MIIT October 2026 – the new EVs from China

MIIT October 2026 is out! China’s EV lineup continues to grow. Thanks to the Chinese government’s MIIT list, we already know which electric cars will hit the market soon. Today’s MIIT September update features Aiva, Beijing Trucks, BYD, Epicland, SAIC, and Volkswagen.

What is the MIIT list?

Every month, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) releases a list of new vehicles approved for production. This is a remnant of the old planned economy. Automakers in China must seek approval for every new model, as well as for facelifts of existing models. Automotive companies have been trying for years to change the MIIT list, as new models become known long before their official launch, but so far the list continues to exist. These are the latest EVs on the MIIT October list:

Aiva ME7: a sort of Porsche (1)

Aiva is a new Chinese brand. Its name stands for “Artificial Intelligence Voyage Ahead.” The slogan is “Live Alive.” Aiva’s owner is Saidu Technology, with Seres, CATL, and local state investment funds from Chongqing being its largest shareholders.

The Aiva ME7 in MIIT October is the first car from the brand. It is a sporty SUV-coupe that resembles a Porsche from the front and a Lotus from the back. The result looks quite good, low and compact, with thick wheel arches and various spoilers. Its dimensions are 4999/1999/1626, with a wheelbase of 3050. The RWD version has 270 kW, while the AWD version has 420 kW. Aiva claims a top speed of 255 km/h for both versions. The LFP battery comes from CATL, as expected. Launch in China is scheduled for late November.

Beijing Trucks Lanmeng 7: tractor with 780 kW

Beijing Trucks is a joint venture between BAIC and the local state-owned company Changzhou Kunfang Construction Development Corporation, which also invests in railways and real estate. Beijing Heavy Truck offers a wide range of models including diesel and electric trucks.

The Beijing Trucks Lanmeng 7 is a new 6×4 tractor with a high cab. Each rear axle is equipped with an electric motor producing 390 kW, totaling 780 kW—almost as much as the Tesla Semi. Its top speed is 210 km/h. The CATL LFP battery is located between the front and rear axles. According to MIIT October’s data, it has dimensions of 7180/2550/3990, a wheelbase of 3450, and a maximum towing weight of 39,770 kg. The new Lanmeng 7 will hit the Chinese market this year.

BYD Han: The original refreshed

Last week, BYD launched the new Da Han, following the release of the Han L last year. It’s now time for the second generation of the original BYD Han, which debuted in 2023. Once again, BYD has turned a single model name into an entire series of models.

But it’s also confusing, because the new Han measures 5156/1969/1507, 3030. That’s smaller than the Da Han, but larger than the Han L, which is actually positioned above the Han in the lineup. It’s likely that a new Han L will also be released soon. According to MIIT data from October, there will be three variants: an EV RWD model with 245 kW (240 km/h), an EV AWD model with 520 kW (270 km/h), and a PHEV RWD model with 115 kW from a 1.5 turbo engine plus a 200 kW electric motor (200 km/h). The new Han uses BYD’s Flash Charging technology and Gen 2 BYD Blade LFP batteries.

Epicland X9 EV: now also electric

Epicland is a new Chinese brand from Dongfeng and Huawei, established in 2025, but it’s not part of the HIMA brand family. The Epicland X9 six-seater SUV is Epicland’s first model. The EREV version was launched earlier this month. MIIT data from October includes specifications for the EV version, which will hit the market at the end of this year.

The design of the Epicland X9 EV remains unchanged from the EREV: a typical Chinese luxury SUV with a modern yet generic design. The RWD version has 300 kW, while the AWD version has 450 kW. The top speed is limited to 200 kilometers per hour.

SAIC Z9: A Kind of Porsche (2)

SAIC is a brand under HIMA, which in turn is part of Huawei. The manufacturer of SAIC is SAIC Motor. The brand was established in 2025 and offers three models: the SAIC H5, as well as the SAIC Z7 and Z7T. The latter two faced significant criticism for their Porsche-like design. The new SAIC Z9 will not end this trend, as SAIC has once again studied the Germans closely.

The SAIC Z9 uses Huawei DriveOne electric motors and Huawei ADS ADAS. The RWD version delivers 280 kW while the AWD version provides 455 kW. The top speed is limited to 210 kilometers per hour. According to MIIT reports from October, the batteries will be supplied by CATL. NMC batteries are quite rare in China these days, especially for cars in this segment. The SAIC Z9 is scheduled to go on sale in December.

VW ID.Aura 5L: Another boring sedan

Volkswagen is introducing one car after another to the Chinese market: electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, range-extender models, and even new gasoline versions. Things are progressing fast enough, but the design team seems to be struggling to keep up, as the new Volkswagen ID.Aura 5L looks quite dull. The only interesting feature is its aerodynamic mirrors. Otherwise, the steering wheel appears to have a somewhat square shape.

According to the MIIT October report, the vehicle will retain a 4883/1881/1506 dimension layout with a wheelbase of 2820 mm. The ID.Aura 5L is based on the Compact Main Platform used by all VW joint ventures. The RWD version has 155 kW of power, while the AWD version delivers exactly double that at 310 kW. The top speed is limited to a modest 175 km/h. The LFP battery comes from CATL-FAW, and the manufacturer is FAW-Volkswagen. The Volkswagen ID.Aura 5L will enter the Chinese market in early 2027.

These were the new EVs announced by MIIT in October. More new electric cars from China will be featured in MIIT November!