NIO Capital Updates

 

▌Zhongke Qingneng Secures Nearly RMB 500 Million in Funding Led Jointly by NIO Capital

 

Zhongke Qingneng, a deep-tech company specializing in advanced cryogenic systems, has completed a nearly RMB 500 million funding round, co-led by NIO Capital. The proceeds will be used for R&D and engineering delivery of large-scale liquid hydrogen systems, China's largest nuclear fusion cooling system, key cooling systems for major scientific facilities, and third-generation quantum cryogenic sensing systems, as well as the construction of a second manufacturing center. 

 

NIO Capital Partner Carl Guan stated that the firm remains committed to identifying foundational technologies shaping future industries, noting that the cryogenics sector serves as critical infrastructure for strategic fields like nuclear fusion and hydrogen energy and, more importantly, as the breeding ground for challenging the limits of physics and cultivating future industries.

 

▌NIO Capital Leads Pre-B Round in Robotics Startup LinkHou 

 

NIO Capital has led LinkHou's Pre-B round to fuel the embodied AI company's "R&D-translation-mass production" innovation loop, bolstering its technological moats and production capacity.

 

NIO Capital Partner Adair Lyu noted that embodied intelligence represents a trillion-yuan golden track reshaping global productivity, but faces a key bottleneck: a lack of standardized industrial-grade or automotive-grade components and scalable production capacity. Linkhou addresses this gap with integrated capabilities—from core modular components to full robot delivery—enabling consistency and scalability for global clients.

 

▌Anhui Shenji Signs Over RMB 2.2 Billion Initial Funding Agreement with NIO Capital Participation

 

Anhui Shenji, China's first developer of 5nm automotive-grade chips to achieve large-scale commercialization, has signed an agreement for its inaugural funding round exceeding RMB 2.2 billion, with participation from NIO Capital. Its Shenji NX9031 chip, known for delivering performance equivalent to four conventional chips, has consistently ranked first among domestic automotive chips. Since production began in 2024, over 150,000 units have been shipped and deployed across all NIO models. 

 

 

Portfolio Updates

 

Milestones

 

▌LimX Dynamics Completes USD 200 Million Series B Funding

 

Robotics firm LimX Dynamics has completed a USD 200 million Series B round with participation from multiple renowned domestic and international investors. The company recently launched its multi-form embodied robot TRON 2 and embodied AI OS system LimX COSA, both of which have gained widespread industry recognition.

 

 

▌Rhino Completes Over RMB 800 Million Pre-B Funding

 

AI chip company Rhino has completed a Pre-B funding round exceeding RMB 800 million. The funds will accelerate its transition from technology validation to scaled delivery and deepen integrated innovation across the industry chain. Its core RISE computing platform, powered by the self-developed R1 chip optimized for embodied intelligence, has already entered mass production and delivery. 

 

▌Eacon Surpasses 100 Million Kilometers in Safe Autonomous Mining Operations

 

Autonomous haulage solutions provider Eacon has achieved a cumulative 100 million kilometers of safe operations, demonstrating its expertise in mining, vehicles, and AI. This milestone sets a new industry record for autonomous mining driving. 

 

 

▌CALB's Commercial Vehicle Battery Deliveries Surge 630% Year-on-Year in January

 

Lithium battery technology leader CALB saw the deliveries of its battery for commercial vehicles grow 630% year-on-year in January. The company also received annual awards from over ten industry leaders including Sinotruk and Chery Commercial Vehicle. 

 

▌Pony.ai's First Mass-Produced bZ4X Robotaxi Rolls Off Line; Added to MSCI China Index

 

Autonomous driving company Pony.ai celebrated the rollout of its first mass-produced bZ4X Robotaxi, developed through strategic cooperation with Toyota Motor China and GAC Toyota, marking a new phase of scaled production and operations. Separately, Pony.ai became the first and only autonomous driving company to be included in the MSCI China Index.

 

▌BoCloud's FoLib Artifact Repository Integrates with ClawHub

 

Cloud computing service provider BoCloud has integrated its FoLib artifact repository with ClawHub, enabling unified management of over 3,000 open-source community capabilities alongside the company's self-developed technologies to build an enterprise-grade skills platform.

 

Cooperation & Win-win

 

▌Momenta Signs Upgraded Cooperation MoU with Mercedes-Benz

 

Leading autonomous driving technology company Momenta has signed an upgraded Memorandum of Understanding with Mercedes-Benz to further deepen their collaboration in future mobility. 

 

▌Dexmal Forms Strategic Partnership with Huaqin Technology; Dexmal-backed RoboChallenge Releases First Annual Report

 

Embodied AI company Dexmal has entered a strategic partnership with Huaqin Technology, a global intelligent product platform enterprise, to collaborate on full-stack robotics software and hardware R&D, mass production of embodied AI technologies, and deployment in industrial production scenarios. The partnership adopts an "embodied-native + scaled manufacturing + scenario closed-loop" model to accelerate the transition of general-purpose robots from technology validation to scaled commercialization. 

 

Separately, RoboChallenge—the world's first large-scale embodied AI benchmark platform co-created by Dexmal and Hugging Face—released its inaugural annual report, showing significant growth in user registrations and evaluation submissions over the past months. 

 

 

▌Pony.ai Forms Strategic Partnership with Moore Threads

 

Autonomous driving company Pony.ai has entered a strategic partnership with GPU company Moore Threads. The collaboration will focus on L4 autonomous driving technology, specifically around the training and optimization of Pony.ai's world model and virtual driver system, to enable technological iteration and commercial deployment.

 

Going Global

 

▌PCG Power Forms Strategic JV with UK's Octopus Energy, Draws Global Media Attention

 

Comprehensive energy management service provider PCG Power announced the formation of a joint venture, Bitong Energy, with UK-based Octopus Energy during the UK-China Business Forum held in Beijing. The partnership garnered widespread coverage from authoritative media including CCTV, Bloomberg, Reuters, BBC, Caixin, Yicai, and 21st Century Business Herald.

 

 

▌Momenta and IM Motors Land in UAE and Tunisia with IM AD System

 

The IM AD intelligent driving system, co-developed by autonomous driving company Momenta and IM Motors, has been deployed on two intelligent electric models—the IM5 (overseas version of IM L6) and IM6 (overseas version of IM LS6)—marking a deepened strategic move of the two companies in the Middle East and North Africa markets. 

 

▌AICT Hosts Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for Site Visit

 

Smart transportation solutions provider AICT welcomed the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) from the Philippines for a visit to its Zhangjiakou base. The delegation inspected AICT's high-precision artificial intelligence (HAI) technology and China's first city-level road network spatial intelligence project.

 

Sustainable Business

 

▌AlphaESS Named 2025 National-Level Green Factory

 

Solar energy storage solution provider AlphaESS has been recognized as a 2025 National-level Green Factory, a prestigious honor in industrial green development led by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

 

 

Honors

 

▌Inceptio Technology Featured Again in ARK Invest's Big Ideas 2026 Report

 

Developer of autonomous driving technologies for heavy-duty trucks Inceptio Technology has been included in ARK Invest's flagship annual report, Big Ideas 2026, led by renowned investor Cathie Wood. The company is highlighted as a key representative in the global autonomous long-haul trucking sector.

 

 

▌AlphaESS Retains BNEF Tier 1 Global Energy Storage Manufacturer Status

 

Solar energy storage solution provider AlphaESS has once again been named a Tier 1 energy storage manufacturer by BloombergNEF (BNEF), recognized for its comprehensive strengths in technological innovation, product performance, and large-scale project delivery.

 

 

▌TrunkTech Founder Named to Forbes China New Era Disruptive Founders List

 

Zhang Tianlei, Chairman of TrunkTech, a provider of L4 autonomous driving technology for trucks, has been selected for the Forbes China New Era Disruptive Founders list, in recognition of his exceptional industrial innovation and commercialization achievements in autonomous driving and AI logistics.

 

▌Whale Named to GEI China Potential Unicorn Enterprises List

 

AI marketing and sales operations platform Whale has been included in the GEI China Potential Unicorn Enterprises List, receiving recognition from leading domestic think tank Greatwall Strategy Consultants for its robust AI technology and strong growth momentum. 

 

▌PCG Power Wins Multiple Prestigious Awards

 

Comprehensive energy management service provider PCG Power has been recognized across several major rankings, including ChinaVenture's 2025 Annual Rising Companies, Cyzone's 100 Future Unicorns, and the Foresight 2026 Annual List.

 

▌CALB Receives Multiple OEM Awards

 

Lithium battery technology leader CALB received awards from customers including XPeng, Leapmotor, and Changan. In 2025, CALB's power battery installations grew 53% year-on-year, ranking among the global top three in monthly installations.

 

▌United Winners Secures Four Customer Awards

 

Laser equipment supplier United Winners was honored with four awards from clients: CATL's 2025 Excellent Supplier and 2025 Capacity Ramp-up Pioneer Award, ATL's 2025 Stable Supply and Excellent Service Award, and LY iTech's 2025 Diamond Quality Award.

 

▌INFY Named "Shenzhen (Bay Area) Famous Brand"

 

Energy storage innovator INFY has been recognized as a "Shenzhen (Bay Area) Famous Brand," an annual public welfare initiative promoting brand cultivation jointly organized by the Shenzhen Federation of Industry and over 70 industry associations, institutions, and media outlets, now in its 23rd year.