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A quick look at the week’s core news:
1.TeslaRelease of driverless taxi Cybercab and driverless bus Robovan
2. Xiaopeng P7+ was unveiled in Paris, with a pre-sale price of 209,800 yuan
3.ThalysPlans to acquire Wenjie Super Factory for 8.164 billion yuan
4.Stellantis GroupOfficial announcement of management changes
5. General Motors plans to invest US$145 million to build a battery cell factory in Michigan
Corporate News
ideal carPreparations are being made for the establishment of a Hong Kong chip R&D office, and the tape-out of smart driving chips has begun.
On October 9, it was reported by Late Auto that Li Auto plans to establish a chip R&D office in Hong Kong and is recruiting AI chip architects with grades 18-19. The office is positioned as an international technology exchange center and is affiliated with the Ideal Chip pre-research department. The current open positions roughly correspond to technical experts/senior experts from leading domestic Internet companies (such as Alibaba P7/P8). The team size is expected to be about 10 people. .
Legend Rui plans to spin off its automobile business and go public with a valuation of about 50 billion yuan
Some media reported that Chery Holdings is considering listing its automotive unit in Hong Kong, with a valuation of about 50 billion yuan. Discussions are still ongoing and details such as the specific size of the IPO may change.
Horizon passes Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing hearing
On the evening of October 8, Horizon passed the Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing hearing. According to the hearing information, based on the total installed capacity of solutions in 2023 and the first half of 2024, Horizon ranks fourth among advanced assisted driving and high-end autonomous driving solution providers in the Chinese market, with market shares of 9.3% and 15.4% respectively. .
Xpeng Motors: Robotaxi will be officially launched in 2026
On October 10, He Xiaopeng, chairman of Xpeng Motors, issued an article responding to the progress of Robotaxi business, saying that Xpeng Motors will achieve a software experience that benchmarks overseas first-class Robotaxi on mass-produced vehicles in the second half of 2025, and plans to officially launch Robotaxi in 2026. business.
NIOThe third brand “Firefly” will be released at the end of the year
On October 10, according to Qin Lihong, co-founder and president of NIO, NIO’s third brand “Firefly” will be released on NIO Day 2024. Its models will be sold in NIO showrooms and share NIO’s services and exchanges. electrical system.
Ningde eraReached strategic cooperation with Taizhong Group
Taiyuan Heavy Machinery Group Co., Ltd. and CATL recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Taiyuan, Shanxi. According to the agreement, Taizhong Group will use CATL as its preferred partner for power batteries in the construction machinery field, and CATL will provide power battery products and service guarantees to Taizhong Group. In addition, both parties will make full use of their respective advantages to strengthen collaboration in new energy application fields such as energy storage and battery swapping.
GAC Group: A wholly-owned subsidiary plans to invest US$27 million in strategic investment in Pony.ai
On October 10, GAC Group announced that the 70th meeting of the sixth board of directors reviewed and approved a number of proposals. In order to strengthen the collaborative layout of the industrial chain in the field of key components such as intelligent wire-controlled chassis, the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary GAC Parts Co., Ltd. plans to increase its capital in Chenzhi Technology with no more than 550 million yuan and obtain 30% of the equity; in order to deepen business synergy and promote The company’s development in the field of autonomous driving has allowed the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary GAC Capital Co., Ltd. to invest US$27 million in Pony.ai.
Avita is undergoing a C round of tens of billions of financing and its post-investment valuation exceeds 30 billion yuan
On October 11, Avita Technology President Chen Zhuo revealed at the Avita Technology key supplier partner communication meeting that the company is conducting C financing, raising funds of 10 billion yuan, and the post-investment valuation will exceed 30 billion yuan.
Cyrus plans to fully acquire Wenjie Gigafactory for nearly 8.2 billion yuan
On October 11, Thalys (601127) announced the “Report on Asset Purchase by Issuance of Shares (Draft)”. The company plans to purchase Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Longsheng New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. held by Chongqing Industrial Investment Fund of Funds Partnership (Limited Partnership), Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Development Investment Group Co., Ltd., and Chongqing Liangjiang New Area Industrial Development Group Co., Ltd. by issuing shares. 100% equity of the company.
The number of shares planned to be issued this time is 123 million shares, accounting for 7.53% of the company’s total share capital after the issuance, including: 52.861 million shares of Chongqing Industrial Fund of Funds, 32.3686 million shares of Liangjiang Investment Group, and 37.740 million shares of Liangjiang Industrial Group. The issuance price is 66.39 yuan per share, and the transaction price is 8.164 billion yuan.
After the transaction is completed, Longsheng New Energy will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, and the company will obtain ownership of the super factory, ensuring the safety, stability, independence and controllability of the company’s product production end, and improving the asset integrity and control of the company’s important businesses.
Cao Cao Travel: Launching a fully customized Robotaxi model within two years
Cao Cao Travel CEO Gong Xin revealed Cao Cao Travel’s Robotaxi strategic plan for the next five years at the Sixth Global Intelligent Driving Conference: launching a fully customized Robotaxi model within two years; at the same time, combined with the travel operation experience accumulated over the past nine years, Cao Cao Travel will build a coverage The full-scenario automated operation system application will be launched in 2025 and officially opened in 2026.
Automotive grade digital-analog hybrid chip design company XinBida completed a new round of financing of nearly 100 million yuan
Recently, Wuhan Xinbida Microelectronics Co., Ltd. officially announced the completion of the A1 round of financing. This round of financing was led by New Micro Capital, with participation from well-known investment institutions such as Optics Valley Financial Holdings. The funds will be mainly used for the research and development and mass production of next-generation system basic chips (SBCs), domain controller chips, driver chips and other products to further enrich the company’s product matrix and strengthen the company’s market expansion efforts.
Personnel changes
Li Liyun and Zheng Yeqing were promoted to vice presidents of Xpeng Motors
On October 10, Xpeng Motors issued a personnel announcement, announcing the promotions of Li Liyun and Zheng Yeqing to vice presidents of the company.
Li Liyun joined in October 2014Baiduworks at Baidu Silicon Valley R&D Center and is a founding core member of Baidu’s US self-driving car R&D team; in June 2019, Li Liyun joined Xpeng Motors and served as senior director of autonomous driving and person in charge of intelligent driving decision planning algorithms and simulators , responsible for the research and development of Xiaopeng Motors’ high-speed and urban autonomous navigation assisted driving system NGP. Before promotion, he was the person in charge of autonomous driving at Xiaopeng Motors. Zheng Yeqing joined Xpeng Motors in November 2020 and has since served as the international general counsel and compliance officer of Xpeng Motors Co., Ltd.
Product manager Song Ziwei announced her resignation from Ideal
On October 8, Song Ziwei issued an article stating that she had resigned from Ideal, and said that leaving Dachang was a carefully considered choice. Song Ziwei also said, “I have been paying attention to the AI intelligent hardware track, and I hope to explore this imaginative new field.”
Car companies going overseas
Very kryptonianThe car officially arrives in Norway
On October 9, Jikrypton Motors officially announced that it has officially landed in Norway and will cooperate with local Norwegian dealers to build a sales and service network.
Among them, Jikrypton 001 and Jikrypton X are the first batch of models. Pre-orders will start this month, and the first batch of deliveries to Norwegian users is expected to begin at the end of 2024. The price of Jikrypton 001 starts from 579,900 Norwegian kroner (approximately 387,000 RMB), and the price of Jikrypton X starts from 424,900 Norwegian kroner (approximately RMB 283,000).
Nezha Automobile enters the Central Asian market and Nezha X debuts in Tashkent
On October 8, Nezha Auto held a launch ceremony for Nezha X in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, and held a delivery ceremony for the first 30 owners.
Denza launches in Singapore market
On October 10, Denza Motors held a launch conference in Singapore for the right-hand-drive version of the Denza D9, officially landing in the Singapore market. The right-hand drive version of the Denza D9 is priced at S$296,888 to S$341,888 (approximately RMB 1.61 million to RMB 1.853 million).
New car launch
Pre-orders for Fang Baobao 8 have started, with a pre-order price of 400,000-500,000 yuan
On October 12, Fang Baobao 8 opened for pre-order, with a pre-sale price of 400,000-500,000 yuan.
The Fangbaobao 8 has a body size of 5195*1994*1905mm and a wheelbase of 2920mm. The new car is positioned as a 6/7-seat off-road SUV. Currently, three exterior colors are available: Star and Moon Silver/Daybreak Gold/Night Shadow Black.
In terms of smart driving, Leopard 8 will be equipped with Huawei Qiankun Smart Driving ADS 3.0, which supports smart driving functions such as high-speed/city pilot assistance and valet parking.
In terms of chassis and power, Leopard 8 uses the 2.0T DMO platform and is equipped with a full-featured version of the Yunnan-P intelligent hydraulic body control system. The comprehensive maximum power of the power system is 550kW, matched with a 36.864kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, the official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 4.8s, the CLTC pure electric cruising range is 100km, and the WLTC fuel consumption per 100 kilometers is 8.87L.
Lynk & Co Z20 released overseas, priced at 35,000 euros
On October 11, Lynk & Co Z20 made its debut in Milan, Italy and was officially launched in Europe. The starting price is 35,495 euros (approximately RMB 274,000). It will be sold in Europe under the name of the all-new Lynk & Co 02 (the all new 02). Sale.
Lynk & Co Z20 has a body size of 4460*1845*1573mm and a wheelbase of 2755mm. It is positioned as a pure electric compact SUV. In terms of electric power, the European version of Lynk & Co Z20 is equipped with a 66kWh ternary lithium battery, matched with a 200kW rear motor.
The new car is built based on the SEA architecture and is positioned as a pure electric compact SUV. It will be launched in China within this year and is expected to sell for no more than 200,000 yuan.
The version sold in China will be equipped with a 250kW motor and a 61.47kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, with a CLTC cruising range of 530km.
Xpeng P7+ unveiled, pre-sale price is 209,800 yuan
On October 10, Xpeng P7+ announced its exterior, interior and some configurations. The car will be available for pre-sale at the Paris Auto Show on October 14 with a pre-sale price of 209,800 yuan and will be officially launched in November.
In terms of body size, the length, width and height of the new car are 5056/1937/1512mm respectively, and the wheelbase is 3000mm.luxuryBrand executive cars are similar.
In terms of power and battery life, Xpeng P7+ is expected to launch in two versions, equipped with a 180kW rear motor + 60.7kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, with a range of 602km under CLTC conditions; and a 230kW rear motor + 76.3kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack, CLTC The cruising range under working conditions is 710km. The whole series of the car uses an 800V high-voltage electrified architecture, and the cruising range can be increased by 300km after 10 minutes of charging.
In terms of intelligent assisted driving, the Xpeng P7+ is Xpeng’s first model to apply the AI Eagle Eye pure vision solution. The car cancels the lidar and comes standard with high-end assisted driving functions. There is no subscription fee and it can be used immediately after delivery.
Geely Xingyuan goes on sale, priced at 69,800-98,800 yuan
On October 9, Geely Xingyuan will be listed on the market. The new car is positioned as a pure electric small car, with a total of 5 models launched, priced at 69,800-98,800 yuan.
The length, width and height of the new car are 4135/1805/1570mm respectively, and the wheelbase is 2650mm. The dimensions andBYDSimilar to dolphins.
In terms of electric power, the new car is equipped with two Aegis batteries of 30.12/40.16kWh, matched with a 58/85kWh rear axle motor. The CLTC pure electric range is 310/410km, and the 30-80% charging time only takes 21 minutes.
Overseas car company news
BMW will invest approximately 1.415 billion yuan in Brazil
BMW announced that it has entered a new investment cycle in Brazil and will invest 1.1 billion Brazilian reals (approximately RMB 1.415 billion) in Brazil. This investment will be used for decarbonization and new model research and development.
LG New Energy announces business diversification plan
On October 7, LG New Energy Company (LGES) said that amid the slowdown in electric vehicles, the company aims to more than double sales by 2028, focusing on non-electric vehicle business. LGES will expand its business involving energy storage systems (ESS), urban air mobility (UAM), battery as a service (BaaS) and energy as a service (EaaS).
Volvo to undergo management reshuffle
Volvo Cars is changing its management team, with Chief Commercial Officer and Deputy CEO Bjorn Annwall leaving the company. Meanwhile, Volvo said Bjorn Annwall will stay on temporarily to assist with the transition. As part of the reorganization of the management structure, the position of deputy CEO will be eliminated.
honda carsElectric vehicle strategy may be adjusted
According to Bloomberg, Honda Motor said it may make dynamic adjustments to its electrification roadmap if demand for pure electric vehicles continues to weaken. “We have enough room for adjustment in our schedule to build electric vehicle plants around the world, and if things go in an unexpected direction, we will do so in a timely manner,” Honda Chief Executive Toshihiro Mibe said at Honda’s Technology Days. Adjusting the electric vehicle strategy, he said, may include delaying the establishment of some battery production lines.
Hyundai Motor India IPO next week, valuation expected to reach $19 billion
According to Reuters, sources revealed that the initial public offering (IPO) of Hyundai Motor’s Indian unit will be open for subscription next week. Subscriptions will be opened to large institutional investors on October 14, and bids from retail investors and other categories of investors will be invited from October 15 to 17. The issue price is likely to be between 1,865-1,960 rupees (approximately $22-23) per share. If priced at the upper end of the issuance price range, Hyundai Motor India’s valuation will be as high as $19 billion.
Toyota delays start of production at its U.S. electric car plant until 2026
Toyota Motor has delayed the start of production of its North American electric vehicle plant by six months to approximately June 2026 due to factors such as supply chain disruptions and slowing electric vehicle sales.
Stellantis Group officially announces management changes
On October 11, Stellantis Group issued a management adjustment statement, involving Stellantis Group, North America, Europe, China, and brands such as Jeep and Alfa Romeo. The company’s CEO Carlos Tavares will retire when his contract expires in early 2026. Currently, Stellantis is looking for Tavares’ successor. In addition, Doug Ostermann, chief operating officer of Stellantis Group China, will succeed Natalie Knight as the company’s chief financial officer, who will leave the company; Gregoire Oliver is appointed chief operating officer of China; Santo Ficili is appointed as chief operating officer of the Maserati and Alfa Romeo brands CEO.
General Motors plans to invest $145 million to build battery cell factory in Michigan
General MotorsThe company is planning to build a $145 million battery cell prototype factory at its Global Technology Center campus in Warren, Michigan, near Detroit. GM said that the battery development center is expected to start construction next month. The factory will help GM speed up the development of electric vehicle battery cells, reduce costs, and solve manufacturability issues before mass production. Cell production is expected to begin in 2027.
Tesla launches self-driving taxi Cybercab and self-driving bus Robovan
On October 11, Tesla released the driverless taxi Cybercab and the driverless bus Robovan. Among them, Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals and does not require a driver. The cost is expected to be less than US$30,000 and will be put into mass production by 2026 or 2027. The Robovan features sliding glass doors and face-to-face seating with wheels that retract inward. Musk said the vehicle can carry up to 20 people and can also be used to transport cargo.
Tesla’s car project chief jumps to Waymo
On the eve of the release of Tesla’s Robotaxi driverless taxi, Daniel Ho, Tesla’s former director of automotive projects and new product integration, recently announced that he will switch to Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving unit, as project director.
Toyota invests $500 million in flying car company Joby
According to Automotive News, Toyota and electric flying car startup Joby Aviation recently jointly announced that Toyota will invest an additional US$500 million in Joby to support Joby’s continued certification of its electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft and accelerate its The two companies collaborate on commercial production.
(This article was first published on Titanium Media App)
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