Japan's new auto sales in May were up nearly 3% YoY, with passenger cars leading the gains.

[Chile's Lithium Carbonate Exports in May 2026 at 19,100 mt, Lithium Sulfate Exports at 14,200 mt] According to Chile customs export data, in May 2026, Chile's total lithium carbonate exports were 19,100 mt, down 35.2% MoM and up 35.30% YoY. Of this, exports to China were 13,601 mt, down 40.75% MoM and up 40.87% YoY; exports to South Korea were 3,392 mt, down 2.77% MoM and up 27.34% YoY; and exports to Japan were 492 mt, down 57.56% MoM and up 42.04% YoY. In May 2026, Chile's total lithium sulfate exports to China were 14,200 mt, up 17.41% MoM and up 45.97% YoY.

Zeekr Korea unveiled the premium midsize electric SUV “7X” in South Korea and will begin full-scale sales in the second half of this year. In South Korea, the model will be offered in three trims: Pro, Max and Ultra. The Pro trim is equipped with Zeekr’s self-developed 75 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) “Golden Battery.” The Max and Ultra trims are equipped with 100 kWh high-performance nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries supplied by CATL. The Pro and Max trims each feature a single electric motor, delivering a maximum output of 421 hp and maximum torque of 45 kgf·m. Their certified driving ranges are 375 km and 483 km, respectively. The Ultra trim is an all-wheel-drive (AWD) model based on a dual-motor system, with motors mounted on the front and rear axles. It delivers up to 645 hp and maximum torque of 72.4 kgf·m, with a maximum driving range of 440 km.

According to CPCA data, in April, passenger vehicle market sales were 1.368 million units, down 19.4% YoY and down 7.0% MoM; new energy market sales were approximately 817,000 units, down 6.2% YoY and up 2.4% MoM. In April, new energy market sales accounted for 59.7% of total passenger vehicle sales, up 8.4 percentage points from the same period last year. In April, BEV sales were approximately 571,000 units, up 3.9% YoY and up 2.4% MoM; PHEV sales were approximately 246,000 units, down 23.5% YoY and up 2.4% MoM. Cumulative new energy auto sales in 2026 reached 2.61 million units, down 18.4% YoY on a cumulative basis.