China's EV Industry Sees Multiple Milestones on May 18: Patents Hit 110,000, BYD Faces Battery Shortage

According to Jin10, as of May 18, 2026, China’s electric vehicle sector reported several key developments. China’s new energy vehicle patent filings exceeded 110,000, maintaining global leadership in EV innovation. State Power Hi-Tech released its fifth-generation lithium iron phosphate battery for all scenarios; Tesla reported its first U.S. price increase for Model Y in two years, while denying price adjustments in China; and BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu highlighted battery production capacity constraints amid rising demand. Leapmotor affirmed unchanged second-quarter sales guidance with its second brand arriving by mid-2027 at the earliest.