China Automobile Industry, Technology (NEV, Driverless, etc): News & Images

[rott]

This is nothing compared to the Indian technology. I have proof.

 

[onebyone]

https://www.facebook.com/

 

[cirr]

Self-driving electric truck successfully completes testing at Tianjin Port

2018-04-13 10:57 Xinhua Editor: Gu Liping

A driverless electric truck, said to be the first in the world, starts a trial operation at Tianjin Port, April 12, 2018. The truck was jointly developed by Tianjin Port Group, SINOTRUK and Tianjin-based driverless truck startup Zhuxian Technology. (Photo: China News Service/Zhang Daozheng)

A domestically-developed self-driving electric truck has successfully completed testing at the Tianjin Port on Thursday.

The truck, equipped with laser radar, high-definition camera, and intelligent computing abilities, completed operations such as driving, parking, container loading and unloading, as well as responding to roadblocks.

"The successful test marks China's latest breakthrough in developing self-driving trucks for port operations, which will contribute to the development of green and high-tech logistics," said Zhu Lianyi, an official with Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd.

The truck, boasting a world-class driving system, can run for 120 km when fully loaded, and charge fully within one hour.

It was jointly developed by Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd, China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Co., Ltd, and Tianjin TruckTech company.

Zhang Tianlei, founder and CEO of Tianjin TruckTech, said the technology used on the truck can ensure good performance at night, and in fog, rain and snow.

Automated container wharves are the future trend for the development of ports. Self-driving trucks offer a logistics solution for the construction of automated ports.

Tianjin Port registered a throughput of over 15 million standard containers in 2017, and aims to increase that number to 18 million in 2020.

 

[TaiShang]

Quick Take: Tencent, Changan Auto Announce Autonomous-Vehicle Joint Venture

Photo: VCG

Tencent Holdings Ltd. is setting up a joint venture with state-owned Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Ltd., as the technology titan races into the booming autonomous-driving sector.

Dadi Tongtu Information Technology Co. Ltd., a unit of Tencent, will spend 102 million yuan ($16.2 million) for a 51 percent stake in the venture, while Changan will get the remaining 49 percent for 98 million yuan, according to a Changan statement on Thursday (link in Chinese).

The new company will focus on internet-connected driving that taps artificial intelligence and big-data technologies, it said.

In addition to Tencent, rivals like Baidu Inc. and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. have sought closer ties with traditional automakers to break into the business. The automakers, meanwhile, are eager to take advantage of the internet companies’ technological know-how, particularly on big data and mapping.

A case in point is Baidu and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co. Ltd, which announced in August they planned to roll out a semi-autonomous car by the second half of 2019.

In December, Changan said it had received clearance to test autonomous vehicles on public roads in the U.S. state of California. That came after the automaker completed a 2,000-kilometer (1,240-mile) road test from the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing to Beijing in 2016.


https://www.caixinglobal.com/2018-0...tonomous-vehicle-joint-venture-101234237.html

 

[TaiShang]

China's plug-in hybrid luxury AWD SUV WEY P8 Released (250.000-300.000 Yuan - 45.000USD)

Features:

P8 is the first plug-in hybrid-powered model of WEY. Compared with traditional petrol-powered models, it has better fuel efficiency, so that it can reduce emissions, while improving performance. In addition, it provides better performance (with acceleration time of 6.5s and integrated fuel consumption of 2.3L per 100km). Using the industry-leading PLUG-in intelligent 4WD technology, it provides users with a quiet and smooth driving experience, whilst allowing the driver to experience the enhanced performance of the car at high speeds without noise.

1. The world's leading efficient two-gear bridge module can create an extremely quiet, smooth and comfortable driving experience.

2. The industry-leading PLUG-in intelligent 4WD technology is adopted to enable the car to demonstrate different driving characteristics in different conditions, allowing users a pleasurable driving experience.

3. The intelligent 5+3 driving mode enables the car to achieve intelligent identification of various road conditions and realize different forms of power output.

4. The typical matrix LED headlamps of WEY, coupled with the hexagonal large intake grille, reflect a perfect combination of technology and sports.

The industry-leading PLUG-in intelligent 4WD technology offers you with a quite and smooth driving experience.

Compared with traditional power output, the combination of fuel and electricity enables the vehicle to have better fuel efficiency, which can improve the performance and reduce emissions.

The intelligent four-wheel drive and front/rear axle torque segmentation enables the car to demonstrate different driving characteristics in different conditions, providing users with more driving pleasure.

The intelligent 5+3 mode includes five normal modes (i.e., pure electric, hybrid, active energy saving, motion and four-wheel drive mode) and three special road modes (i.e., snow, mud and sand mode), so that the car can achieve the intelligent identification of a variety of road conditions and adjust different power output accordingly for more comfortable driving experience.

http://en.wey.com/list-details03.html

车身尺寸方面，WEY P8的长宽高(mm)分别为4760、1931、1655，轴距2950 mm，领先的车身尺寸为乘客带来了极佳的乘坐空间。180 mm的离地间隙，配合20°的接近角和25°的离去角，保障WEY P8应对不同路况的考验，其最大爬坡度更是达到了60%。

WEY P8的内饰采用了贯穿环抱式设计，T型中控区向驾驶员偏斜。中控上方布局简洁大方，悬浮式多媒体显示屏有效地提升了车内的档次感，圆形的空调出风口经过修饰后，显得相当精致。方向盘采用运动化平底造型，更加富有动感，配合饱满的握感，使用效果极佳。全液晶仪表盘提供了3种主题风格，车内氛围灯、中控屏人机交互界面同样提供三种样式可选。内饰工艺方面，WEY P8覆盖大面积的真皮并搭配搪塑工艺，带给乘客最为柔和的触觉质感。

舒适性配置方面，WEY P8的表现也相当出色。无钥匙进入、灯光迎宾系统、迎宾记忆(集加热、通风、按摩、记忆一体豪华座椅多功能外后视镜联动)、智能感应式后尾门、流媒体后视镜、自动大灯、全景天窗以及空气质量控制功能一应俱全。9英寸多媒体显示屏支持CarLife功能，并可以通过手机远程控制车辆预约充电和开启空调。

6.5秒2.3升 Pi4智领混动科技

WEY P8诞生于WEY品牌倾心5年研发的新能源专属平台Pi4，该平台具备更灵活、更智能、更安全的全球领先技术，可媲美国际豪华品牌新能源架构。在传统动力部分，WEY P8搭载的是一台2.0T发动机，最高功率为172kW，最大扭矩为360N•m，匹配6速湿式双离合变速箱，而新能源部分，WEY P8则在后桥安放了一台最大功率85kW，最大扭矩195Nm的驱动电机，并配有2挡减速箱。

WEY P8还拥有全球领先的ESP分轴控制技术和2模3级能量回收功能，得益于智能高效的能量管理系统，使得电池在制动、下坡及滑行时均能进行能量回收，AUTO模式下，当电量低于15.6%时发动机还将自动给电池充电，因此电机能够时刻保持加速助力，能量的释放与回收游刃有余，整车最大能量回收利用率可达65%。强大的动力输出和高效的节能设置，令WEY P8的百公里加速仅需6.5秒，综合工况油耗更是低至2.3L/100km。

除此之外，凭借Pi4平台灵活、安全、智能的特性，不仅完美成就了WEY P8燃油与电力的交融，更是带来了5种驾驶模式+ 3种全地形功能，赋予了WEY P8前所未有的驾驶乐趣。与目前流行的插电混动架构对比，WEY P8 不仅在加速度、功能成熟度、驾驶平顺性、综合爬坡性、全车安全性均达最优，整车效率更是达到国际一流技术水平。

 

[Zuraib Qasit Khan]

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/chin...ruiser-prado-2018-seven-7-seater-suvs.556070/

Chinese SUV Haval H9 vs Toyota LandCruiser Prado - 2018
Comparison & Review

 

[TaiShang]

BYD rolls out stellar lineup at Beijing auto show
By Zhang Rui
China.org.cn, April 27, 2018

New energy technology company BYD unveiled new cars and other products at its "Shaping Manufacturing for a Smart Future" showing at China's most prestigious auto expo this year.

Wang Chuanfu, president and chairman of BYD (middle), Wolfgang Egger, design director of BYD (right), and Zhao Changjiang, general manager of BYD Auto Sales (left) pose for a photo at the 2018 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, April 25, 2018. [Photo courtesy of BYD]

BYD introduced its biggest showing ever on Wednesday, including the New Generation of Tang, Qin Pro – its pure electric concept car the E-SEED – the intelligent connected system "DiLink" and the "e Platform" at the 2018 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. In addition, BYD also debuted a new member of the Dynasty series, Song MAX DM and Yuan EV 360, among other popular passenger vehicle models.

"The auto industry is undergoing a revolution which has never happened before. Internationalization, electrification and intelligent connection have evolved from just ideas to reality," said Wang Chuanfu, president and chairman of BYD. "We are at this historical turning point where BYD is stepping into the new era of automotive manufacturing with the world's leading intelligent connected system DiLink and the e Platform which DiLink is a part of. BYD is reshaping the way of transportation."

Developers will be able to contribute to the enhancement of DiLink as technology, as its 341 sensors and 66 control limits will be an open platform, something that has never happened before in the world. BYD also unveiled its pure electric 4 wheel-drive E-SEED, which boasts a new DUAL BLADE design concept. It is capable of travelling 600 kilometers on a single charge and accelerates from 0-100 kilometers in 3.9 seconds.

BYD has invested heavily in research and development and recruited top engineering and design talent as it pushes ahead into overseas markets. Over the past two years, BYD has hired former executives from renowned German automakers to oversee its transformation, including Wolfgang Egger, who currently heads its design department, and Heinz Keck, a tuning suspension and steering systems expert. Egger designed the Dragon Face concept car, which the new Qin Pro is based on. It is expected to be commercially available in 2019.

Since its founding as a rechargeable battery manufacturer in 1995, BYD has gradually evolved its business into a maker of electric vehicles for private, public and industrial use. The company has also invested heavily in battery technology and solar panels, thereby creating a full set of new energy products.

BYD will continue its overseas expansion, bringing its expertise in electric vehicles to cities ranging from Singapore to London. BYD is now present in more than 200 cities in 50 countries and regions and was the number one seller of new energy vehicles in the world between 2015 and 2017.

 

[TaiShang]

Geely to sell new auto brand in Europe in early 2020

By Zhang Chunyan | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2018-04-29

Geely Auto Group launches Lynk & Co 01PHEV, a new energy model, at the Auto China 2018 in Beijing on April 25, 2018. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Chinese carmaker Geely Auto Group's new brand, Lynk & Co, will go on sale across Europe in early 2020, the company announced.

"Starting in Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Barcelona and London, we will take our brand on a rolling road show across Europe, starting in 2020 – to make sure we cover as much of the key cities of the continent from our first year on sale," Alain Visser, senior vice-president at Lynk & Co, said at the ongoing Auto China 2018 in Beijing.

The company launched Lynk & Co 01PHEV, a new energy model, at the show.

The new energy technology is mainly implemented by three steps: the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and the battery electric vehicle (BEV).

Lynk & Co is developed on the basis of the brand-new compact modular architecture (CMA) that was jointly created by Geely and Volvo. Its technologies and quality aims to rival that of other luxury brands.

Geely's Lynk & Co 01 PHEV, a new energy model, will target the European market. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Visser said Lynk & Co 01 PHEV, the first model targeting the European market, will be put into production at Volvo's Ghent Plant in Belgium in 2019 and open for sales to the European market in the first half of 2020.

As a new high-end brand, Lynk & Co has been dedicated to exploring younger urban consumers' lifestyles and consumption habits in the internet age. It follows its brand ideal of "personal, open and connected", focusing on urban youth who are both open and unique.

In the future, Lynk & Co will share Volvo's drive-E powertrain, Visser revealed. "In the future there will be further progress in resource collaboration between the two brands, including possible collaboration in architecture technology and clean, efficient powertrain technologies," he added.

As the new energy vehicle segment has been the main battleground in the global automotive market, it also is one of the core directions that Lynk & Co is heading in.

"While developing the CMA, we took all of this into account and built into the CMA the flexibility to use different powertrain technologies, including pure electric, plug-in hybrid, petrol-electric hybrid, mild hybrid new energy power, and traditional fuel powertrain," said Zhu Ling, vice-president of Lynk & Co research institute.

At the present stage, the hybrid and plug-in hybrid technologies are important strategic pivots for Lynk & Co's development of new energy technology, Zhu said.

Geely launches the Lynk & Co 02 at the Auto China 2018 in Beijing on April 25, 2018. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

According to Mats Fagerhag, CEO of China-Euro Vehicle Technology, CMA is a modular vehicle architecture for compact cars that meets the toughest demands on the global market of today and tomorrow.

"It is a fully scalable and modular architecture that accommodates a wide range of powertrains and new technologies," added Fagerhag.

At the Beijing auto show, the company also launched the Lynk & Co 02 in full production specification, and confirmed the start of production at its Zhangjiakou factory in North China's Hebei province.

Lynk & Co 02 is positioned to be a sports crossover SUV. Visser confirmed the vehicle will be available for sale in the Chinese market in the middle of June.

Lynk & Co 01, which was released last year, is praised by customers for its leading safety and excellent driving experience.

New cars from Chinese automakers are steadily going up in market value, a key indicator of improved brand awareness and quality, according to a survey conducted in February by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and market researcher JD Power.

Analysts noted that China's auto companies are likely to continue the positive trend as they begin to roll out models designed specifically to compete against international brands in the domestic market.

Some of these models are already making an impact. The Lynk & Co 01 sold more than 6,000 units in January, which is a solid figure considering the model was only released late last year.

"We aim to emulate our sales success in China in Europe as well, and I can tell you that the reaction to our brand and our innovative sales model and brilliant designs in Europe has been extremely warm – these are very exciting times indeed for Lynk & Co," Visser said.

 

[TaiShang]

Qiantu at Beijing Auto Show: We welcome foreign competition

Nicholas Moore
2018-04-30

For new Chinese brands trying to find their feet in the rapidly expanding car market, having control over the technology underneath the hood is extremely important. This was the message Lu Qun, chairman of domestic new energy performance brand Qiantu Motor, conveyed to CGTN at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show.

Qiantu, with its dragonfly logo symbolizing agility and speed as well as recalling elements of Chinese culture, has three cars on display at the ongoing Beijing Auto Show, with the centerpiece K50 ready to enter production from its recently completed factory in Suzhou, eastern Jiangsu Province.

One of three Qiantu NEVs on display at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show. /VCG Photo

The electric performance sports car can reach speeds of 200 kilometers per hour, with its stunning design and carbon-fiber chassis making it one of the most eye-catching vehicles on display at the auto show.

The other two vehicles on display were a glimpse of what Qiantu has in store for the future in terms of its brand and the wider Chinese NEV sector – a small-scale sports car, and a four-door, four-seater coupe model.

While concerns continue to be raised about potential trade friction with the US and how that could affect industry supply chains for domestic brands, Lu was confident that his brand would be unaffected, telling CGTN that Qiantu had “mastered the underlying technology” behind the car, adding that the company attached great importance to being in control of the materials and processes used during manufacturing.

Lu called the threat of so-called trade frictions “short-lived,” but welcomed the long-term nature of increasing competition in the auto sector, calling it “a positive for the industry.”

The recent announcement of plans to remove caps on foreign investment in the automotive industry by 2022 has raised questions over how this will affect domestic brands. For Lu, China’s car market is already an “internationally competitive industry” where joint ventures between domestic and overseas brands already provide foreign competition to domestic manufacturers, meaning the reforms will not make much of a difference.

Lu pointed to what he called a “small advantage” in being a 100 percent Chinese company in the domestic market, saying it meant Qiantu are slightly closer to their customers, and therefore in a better position to pinpoint and deeply understand their users. Lu said that in a market as big as China’s, “the closer you are to your users, the bigger is your advantage.”

https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414d3267544d77457a6333566d54/share_p.html

 

[JSCh]

New green car models a focus at Beijing expo
Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-05 22:04:33|Editor: ZX


BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) -- New green cars drew wide attention at the 15th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.

A total of 174 new models of new energy vehicles (NEVs) were presented at the expo, which concluded Friday. Of the models, 124 were developed and manufactured in China.

"BYD sold 130,000 NEVs worldwide in 2017, and we plan to sell 200,000 this year," said Wei Xing of new energy automaker BYD.

Wei said BYD is focused on new energy cars, and more models will be unveiled later.

NEVs are popular in China, the world's largest auto market, as they reduce fossil fuel consumption and air pollution.

The country's stock of NEVs is over 1.6 million, about half the world's total. About 143,000 NEVs were sold in Q1, up 154 percent year on year.

Problems of cars' short ranges, long charging time and a shortage of charging stations are gradually being addressed.

"We have a new ternary battery in our latest model," said Li Yujun, technical director of BAIC BJEV. "It has high energy density and better performance at low temperatures."

Charging station network needs to be expanded, Wei Xing said.

"BYD plans to build 30,000 charging poles this year in more cities," Wei said.

Many marques, including NIO, Singulato and Byton, brought new models or concept cars to the exhibition.

"Competition increases public awareness and understanding of NEVs, and encourages more traditional car makers to venture into the sector," said BAIC BJEV general manager Zheng Gang.

 

[Cybernetics]

Beijing Auto show. China is creating an entire supply chain and ecosystem around the EV industry, attracting others to build their brands in China.

 

[TaiShang]

Beijing Auto show. China is creating an entire supply chain and ecosystem around the EV industry, attracting others to build their brands in China.

Especially with respect to new energy and autonomous vehicle, China has early mover's advantage, I believe.

As far as traditional automobile, China has caught up with in terms of exterior design and quality. Now they China Car Inc. need to concentrate on higher-end (better interior and specifications) aspect of automobile, going, in this sense, beyond 300.000 Yuan mark.

No more lingering on 90.000-120.000Yuan mark. People have money now and even they want to by China Inc, sometimes there is simply no enough options.

For instance, Geely. They need to go a little more premium.

***

Geely Auto extends sales surge on strength of 4 crossovers

Automotive News China | 2018/5/8

Geely Automobile Holdings continued to record robust sales in April, with deliveries rising 49 percent year on year to 128,817.

Demand for four compact crossovers drove most of the gains at the company.

Sales of the Boyue, Emgrand GS and Vision, which are marketed under the Geely brand, tallied 23,025, 12,425 and 10,983 last month.

Deliveries of the 01 crossover, the first product under the company’s newly created Lynk & CO brand, reached 9,079 vehicles in April.

The four crossovers, with sales totaling 55,512, accounted for 43 percent of Geely’s deliveries in April.

In the first four months, Geely delivered 515,113 vehicles, a rise of 41 percent from the same period last year.

At the Beijing auto show last month, Geely introduced a new flagship sedan, the Borui GE plug-in hybrid. The vehicle will go on sale this summer.

The Borui GE is the third electrified vehicle Geely has rolled out, following plug-in hybrid and electric versions of the Emgrand car.

The company wants to derive 90 percent of its annual sales from hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles by 2020.

Geely, based in the east China city of Hangzhou and listed in Hong Kong, is a subsidiary of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. Zhejiang Geely also owns Volvo Car Corp.

 

[TaiShang]

Hopefully, the IPO will be launched in China. The US investment environment is too unpredictable.

***

May 16, 2018 04:27 AM

Geely Eyes Over $30 Billion Volvo Cars Valuation, Sources Say
By Zheng Lichun and Han Wei

Geely took control of Volvo Cars in a $1.8 billion deal in 2010. Photo: VCG

The Chinese owner of Volvo Cars is working on an initial public offering of the luxury car unit that could value the Swedish carmaker at more than $30 billion, sources close to the matter told Caixin.

Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., the private auto group that also controls British sports carmaker Lotus, expects a Volvo valuation of between $30 billion and $40 billion in the potential listing, a person close to Geely said.

https://www.caixinglobal.com/2018-0...olvo-car-valuation-sources-say-101250345.html

 

[JSCh]

Volvo's British design chief says China is better at building cars than Europe
Business Insider Nordic

Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic alongside a Volvo XC70.
Volvo Cars Press

• When Volvo Cars was sold to a Chinese company in 2010, some feared that the quality of the cars would take a nosedive.

• But according to Volvo’s global design chief, Chinese factories are actually better than their European counterparts as they rely less on automation.

• Today, Volvo Cars is selling more than ever and making record profits.

• According to media sources, Volvo Cars might seek to go public with a valuation of $30 billion, well above comparable rivals.

In 2017 Volvo Cars sold 571,000 cars, more than ever, and posted a record profit of more than $1.6 billion.

The company’s Chinese owner, Geely, is currently seeking an initial public offering of more than $30 billion for the Swedish brand, according to Financial Times.

When Ford Motor Company sold the Swedish brand Volvo Cars to the Chinese automotive company Geely in 2010, some feared that the quality of the cars would go down.

But according to British-born Robin Paige, senior vice-president of design at Volvo Cars, that notion is far from what is actually happening today. Volvo is currently manufacturing cars in Sweden, Belgium, and China, and the factories in China are higher rated than those in Europe, he argues.

“What we’re finding is that the quality of the cars are actually better in China than they are in Europe,” he told Australian autosite Go Auto recently.

He said that European factories are so highly automated that ”you haven’t got that manual adjust.”

Less automation in Chinese factories allows for more fine-tuning.

“They’ve got more people on it, less automation, which actually gives you that ability to get tighter on the tolerances … and make finer adjustments,” he said, adding:

“It’s not a massive difference but if you do scores-to-scores and averages, China’s pretty damn good, so we’re not so worried about that now.”



Volvo's British design chief says China is better at building cars than Europe - Business Insider Nordic

 

[TaiShang]

BYD sees sharp growth in global orders

By Chai Hua in Shenzhen | China Daily | Updated: 2018-05-22



An employee installs brake pads on a BYD vehicle at the firm's assembly plant in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.[Photo/Agencies]


China's leading electric vehicle maker BYD on Monday signed a contract for 200 electric trucks with a Brazilian firm, marking the company's largest order for e-trucks in the international market.

The e-truck's gross weight with full load is around 21 metric tons and needs three hours to charge to full capacity, which can power the vehicle to operate over 100 kilometers. All of the trucks are expected to be delivered before 2023.

It is the company's second large-scale deal for heavy-duty trucks in less than one month. Earlier this month, BYD sold 500 electric dump trucks－its largest sales order of its kind. These dump trucks can run for 280 kilometers when fully loaded.

"BYD has entered the stage of the commercial application of e-trucks and it can also drive its battery business, which is expected to be independent soon," said Hu Feng, an electric vehicle analyst at Shenzhen Gaogong Industry Research Center.

He said the heavy-duty freight vehicle sector could become a new and important category for BYD, after buses, which are its "business card," and step forward to realize its "diversification strategy."

But the subsidy cut for e-buses dragged down its net profit in the first quarter by 83 percent year-on-year.

Meanwhile, the bus market is approaching saturation point. For instance, all buses in Shenzhen have been transformed to be electric-powered since the end of last year, while most of its dump trucks are still traditional ones so far and the city plans to gradually upgrade them to electric ones since the beginning of this month.

Moreover, consultancy Frost & Sullivan wrote in a report that the Chinese electric truck market will be the global electric medium heavy-duty truck leader, and is expected to be dominated by fully electric trucks with a 61.1 percent market share.

Wang Liusheng, chief analyst for the automobile industry at CSM Securities, said: "Sales of e-trucks could bring an additional income to BYD's current business, but if they want to expand the market, battery energy density and endurance ability need to be further improved."

He said that the biggest two obstacles to the development of the e-truck market are battery life and cost. Unlike passenger vehicles, trucks are loaded with cargo so this requires a longer battery life.