack’s thermal story. Electrical connections can need their own carefully engineered cooling path.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +52 / 60
CATL: make heat travel where it is useful
In an electric vehicle, the cabin, battery and motor have different thermal needs. A patent can focus on connecting those needs.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +53 / 60
NIO: the choreography beneath a battery swap
A swapping station is more than a robotic lift. Its layout determines how packs move between the vehicle and charging storage.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +54 / 60
Huawei: keep a charging session connected
Charging innovation is not only about peak kilowatts. It can also concern how an interrupted electrical connection resumes without extra user steps.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +55 / 60
Geely and ZEEKR: shaping the battery’s protective frame
A wider battery can compete with the space reserved around it for crash protection. Structural design becomes part of the energy-storage problem.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +56 / 60
XPENG: when a lidar checks its own alignment
A sensor may collect millions of points yet still be misaligned. This patent addresses the orientation of the sensor relative to the vehicle.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +57 / 60
A filing is a beginning. A grant is another step.
A patent headline can describe very different events. Read the document type before treating an application as an exclusive right.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +58 / 60
One invention can leave many paper trails
A patent leaderboard can change dramatically depending on whether it counts publications, applications or families. First ask what the unit actually measures.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +59 / 60
The drawing explains. The claims define.
Patent illustrations are invitations to understand an invention. The legal scope requires a more careful reading of the claims and the surrounding record.
Explore the technology & sources →
View full infographic +60 / 60
From invention to a car on the road
Chinese, European and North American firms can pursue similar engineering goals. Fair comparison separates the idea on paper from the technology delivered to drivers.
Explore the technology & sources →THE BRAND DIRECTORYKnow the badge.
Know the badge.
Understand the business.
A curated guide to 45 Chinese automotive marques, groups and technology suppliers. It is a starting map, not an exhaustive census. Group relationships, joint ventures and partnerships are identified separately.
45 profiles
BYD
BYD GroupVehicle marque · New-energy vehicle portfolio
Official background →
DENZA
BYD GroupVehicle marque · New-energy vehicle portfolio
Official background →
YANGWANG
BYD GroupVehicle marque · New-energy vehicle portfolio
Official background →
FANGCHENGBAO
BYD GroupVehicle marque · New-energy vehicle portfolio
Official background →
Geely
Geely Auto GroupVehicle marque · Vehicle platforms and electrification
Official background →
ZEEKR
Geely Auto GroupVehicle marque · Vehicle platforms and electrification
Official background →
Lynk & Co
Geely Auto GroupVehicle marque · Vehicle platforms and electrification
Official background →
MG
SAIC MotorVehicle marque · Passenger and commercial vehicle engineering
Official background →
Roewe
SAIC MotorVehicle marque · Passenger and commercial vehicle engineering
Official background →
MAXUS
SAIC MotorVehicle marque · Passenger and commercial vehicle engineering
Official background →
IM Motors
SAIC MotorVehicle marque · Passenger and commercial vehicle engineering
Official background →
Wuling
SAIC-GM-Wuling joint ventureJoint-venture vehicle marque · Small-vehicle and electrification programmes
Official background →
Baojun
SAIC-GM-Wuling joint ventureJoint-venture vehicle marque · Small-vehicle and electrification programmes
Official background →
CHERY
Chery AutomobileVehicle marque · Multiple combustion and electrified powertrains
Official background →
EXEED
Chery AutomobileVehicle marque · Multiple combustion and electrified powertrains
Official background →
JETOUR
Chery AutomobileVehicle marque · Multiple combustion and electrified powertrains
Official background →
iCAR
Chery AutomobileVehicle marque · Multiple combustion and electrified powertrains
Official background →
LUXEED
Chery AutomobileVehicle marque · Multiple combustion and electrified powertrains
Official background →
OMODA
Chery Automobile / overseas portfolioOverseas product line / marque · Hybrid and battery-electric product ranges
Official background →
JAECOO
Chery Automobile / overseas portfolioOverseas product line / marque · Hybrid and battery-electric product ranges
Official background →
HAVAL
Great Wall MotorVehicle marque · SUVs, electrification and off-road systems
Official background →
WEY
Great Wall MotorVehicle marque · SUVs, electrification and off-road systems
Official background →
ORA
Great Wall MotorVehicle marque · SUVs, electrification and off-road systems
Official background →
TANK
Great Wall MotorVehicle marque · SUVs, electrification and off-road systems
Official background →
Changan
Changan Automobile portfolioVehicle marque · Electrified and connected vehicle programmes
Official background →
NEVO
Changan Automobile portfolioVehicle marque · Electrified and connected vehicle programmes
Official background →
DEEPAL
Changan Automobile portfolioVehicle marque · Electrified and connected vehicle programmes
Official background →
AVATR
Changan Automobile portfolioVehicle marque · Electrified and connected vehicle programmes
Official background →
VOYAH
Dongfeng MotorVehicle marque · Smart electrified passenger vehicles
Official background →
MHERO
Dongfeng MotorVehicle marque · Electrified off-road engineering
Official background →
AION
GAC GroupVehicle marque / product series · New-energy vehicle programmes
Official background →
HYPTEC
GAC GroupVehicle marque / product series · New-energy vehicle programmes
Official background →
Hongqi
FAW GroupVehicle marque · Premium vehicle engineering
Official background →
Bestune
FAW GroupVehicle marque · Passenger-car and electric model portfolio
Official background →
NIO
NIO Inc.Vehicle marque · Distinct vehicle and customer propositions
Official background →
ONVO
NIO Inc.Vehicle marque · Distinct vehicle and customer propositions
Official background →
firefly
NIO Inc.Vehicle marque · Distinct vehicle and customer propositions
Official background →
XPENG
XPENGVehicle manufacturer · Software, charging and driver assistance
Official background →
Li Auto
Li AutoVehicle manufacturer · Range-extended and battery-electric vehicles
Official background →
Xiaomi
XiaomiVehicle manufacturer · Smart EV and device-ecosystem integration
Official background →
Leapmotor
LeapmotorVehicle manufacturer · Vehicle software and electrified vehicles
Official background →
SERES
SERES GroupVehicle manufacturer · Intelligent electrified vehicles
Official background →
AITO
SERES / Huawei collaborationCollaborative vehicle marque · Automotive manufacturing with connected-vehicle technology
Official background →
CATL
CATLBattery supplier · Cells, battery systems and energy solutions
Official background →
Huawei
Huawei / Yinwang automotive solutionsTechnology and systems supplier · Driver assistance, vehicle control and smart cockpit
Official background →No matching profiles. Try another name or clear the filters.
Logos are reproduced from the linked official sources for identification. They remain the property of their respective owners; inclusion does not imply endorsement. Directory reviewed 14 November 2026.
A patent number.
A story you can inspect.
Six published records anchor chapter six. An application, a granted patent and a production feature are three different kinds of evidence.
| Publication | Applicant at filing | Document type | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP4567964A1 | BYD Company Limited | European patent application publication | 2025-06-11 |
| US11904728B2 | Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited | US granted patent publication | 2024-02-20 |
| WO2024041222A1 | NIO Technology (Anhui) Co., Ltd. | International PCT application publication | 2024-02-29 |
| US20250010730A1 | Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd. | US patent application publication | 2025-01-09 |
| EP4552882A1 | Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd., Zhejiang ZEEKR Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. | European patent application publication | 2025-05-14 |
| US12523751B2 | Guangzhou Xiaopeng Autopilot Technology Co., Ltd. | US granted patent publication | 2026-01-13 |