MIIT September 2026 – The new EVs from China
The MIIT September 2026 report is out! China’s EV market 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 list features BMW, GAC Commercial, ORA, Yipai, and Zeekr.
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.
The MIIT September list is dominated by EREVs and PHEVs, but unfortunately lacks EVs. Nevertheless, there were a few interesting new models and variants.
ArcFox Alpha S5: now with lidar
The ArcFox Alpha S5 is a sporty electric sedan that was launched in March 2026. It’s time for the first update now. The exterior changes are modest, with slightly adjusted bumpers, new mirrors, and colored brake calipers. More important is the new lidar on the roof. The Alpha S5 previously lacked a lidar, which makes it increasingly difficult to sell in this segment. That issue has now been resolved. The lidar is part of a new L2 ADAS package with a total of 28 sensors. There are no changes to the powertrain or battery.
BMW i3 L: longer than in Europe
Chinese consumers prefer long cars with plenty of space. The BMW i3 L is 104 mm longer, 10 mm taller, and has a 108 mm longer wheelbase. This extra space benefits the passengers in the back seat significantly. For comparison:
i3: 4760/1865/1480, 2896.
i3 L: 4864/1865/1490, 3005.
In addition, the BMW i3 L features semi-submerged door handles and an illuminated M logo on the C-pillar. The basic design of the front and rear remains almost unchanged. The ADAS system was developed in collaboration with the Chinese company Momenta and is specifically tailored to China’s traffic conditions.
The car in the MIIT September photos is the i3 40L, with 235 kW of power to the rear wheels and a 108 kWh CATL NMC battery. The manufacturer is Brilliance-BMW. This joint venture also produces the BMW iX3 L and many other BMW models for the Chinese market.
GAC Commercial T9: a cyber truck from China.
GAC Commercial is GAC’s commercial vehicle division. The GAC Commercial T9 is a new electric truck. The first prototypes were unveiled in November 2025, but now the truck is finally hitting the market. The production version features regular mirrors instead of camera mirrors, but otherwise the cool “cyber-design” remains largely unchanged.
The T9 has two electric motors, one on the front axle and one on the rear axle, each with a power output of 310 kW. Its top speed is 89 kilometers per hour. The maximum towing capacity is 32 tons. The T9 is a large vehicle: 6750/225/3720 in dimensions, with a wheelbase of 4200 and a curb weight of 9,870 kilograms. The NMC battery comes from Sunwoda. Its capacity and range have not been officially announced yet.
The electric motor is exposed inside the chassis. This is common in China, as it makes them easier to repair or replace.
There is also a three-axis version with a length of 7915 mm. The power remains the same, but the middle axis is not driven. The maximum towing capacity here is 37 tons.
ORA 5 sedan: another model in the series
ORA is rapidly expanding its new 5-series lineup. There was already a hatchback, and an SUV is on the way as well. The new sedan version has a high ride height and a friendly, rounded design with nearly circular headlights.
The dimensions of the Ora 5 sedan are 4758/1833/1626, 2720. The engine is located in the front wheels and produces 150 kW, achieving a top speed of 170 kilometers per hour. A SVOLT LFP battery is placed under the floor, according to MIIT data from September. SVOLT originated as the battery division of Great Wall Motor and was spun off as a semi-independent company in 2018.
The ORA 5 sedan will also be available as a HEV and ICE version.
Yipai EP7: New Name and a New Look
Yipai is a brand under Dongfeng. The original English name was eπ, but it caused a lot of confusion and issues. Therefore, Dongfeng decided to drop eπ entirely: in China the brand is now called Yipai, while it’s referred to as Dongfeng for export. Chinese automakers continue to struggle with naming conventions.
The Yipai EP7 is an improved version of the eπ 007. It’s slightly larger, with redesigned front and rear sections featuring sleek light bars and active aerodynamics.
According to MIIT data from September, the dimensions of the Yipai EP7 are 4910/1930/1478 mm, with a wheelbase of 2920 mm. The electric motor is located at the rear, delivering 215 kW of power and a top speed of 190 kilometers per hour. CATL supplies the LFP battery, and Huawei now provides the ADAS system—previously, Yipai/eπ used its own system.
Zeekr 7X: Now Also Available with 85 kWh Battery
The Zeekr 7X is a fast electric SUV that is also available in the Netherlands. In China, buyers could choose between a 75 kWh LFP battery offering a range of 620 km or a 103 kWh NMC unit providing 715 km of range. Zeekr is now introducing an intermediate model: an 85 kWh LFP battery from Energee, a battery manufacturer in the Geely Group. The estimated range is around 700 kilometers.
These were the new EVs announced by MIIT in September. More new electric cars from China will be featured in MIIT’s October report!