BEIJING (AP) — China’s vision for the future of cars — electrified and digitally connected — is on display at the ongoing Beijing Auto Show.
Organizers say 117 new models are making their debut at Auto China 2024, which runs until May 4. They range from striking avant-garde models to more subtle novelties.
THE CONNECTED CAR
One of the biggest mob scenes was for the opening day presentation of Xiaomi, a major Chinese maker of smartphones and trendy, affordable smart gadgets aimed at younger generations entering the car market for the first time.
Xiaomi announced that it has received more than 75,000 orders in the four weeks since the launch of its first car, the SU7, with a list price of 215,900 to 299,900 yuan ($29,800 – $41,400).
Why does a telephone company make a car? Analysts say connectivity. Consumer technology companies want to connect their customers’ lives across all their devices—phones, laptops, TVs, and now cars.
“It starts with the concept of the third seat,” said Beatrix Keim, China director at the German automotive research center CAR. “Because nowadays people are in the office, at home, and then they mostly spend their time in the car.”
The approach works well in China, a highly digital society where electronic payments are the norm and the convenience of connectivity trumps privacy concerns for most.
Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei has also ventured into the automotive business. Apple explored the idea but abandoned it earlier this year.
THE CAR AS A LIVING SPACE
Some Chinese manufacturers are taking the idea of a third space to new heights.
Zeekr introduced the Mix, an electric vehicle with an interior that can transform into a small room while parked. The front seats swivel to face the rear, with a table between them that the company executive said the crowd could use to play cards or enjoy a Chinese meal.
Stefan Sielaff, Zeekr’s design director, described the Mix as a “nice experiment” focused on younger families.
“I wouldn’t even call it a car, an MPV or a van,” he said. “It’s more of a lifestyle capsule. It’s an iPod on wheels.
It will be the fifth model for Zeekr, the 2 1/2-year-old premium EV brand of China’s Geely Group, a major manufacturer that owns Volvo and has designers in Sweden and Shanghai.
The Mix will go on sale in China by the end of June, the company said. Its sale price has not been announced.
THE HYBRID APPROACH
The electric car boom in China that began three years ago ate up the market for gasoline cars, but they are not dead yet.
That’s according to Chery Automobile Co., China’s biggest exporter, which told its auto show audience that it will continue to develop gasoline cars as well as electric cars and hybrids.
Its EXEED Yaoguang C-DM, a hybrid SUV launched last month, was one of four vehicles it highlighted – two hybrids and two EVs.
The Yaoguang SUV sells for 159,800 to 225,800 yuan ($22,000-$31,000) in China and is also targeting overseas markets, the company said in a statement.
Hybrids, which have lagged behind EVs in China, are now seen as a growth opportunity. Last year, 2.6 million new hybrids were sold in China, about half the number of electric cars. Together they represent 36% of the market.
THE LUXURY TANK
Chinese electric car maker BYD, known for its low-cost battery and car technology, is also targeting China’s high-end market, defined as 1 million yuan ($140,000) and above.
Its Yangwang brand has unveiled the latest version of the U8, a monster of an off-road SUV that was launched last September and is designed to survive in harsh conditions. Comes with a satellite phone in case a driver is out of cell phone range.
The U8 is built on a platform that allows it to turn in place, like a tank. It is priced at 1.1 million yuan ($150,000). For 100,000 yuan ($13,800) more, buyers can add a built-in drone system.
A MORE EASTERN APPROACH
Volvo, the Swedish brand now under Geely, has offered an answer for those overwhelmed by technology.
“The current EV market is marked by a prevailing trend of excess and addition,” said Roger Yu, Volvo’s managing director of Greater China sales.
It introduced the EX30 electric SUV as a user-friendly vehicle with a sophisticated sound system and a tablet screen that are easy to use.
“By subtracting for ease of use and adding for safety, Volvo aims to give users the clearest interface, the most convenient operation and the most soothing smart experience,” he said of the in-car display.
The company announced that the EX30 will be sold in China for 210,000 to 260,000 yuan ($29,000 – $36,000).
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Associated Press researcher Yu Bing and video producer Olivia Zhang contributed.
