Tag Archives: China

Banned From The U.S., Huawei Continues To Grow Its Automotive Footprint In China

Chinese technology giant Huawei has doubled down on its push into the automotive market, particularly in China.

After the company’s massive smartphone business had to deal with the Trump administration’s decision in 2019 to blacklist Huawei for alleged threats to U.S. national security, it sees the automotive industry as a place where its technology expertise can be put to good use.

Read More: Huawei Will Provide 4G Technology To 30 Million VW Group Models

Huawei first launched its HiCar system in 2019, which allows motorists to connect their cars with their smartphones and enables things like intelligent voice assistance and navigation. This system has proved a success, so much so that more than 30 auto brands in China have started to use it, including most domestic brands and even the likes of Volvo and Audi. As many as five million new cars and light trucks sold throughout China this year will have the system, Auto News reports.

Huawei is now looking to make its mark in the electric vehicle segment. It recently announced a deal with Jianghuai Automobile Co to develop sensors and intelligent cockpits for next-generation EVs. Recently, GAC Motor Co. revealed that it will invest 800 million yuan ($123 million) to develop an intelligent electric utility vehicle with Huawei. It is reported that this vehicle will feature Huawei’s computing and communication technology, provide Level 4 autonomy, and is scheduled to hit mass-production in late 2023.

And that’s not all. Huawei’s Level 3 autonomous driving system is featured in the new ArcFox Alpha-S produced by BAIC and unveiled in April’s Shanghai Auto Show. Huawei is also working with Changhan Automobile Co. to develop an electric crossover that’s tipped to debut at November’s Guangzhou Auto Show.

ArcFox Alpha-S

Smartphone Giant Xiaomi Wants To Build Electric Cars With The Help Of Great Wall

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi is the latest company that’s looking into building its own electric cars.

Xiaomi is reportedly in talks with Great Wall to use one of its factories in China to build electric vehicles under its own brand for the mass market, which would be in line with its products in the electronics industry.

Citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter, Reuters reports that Xiaomi and Great Wall could announce their partnership as soon as next week.

Read Also: Toyota Boss Warns Apple That The Car Business Isn’t Easy

Great Wall is China’s biggest pickup truck maker

If the deal goes through, this would be Great Wall’s first manufacturing service to another company, with the Chinese carmaker offering engineering consultancy to Xiaomi in order to speed up the project.

Lei Jun, Xiaomi’s founder and chief executive, reportedly believes that his company’s expertise in hardware manufacturing will help accelerate the design and production of their electric vehicles.

“Xiaomi wants to find a mature automobile manufacturer to provide model infrastructure, enabling its own advantages in mobile internet technology,” said Alan Kang, a senior analyst at LMC Automotive. “Xiaomi’s advantages in operating systems and home furnishing also bring a lot of imagination for such cooperation in the future.”

Xiaomi, which according to the report is planning to launch its first electric vehicle around 2023, wants its cars to be connected with other devices in its product eco-system. Alongside smartphones, the Chinese tech company also offers a very wide range of internet-connected devices that includes everything from fitness trackers to scooters and rice cookers.

Great Wall’s retro-styled electric sedan concept from the 2020 Beijing Auto Show

Geely And Foxconn To Make EVs In China For Faraday Future

Shortly after it was announced that Faraday Future will be listed on the Nasdaq, it has been revealed that Geely and Foxconn are in talks to provide contract manufacturing services to the electric automaker.

In a statement issued late last week, Geely announced that it had signed a framework agreement to offer technology and engineering support to Faraday Future while also becoming a minority investor in the company’s public listing.

Read Also: Floundering Faraday Future Is Going Public, Looks To Cash In On The EV Investment Craze

While Foxconn has declined to comment on its role with Faraday Future, Reuters understands that Faraday Future will look to set up a new base in China and enlist Geely to build its electric vehicles for the local market. The company intends on commencing U.S. deliveries of the FF 91 approximately 12 months after its public listing.

Faraday Future is looking to cash in on the ongoing electric vehicle investment craze and will be taken public via a special purpose acquisition company, Property Solutions Acquisition Corp, in a deal that will value the combined entity at $3.4 billion. The listing is expected to generate proceeds of $1 billion, which will be used to bring the FF 91, that was first unveiled as a concept in early 2017, into production.

In addition to developing the high-end, luxurious FF 91, Faraday Future is working on a smaller, more accessible model dubbed the FF 81. This is being billed as a “premium mass market vehicle” and is expected to be launched in 2023. Faraday Future is also planning a model dubbed the FF 71 and a Smart Last Mile Delivery vehicle.