China Auto Thread

[Yommie]

Deepal G318 debut

Deepal G318 hardcore off-road EREV debuted today in China. Sales are expected to begin soon on this extended range electric SUV.

carnewschina.com

Deepal G318 debut​

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Mark Andrews

March 18, 2024

Deepal G318 debut

News like this to your inbox or phone?​

Weekly summary to your inbox
I want this

Never miss and important news
Get Instant notification once the news is published.
Follow Us

The Deepal G318 debuted today at the Deepal G318 Experience Day and Deepal Super Range Extension Technology Evolution Day event. Deepal’s third model the new car is a hard-core off roader using range extension EV technology.

If you’re wondering about the rather strange name G318 is the name of a national highway which runs from Shanghai to Zhangmu on the China-Nepal border. The sections through Sichuan Province and Tibet are known not only for their spectacular scenery but also often rough terrain. So the name G318 at least in China is actually quite a good name for such a vehicle, with the road having a somewhat legendary image somewhat akin to Route 66 in the US.
A video from the launch event reinforces the image showing the Deepal G318 climbing a 60% slope and so it would seem it has at least some degree of performance to match the looks and name. It’s tough credentials arrive in the form of straight lines and rounded rectangles. The surround to the headlight cluster forms a letter C and the front grille is largely solid. Retracting door handles help with the aerodynamics but with a 0.35Cd figure it is quite old school. At the rear the car has a side opening trunk very much in line with serious off-roaders. There’s a choice of seven exterior colors and three interior hues.


Pictures of the car show a roof mounted spotlight system which are a factory fitted option and can provide additional lighting when off-road or camping. Deepal also provides options such as luggage racks and spare wheels.
Deepal G318 features
How much off-road capability the car will actually have is difficult to currently ascertain. On the negative side the G318 does not use a non-load bearing (body on frame) structure unlike traditional hard-core off roaders. However the torsional rigidity of the car does reach 45,000 Nm/deg. In addition the G318 comes with an electric continuously variable differential lock and an electric differential lock on the rear axle. Along with five daily drive modes there are five off-road dedicated modes consisting of wading, snow, rough terrain, mud, and sand. For everyday use there are items such as magic carpet ride, air suspension and CDC chassis adjustment. Angle of approach is 27° while departure angle is 31°.
The G318 measure in at 5010/1985/1960 mm (l/w/h) including the roof rack and spare wheel, and the wheelbase is 2880mm. Inside there is 818 liters of luggage space with the seats up and 1747 liters with them down. Towing capacity using the optional tow hook is 1600 kg. Maximum power discharge for external use is 6 kW.


An extended range EV the G318 uses a 1.5T engine with 110 kW to produce additional electrical power. Single motor versions get a 185 kW motor on the rear axle and all-wheel drive versions add an 131 kW motor to the front. Acceleration for the dual motor version is 6.3 seconds 0-100 km/h. Curb weight for the top spec car is 2360 kg.
The G318 uses cell-to-pack and cell-to-vehicle technology with it’s Golden Bell 2.0 battery system. The advantages of these systems are that it decreases the volume needed and increases torsional rigidity. Pure electric range is 190 km (CLTC) or 155 km (WLTC), most likely for the single motor version.
Official sales should start in the second quarter with prices expected to be around 300,000 yuan (41,700 USD).
Deepal is a new energy vehicle brand from Changan. The G318 will be the brand’s third model and the brand is currently sold in both China and Thailand. Deepal aims to sell 450,000 cars worldwide this year, which would be quite an achievement from only three models.
Sources: Autohome, Fast Technology

 

[Yommie]

Chery’s Exeed Exlantix ET to start pre-sale on April 15 in China

The Exeed Exlantix ET is the first mass-produced vehicle to be equipped with CATL's LFP 2.0 Shenxing battery.

carnewschina.com

Chery’s Exeed Exlantix ET to start pre-sale on April 15 in China​

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Dong Yi Chen

March 18, 2024


0

News like this to your inbox or phone?​

Weekly summary to your inbox
I want this

Never miss and important news
Get Instant notification once the news is published.
Follow Us

On March 18, Chery’s Exeed brand announced that its new flagship Exlantix ET all-electric SUV will start pre-sales on April 15 in China. The car is known as the Sterra ET on the Chinese market. The first batch of mass-produced vehicles already rolled off the production line in Anhui Province in January. An EREV version will also be launched in the future.

Positioned as a medium-to-large SUV, the Exlantix ET measures 4955/1975/1698 mm, and the wheelbase is 3000 mm.

Developed based on Chery’s E0X high-end electric platform, the front face features a closed grille and through-type headlights. The rear also adopts a through-type taillight design. And of course, the popular pop-out door handles are not absent for the EV.

Furthermore, the Exlantix ET is equipped with 30 sensors and two Orin-X chips to realize advanced driving assistance capabilities for both urban and highway driving scenarios.

Inside, the 15.6-inch large central control screen, integrating various modes including baby, pet, and karaoke modes. The size of the instrument panel has not been revealed at this time.
Other configurations include zero-gravity seats, seat ventilation/heating/massage, a 23-speaker Lion Melody Max audio system, a 2.38㎡ sunroof, and a self-developed health monitoring system, which can monitor passengers’ heart rate, blood pressure, and other health data in real time.


Power comes from dual front and rear electric motors, with the maximum power being 183 kW/230 kW, respectively. Its 0 – 100 km/h acceleration time is 5.46 seconds. The battery pack features CATL‘s new LFP 2.0 Shenxing battery, making the Exlantix ET the first mass-produced car to do so. During the extreme cold testing at -20 °C (-4°F) in Inner Mongolia, the car charged from 20% to 80% in 24 minutes. In normal conditions at 25°C (77°F), the car can replenish 400 km of range in 10 minutes.

Source: ITHome, DongCheDi, AutoHome

 

[Yommie]

Dongfeng Forthing teases Xinghai S7 all-electric sedan

Xinghai S7 is expected to be exported overseas after its domestic launch.

carnewschina.com

Dongfeng Forthing teases Xinghai S7 all-electric sedan​

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Dong Yi Chen

March 19, 2024


3

News like this to your inbox or phone?​

Weekly summary to your inbox
I want this

Never miss and important news
Get Instant notification once the news is published.
Follow Us

This is Dongfeng Forthing’s brand-new Xinghai S7 all-electric sedan. The car is expected to be exported and sold overseas after its domestic launch in the Chinese market.

Dongfeng Forthing is a brand under Dongfeng Liuzhou Automobile Co., Ltd. In 1981, it joined the Dongfeng Motor Group. In November 2022, Dongfeng Forthing officially announced that it plans to achieve full electrification within the next three years and stop the production of ICE vehicles within the next five years.
The new car is built on Dongfeng’s S2-E platform, positioning as a medium-to-large sedan. According to previous declaration information by the Chinese MIIT, the dimensions of the Xinghai S7 are 4935/1915/1495 mm, and the wheelbase is 2915 mm. Its curb weight is 1730 kg. Power will come from an 160 kW electric motor model TZ200XS3F0 and and a lithium iron phosphate battery pack. The battery capacity has not been revealed at this time. The top speed is 160 km/h and the CLTC cruising range may reach 500 km.

Overall, the Xinghai S7 adopts a fastback shape, featuring pop-out door handles, frameless doors, chrome decorated windows, and five-spoke rims. The car will also come with front radar, side radar, and front windshield camera, implying advanced driving assistance capabilities.

The front face adopts a segmented headlight design, resembling an irregular “7” shape. Additionally, the hood has raised ribs on both sides.

The contrasting body of black and green further enhances the recognition. At the rear, the popular through-type taillight is not absent and the lower section is decorated with a black bumper, combined with a ducktail design.

Executive director of IM Motors’ creative design center accused Dongfeng of plagiarism
Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that, Xu Dengtao, executive director of the creative design center of IM Motors, questioned the appearance of the Xinghai S7 due to its similarity with the IM L7 on Weibo. What do you think of the similarity?
In February 2024, Dongfeng Forthing only sold 5,088 vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 25.2% and a month-on-month decrease of 40.1%.

Source: Chinese MIIT, MyHomeOk, DongCheDi

 

[Yommie]

The new GAC Trumpchi GS4MAX

Thats a whole lot of SUV for the price

carnewschina.com

The new GAC Trumpchi GS4MAX​

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Naveed Rastegar

March 19, 2024


3

News like this to your inbox or phone?​

Weekly summary to your inbox
I want this

Never miss and important news
Get Instant notification once the news is published.
Follow Us

The GAC GS4 MAX is the latest addition to the GS4 family, originally introduced in 2015. This long overdue update is classified as a mid-range ICE SUV that the Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) offers at an impressive price of 100,000 yuan (13,888 USD).

Starting with the exterior, the GS4 MAX boasts a large presence despite its midsize classification. A matrix-style grille dominates its front fascia. The redesigned LED headlights offer an extended illumination range of up to 150 meters. The SUV has four nano-grade exterior color options: Starry Night Black, Moonlight Grey, Superstar Silver, and Snowy White.

When viewed from the side, the GS4 MAX exhibits an elongated profile with well-defined lines. The concealed door handles add a touch of modernity and aerodynamic efficiency. At the rear, the taillights feature a unique cascading LED pattern. The rear diffuser and rear spoiler elements convey a much sportier character than its predecessor. The vehicle’s dimensions measure 4685/1901/1690 mm, with a wheelbase of 2750mm.

Stepping inside, the GS4 MAX offers a modern and minimalist design. It provides two interior color schemes: “Morning Milk Coffee” and “Chestnut Walnut.” The cabin is equipped with the ADiGO SPACE ultra-sensory interactive intelligent cabin. The centerpiece of the interior is the 14.6-inch panoramic screen, which serves as a hub for controlling various vehicle functions and entertainment options. The system supports AI voice control and multi-mode interaction, allowing users to manage different aspects of the vehicle through voice commands. The panoramic sunroof adds brightness to the cabin. It also comes with an electric sunshade. The seats are upholstered with a leather-like fabric, and the driver’s seat features a 6-way power adjustment. Both the front seat cushions and backrests are equipped with heating functions. The rear seats can be adjusted and folded flat. The trunk offers a conventional cargo volume of 638 liters, which can be expanded to 1586 liters by folding down the second-row seats. This configuration allows for a maximum loading depth of 2 meters.

Regarding safety, the GS4 MAX features an 8-airbag system, including front, side, curtain, and rear side airbags, providing coverage for all seating positions. The driver-side door panel integrates electronic child locks, allowing for the control of the rear doors and windows with a single button press.

The GS4 MAX also comes equipped with GAC’s ADiGO PILOT system, which offers eight L2-level intelligent driving assistance functions as standard. These include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian recognition and protection, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control with intelligent speed limit control, integrated cruise assistance, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, and intelligent high/low beam control.

Powering the GS4 MAX is a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine mated to a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission. The motor delivers a maximum power output of 177 horsepower (130 kW) and a peak torque of 270 Nm. With this powertrain, the GS4 MAX achieves a fuel consumption rating of 6.8L/100km (WLTC) or 6.4L/100km (NEDC). The chassis has front MacPherson independent suspension and rear multi-link independent suspension. The GS4 MAX offers a minimum turning radius of 5.4 meters and performs well in the moose test, achieving a 78 km/h score.

This new GS4MAX significantly improves on the old GS4 and does this at a lower price point. It will be interesting to see how this ICE vehicle fares against a highly competitive range of cars available in China this year.
Source: Autohome

 

[Yommie]

First EV from Nio’s European brand Firefly spied in China

Nio’s Firefly EV will enter European markets in 2025. It will be also available in China for the price range of 13,900 – 27,800 USD.

carnewschina.com

First EV from Nio’s European brand Firefly spied in China​

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Denis Bobylev

March 19, 2024


1

News like this to your inbox or phone?​

Weekly summary to your inbox
I want this

Never miss and important news
Get Instant notification once the news is published.
Follow Us

Nio’s Firefly EV was spotted in China once again during road tests. New photos reveal more details of its exterior. The Firefly EV will cost below 200,000 yuan (27,800 USD) in China. Its European debut is scheduled for 2025.

Firefly EV new spy shots​

The Firefly EV was seen in China next to the Nio’s power swap station (PSS). The spotted vehicle has an inner number 34350, which differs from the previously spied Firefly EV. Due to its long wheelbase with short overhangs, the spied vehicle looks like a hatchback. However, Chinese sources prefer to call it a crossover.

From the back, the Firefly EV has surround-view cameras in the front fenders and a slightly slanted roofline. Other features of the Firefly EV are hidden door handles, a small rear wiper, and a roof spoiler. This EV also has conventional side-view mirrors with frames. Moreover, its doors also have frames. As a result, they look less aesthetic but enhance sound deadening.


The Firefly EV has a charging port in the rear right fender. Its taillights have blocky patterns. Previous spy shots have shown that this hatchback also has blocky headlights in the front. Unlike other Nio cars, it doesn’t have cameras or a LiDAR sensor on the roof.

More info on Firefly EV​

As mentioned, the Firefly brand is explicitly developed for Europe. However, it will also sell in China at a price below 200,000 yuan (27,800 USD). There are some mixed signals about the Firefly’s manufacturing plant. According to previous reports, it will be assembled in Chuzhou, Anhui province, at the former Cheetah Automobile Factory. Other sources mention that the Firefly EV will be assembled at the Nio’s F1 factory in Hefei, Anhui province.
In 2023, Nio was quite optimistic with its annual sales target of 245,000 units. However, its global deliveries were barely over 160,000 cars. Most of them were sold in China Mainland. As a result, Nio reduced its goal for 2024 to 230,000 vehicles. This year, Nio will launch two more brands: Onvo (codename Alps) and Firefly. Onvo cars will focus on the price segment of 200,000 – 300,000 yuan (27,800 – 41,700 USD). And the Firefly will enter the 100,000 – 200,000 yuan (13,900 – 27,800 USD) field.

Source: Weibo

 

[Yommie]

GWM Haval Dargo Hi4 to unveil on March 25

Great Wall's Haval Dargo gets a new Hi4 PHEV version. The car known in China as the Big Dog Hi4 will unveil on March 25.

carnewschina.com

GWM Haval Dargo Hi4 to unveil on March 25​

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Mark Andrews

March 19, 2024


0
GWM Haval Dargo Hi4

News like this to your inbox or phone?​

Weekly summary to your inbox
I want this

Never miss and important news
Get Instant notification once the news is published.
Follow Us

The Hi4 version of the second generation Great Wall Motor’s Haval Dargo will be officially unveiled on March 25. In China the Haval Dargo is known as the Haval Big Dog, Dargo is essentially a transliteration of the Chinese name 大狗 (dagou). There is already a PHEV version of the second generation Dargo which launched last year the Hi4 is a more extreme all-wheel drive version.

Visually the car is much the same as the existing DHT-PHEV model and has the same trapezoidal front grille, with rounded rectangular dot matrix chrome decoration inside, and the blue Haval brand logo – remember in China blue equals green and so this is to let everyone you roll the new energy vehicle way. Although there are classic round headlight clusters on each side of the grille inside them are actually LED light sources.
Powering the new model is the Hi4 plug-in hybrid four-wheel drive system. It is a series parallel hybrid system which means that the 1.5T engine can both power the wheels directly and act as an electricity generator, typically the engine is used under heavy acceleration and at high speeds. Along with the engine the Hi4 system consists of a font wheel drive module and rear wheel drive module. Combined power of the system is 278 kW and maximum torque is 750 Nm, the system has an electric motor on each axle. Fuel consumption is rated at 1.83 l/100 km under the WLTC testing cycle. The Haval Dargo Hi4 also benefits from 33 kW fast charging.

When driving in town the Dargo Hi4 can intelligently switch between different working modes by accurately identifying real-time road conditions. Modes include pure electric two-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, series connection, and parallel, which greatly reduces the energy consumption under urban working conditions and makes daily commuting more economical.

In addition to how the car’s hybrid system can work there are seven actual driving modes that can be selected. These include Snow where the power between the front and rear axle is intelligently switched to make driving more stable in colder areas.
The Haval Dargo Hi4 is best seen as a light off-roader and the Hi4 technology is fully exploited when the car goes off-road. When climbing hills the Haval Dargo Hi4 can make full use of the adhesion between the front and rear wheels by adjusting the torque output of the front and rear axles, and so can tackle steep slopes. On muddy and slippery roads, the four-wheel drive system is automatically selected, and the iTVC intelligent torque vectoring control system suppresses slippage to improve driving safety. The three-power source four-wheel drive can provide stronger torque output, and with the intelligent torque vectoring control system, it can realize the rapid transfer of slipping torque, combined with sensitive response, bringing stronger off-road ability to get drivers out of trouble.

Inside the Haval Dargo Hi4 has an LCD instrument cluster and large floating central control screen. Notably the car retains a row of physical buttons under the control screen to improve ease of operation.

The Haval Dargo Hi4 comes with an L2+ intelligent driving system which works in conjunction with the NOH intelligent navigation assistance system. It gives functions such as adaptive cruise control according to conditions and regulations, lane keeping and lane changing through use of indictors. In addition the system can undertake intelligent entry and exit of ramps, intelligent lane change protection, intelligent avoidance of large vehicles, intelligent avoidance of intersection entrances, and intelligent identification of easily confused forks on highway sections covered by high-precision maps.

Editor’s note:​

The Haval Dargo is one of Haval’s most successful cars and one with some genuine off-road ability. So far more than 400,000 have been sold since the car first went on sale in 2020. The second generation began sales last year and despite being based on the same platform as the first generation is a new car. Haval is still by far Great Wall Motor’s best selling brand and getting in early on the SUV trend has done the company well.
Sources: Autohome, Dazhong Newspaper Group

 

[Yommie]

BYD reportedly started trial production in Thailand, to build plant in Indonesia

BYD reportedly started the trial manufacturing of the BYD Atto 3 (Yuan Plus) in Thailand. Its mass production is scheduled for April.

carnewschina.com

BYD reportedly started trial production in Thailand, to build plant in Indonesia​

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Denis Bobylev

March 19, 2024


0

News like this to your inbox or phone?​

Weekly summary to your inbox
I want this

Never miss and important news
Get Instant notification once the news is published.
Follow Us

Today, a Chinese insider with the nickname “源之头2018” reported that BYD started trial manufacturing at the Thailand plant. According to his sources, mass production will start here next month. The Thai factory has a planned production volume of 150,000 cars per year. In April 2024, BYD will also begin constructing the assembly plant in Indonesia.


BYD began the construction of the Thailand plant on March 10, marking this occasion with a groundbreaking ceremony. According to the brand’s officials, this factory will accelerate BYD’s sales in the Asia-Pacific market. It covers an area of 960,000 square meters and has an annual production volume of 150,000 vehicles.

BYD trial production in Thailand​

Today, the Chinese insider shared a picture from the BYD Thailand plant. This shot shows the Body in White of the BYD Atto 3 (Yuan Plus) with some parts installed. It is on the production line, surrounded by working personnel. The car in the photo has the steering wheel on the right.


It is clear that BYD started the trial production of the BYD Atto 3 in Thailand. According to the Chinese insider, its mass manufacturing launch is scheduled for April this year. In 2023, BYD sold over 30,000 cars in Thailand. The mass production start will allow BYD to intensify its expansion in Thailand and the Asia-Pacific market.

The Atto 3 is one of BYD’s driving forces in international markets. It is a compact SUV with dimensions of 4455/1875/1615 mm and a wheelbase of 2720 mm. Its powertrain comprises an e-motor for 150 kW and two LFP battery options: 49.9 kWh and 60.5 kWh. Its NEDC range is 410 – 480 km. In Thailand, the Atto 3 is offered with a starting price of 899,900 baht (25,000 USD).

BYD plant in Indonesia​

Yesterday, the Minister of Investment of Indonesia, Bahlil Lahadalia, said the Government plans to start constructing the local BYD plant in April 2024. BYD’s investments in the project reached 1.3 billion USD. Like the Thail factory, the Indonesian plant will have a production capacity of up to 150,000 cars. Three models will be assembled here: Dolphin, Atto 3, and Seal.


Currently, BYD sells three models with free import duties in Indonesia: Dolphin, Atto 3, and Seal. Previously, Eagle Zhao, President of BYD Indonesia, mentioned that manufacturing facilities are one of the Chinese brand’s plans to market its products. BYD’s local goal is to fully enter the automotive industry in Indonesia.

 

[Yommie]

BYD says EV sales in China will hit 50% market share in 3 months​

 

[Yommie]

BYD reveal e2 crossover EV with Blade battery starting at $12,000 USD​

 

[Yommie]

Zombie Internal Combustion car factories in China as buyers choose EVs​

 

[Yommie]

Nvidia strengthens cooperation with BYD, Xpeng and GAC Aion Hyper

BYD, GAC Aion Hyper and Xpeng join Li Auto and Zeekr in Nvidia Drive Thor integration.

carnewschina.com

Nvidia strengthens cooperation with BYD, Xpeng and GAC Aion Hyper​

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Adrian Leung

March 20, 2024


0

News like this to your inbox or phone?​

Weekly summary to your inbox
I want this

Never miss and important news
Get Instant notification once the news is published.
Follow Us

At Nvidia’s 2024 GTC AI Conference, Nvidia announced that major Chinese automakers including BYD, GAC Aion Hyper, and Xpeng, have embraced the Drive Thor chip to power their upcoming consumer and commercial fleets. This follows announcements made by Li Auto during CES 2024 earlier this year. Nvidia unveiled the Drive Thor back on September 20, 2022, positioning it as the successor to Drive Orin and targeting automakers’ 2025 models.


Drive Thor is primarily designed for next-generation L4 autonomous driving, driver assistance, passenger monitoring, parking functions, and in-car entertainment. The latest Nvidia Drive Thor chip will boast a performance of 2000 TOPS, surpassing the current generation Nvidia Drive Orin chip, which operates at 254 TOPS.
“This next-generation AV platform will integrate the new Nvidia Blackwell architecture, designed for transformer, LLM and generative AI workloads“, announced Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at GTC.


Nvidia is best known for its leadership in GPU development. Also, Nvidia is a frontrunner in automotive System-on-Chip (SoC) technology joining the ranks of Qualcomm. Automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, GWM, Nio, Zeekr, Xiaomi, Hyundai, and Lucid have all integrated variations of Nvidia Drive into their vehicles. We may also note that Huawei and Nio have been developing their own SoCs becoming less reliant on other manufacturers.
Speaking about Qualcomm, it will also launch its 2000-TOPS automotive SOC called Snapdragon Ride Flex. One of the first Chinese manufacturers to use this chip is FAW’s Hongqi. So, Nvidia still has a real competitor in sight.

BYD

The collaboration between BYD and Nvidia commenced in March last year. It was only to create smart vehicles based on the Nvidia Drive Orin platform. At Nvidia’s 2024 GTC AI conference, this partnership was further solidified. All forthcoming electric vehicles by BYD will feature the Drive Thor chip improving autonomous driving in BYD vehicles.
Moreover, BYD will be integrating Nvidia’s Isaac Robot Operating System (ROS), and Omniverse platforms to optimize factory productivity and retail environments. This will use Nvidia’s AI infrastructure for cloud-based AI development and training to enhance precision and efficiency.

GAC Aion Hyper
Nvidia and GAC Aion Hyper unveiled their partnership at Nvidia’s 2024 GTC AI Conference. The next-generation L4 autonomous vehicle by Hyper will be powered by the Nvidia Drive Thor chip scheduled for production in 2025.

Current GAC Aion models include Hyper GT and Hper HT. They feature three LiDAR sensors and the Nvidia Drive Orin. This enables them to achieve advanced L2+ level intelligent driving on highways and in specific urban environments. As a leader in L3 autonomous driving, GAC secured an early L3 road test license and conducted extensive road tests in day-to-day scenarios.
Xpeng
Nvidia reported that Xpeng has also confirmed its adoption of the Nvidia Drive Thor platform as the central AI system for its upcoming generation of electric vehicles. Current Xpeng vehicles adopt Nvidia Drive Orin chips.
Source: Autohome

 

[Yommie]

Wuling Mini EV and popular game Eggy Party unite

The match up we didn't know we needed.

carnewschina.com

Wuling Mini EV and popular game Eggy Party unite​

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Naveed Rastegar

March 20, 2024


0

News like this to your inbox or phone?​

Weekly summary to your inbox
I want this

Never miss and important news
Get Instant notification once the news is published.
Follow Us

As the “people’s commuting vehicle,” the Wuling Mini EV has carved out a niche in the Chinese NEV market, attracting young people with its trendy attributes and low price. The third-generation Macaron was launched in November 2023, and the latest “Eggy Party” edition will be released on March 23rd. As of February 2024, the Wuling Mini EV family has sold over 1.2 million units, securing the top spot in the micro pure electric vehicle market and leading the segment’s development.


As a popular original game from China, Eggy Party combines the entertainment and socialization aspects of a party game and has the support of 500 million users, primarily in mainland China. With shared genes of fun and innovation, the third-generation Macaron and Eggy Party collaboration will likely attract much attention from the young generation.

As a million-selling vehicle, the Wuling Mini EV and Eggy Party, with 500 million players, plan to engage in a series of online and offline interactions playing off each other’s popularity. In this collaboration, a co-branded car sticker and a co-branded car will be showcased. Furthermore, a customized theme game park map titled “Wuling Mini EV – Enjoying the Spring” will be launched in the Eggy Party game on March 19. In this personalized map, players can customize the Macaron. Players can access the map by searching for “Wuling Mini EV – Enjoying the Spring” on the Wechat platform game.


Like its predecessor, the car retains its cute, round shape and has five color options. The interior offers a four-seat layout and includes an 8-inch touchscreen, oval steering wheel, and airbag for the co-pilot. It is powered by a 30 kW motor and 17.3 kWh battery, providing a range of 215 km. The car supports both fast and slow charging methods. This car will likely remain a hot seller, priced at 46,800 yuan (6,400 USD).

Source: CQNEWS

 

[Yommie]

Wuling Xing Guang: The World's Cheapest PHEV​

 

[Menthol]

Nvidia strengthens cooperation with BYD, Xpeng and GAC Aion Hyper

BYD, GAC Aion Hyper and Xpeng join Li Auto and Zeekr in Nvidia Drive Thor integration.

carnewschina.com

Nvidia strengthens cooperation with BYD, Xpeng and GAC Aion Hyper​

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Adrian Leung

March 20, 2024


0

News like this to your inbox or phone?​

Weekly summary to your inbox
I want this

Never miss and important news
Get Instant notification once the news is published.
Follow Us

At Nvidia’s 2024 GTC AI Conference, Nvidia announced that major Chinese automakers including BYD, GAC Aion Hyper, and Xpeng, have embraced the Drive Thor chip to power their upcoming consumer and commercial fleets. This follows announcements made by Li Auto during CES 2024 earlier this year. Nvidia unveiled the Drive Thor back on September 20, 2022, positioning it as the successor to Drive Orin and targeting automakers’ 2025 models.


Drive Thor is primarily designed for next-generation L4 autonomous driving, driver assistance, passenger monitoring, parking functions, and in-car entertainment. The latest Nvidia Drive Thor chip will boast a performance of 2000 TOPS, surpassing the current generation Nvidia Drive Orin chip, which operates at 254 TOPS.
“This next-generation AV platform will integrate the new Nvidia Blackwell architecture, designed for transformer, LLM and generative AI workloads“, announced Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at GTC.


Nvidia is best known for its leadership in GPU development. Also, Nvidia is a frontrunner in automotive System-on-Chip (SoC) technology joining the ranks of Qualcomm. Automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, GWM, Nio, Zeekr, Xiaomi, Hyundai, and Lucid have all integrated variations of Nvidia Drive into their vehicles. We may also note that Huawei and Nio have been developing their own SoCs becoming less reliant on other manufacturers.
Speaking about Qualcomm, it will also launch its 2000-TOPS automotive SOC called Snapdragon Ride Flex. One of the first Chinese manufacturers to use this chip is FAW’s Hongqi. So, Nvidia still has a real competitor in sight.

BYD

The collaboration between BYD and Nvidia commenced in March last year. It was only to create smart vehicles based on the Nvidia Drive Orin platform. At Nvidia’s 2024 GTC AI conference, this partnership was further solidified. All forthcoming electric vehicles by BYD will feature the Drive Thor chip improving autonomous driving in BYD vehicles.
Moreover, BYD will be integrating Nvidia’s Isaac Robot Operating System (ROS), and Omniverse platforms to optimize factory productivity and retail environments. This will use Nvidia’s AI infrastructure for cloud-based AI development and training to enhance precision and efficiency.

GAC Aion Hyper
Nvidia and GAC Aion Hyper unveiled their partnership at Nvidia’s 2024 GTC AI Conference. The next-generation L4 autonomous vehicle by Hyper will be powered by the Nvidia Drive Thor chip scheduled for production in 2025.

Current GAC Aion models include Hyper GT and Hper HT. They feature three LiDAR sensors and the Nvidia Drive Orin. This enables them to achieve advanced L2+ level intelligent driving on highways and in specific urban environments. As a leader in L3 autonomous driving, GAC secured an early L3 road test license and conducted extensive road tests in day-to-day scenarios.
Xpeng
Nvidia reported that Xpeng has also confirmed its adoption of the Nvidia Drive Thor platform as the central AI system for its upcoming generation of electric vehicles. Current Xpeng vehicles adopt Nvidia Drive Orin chips.
Source: Autohome

I wonder, how about old established brands like Toyota, Ford, VW, etc?

And how about Tesla?

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Nvidia strengthens cooperation with BYD, Xpeng and GAC Aion Hyper

BYD, GAC Aion Hyper and Xpeng join Li Auto and Zeekr in Nvidia Drive Thor integration.

carnewschina.com

Nvidia strengthens cooperation with BYD, Xpeng and GAC Aion Hyper​

Chinese EV makers lining up for US tech...

BYD taps US chipmaking giant NVIDIA to power its next-gen EV fleet

US chip-making giant NVIDIA is expanding ties with several Chinese automakers, including BYD, as the race for the best software...

electrek.co

BYD taps US chipmaking giant NVIDIA to power its next-gen EV fleet​

US chip-making giant NVIDIA is expanding ties with several Chinese automakers, including BYD, as the race for the best software and features heats up. BYD will use NVIDIA’s Drive Thor to power its next-gen EV fleet.

BYD, Chinese EV makers select NVIDIA Drive Thor​

NVIDIA announced the partnership with BYD during its GTC conference on Tuesday. Building upon its existing collaborations, BYD is going from the car to the cloud.

BYD will use NVIDIA’s Drive Thor for its next-gen EV fleet. In addition, the automaker will use NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure for cloud-based AI development and training. BYD will utilize NVIDIA’s Isaac and Omniverse platforms to enhance factory efficiency and retail setups.

NVIDIA unveiled DRIVE Thor, its next-gen super chip, at GTC 2022. The high-performance chip can run multiple functions, such as automated and assisted driving, parking, driver and passenger monitoring, in-vehicle infotainment, and a digital instrument cluster.

With new AI capabilities, Drive Thor unlocks advanced driver-assist systems with graphics support.

After introducing the new tech, NVIDIA CEO and founder Jensen Huang called DRIVE Thor “the superhero of centralized computing, with lightning-fast performance.” It delivers an “upgradeable, safe and secure software-defined supercomputer on wheels.”

According to local reports, BYD is advancing in-house ADAS tech, with new features expected to roll out by the end of the month. The EV leader is investing $14 billion (RMB 100 billion) to become a leader in intelligent driving.

BYD was not the only Chinese automaker to expand ties with NVIDIA. Hyper, a luxury brand owned by GAC AION, will use DRIVE Thor for its next-gen EVs starting in 2025.

XPENG also announced it will use the super chip as the “AI brain” for its upcoming EV fleets. NVIDIA’s tech will power the EV maker’s XNGP AI driving system to unlock autonomous driving, parking, and passenger monitoring, among other features.

BYD, HYPER, and XPENG join China’s ZEEKR and Li Auto, which already announced plans to use the tech for future EVs.