Old Zeekr car owners rushed into the headquarters building to defend their rights. Two model changes in half a year caused controversy, and the official responded; BYD salesperson scolded customers: Why are you so stubborn when you bought a broken car; Cadillac implies that Zeekr frequently releases new cars丨Auto Morning News
Latest update time：2024-08-15
Reads：
Today's Hot Topics
HOT NEWS
Zeekr's two model changes in half a year caused dissatisfaction, and a large number of old car owners rushed into the headquarters building to defend their rights. The official response: Provide old car owners with 10,000 yuan car purchase vouchers. Zeekr will give advance notice in the future
On August 14, it was reported that during the Zeekr new car launch conference, netizens expressed dissatisfaction with Zeekr's continuous launch of two Zeekr 001 models within half a year, and flooded the live comment area with messages asking Zeekr to return their money. In addition, many car bloggers posted pictures of a large number of Zeekr car owners going to offline stores to hold banners to defend their rights. The banners said, "Xiaomi spends three years to sharpen one sword, and Zeekr spends three swords in one year. Zeekr Cars, consumer fraud, betrays the trust of car owners. 001 sold three generations in half a year, Shufu or not!" According to other online news, many Zeekr car owners surrounded the Zeekr Building to ask for an explanation in "rational rights protection".
It is reported that the two new cars released this time have been upgraded in performance. Except for the entry-level Zeekr 001, which uses the Mobileye smart driving chip, the other models are equipped with dual Orin X smart driving chips plus laser radar smart driving solutions. The dual Mobileye EyeQ5H equipped in the old Zeekr 001 only has 48TOPS computing power, while the dual Orin X can reach 508TOPS computing power, which is ten times stronger. This behavior of increasing quantity and reducing prices has caused old car owners to play a joke in the comment area of the press conference: (old car) 48 (TOPS) computing power is all used to calculate the car owner.
On August 14, Zeekr held a media group interview after the 2025 Zeekr 001 and 007 were officially released on August 13. Speaking of the two new models of Zeekr 001 this year, Zeekr said that the 2024 Zeekr 001 had been planned at the beginning of last year, but the market situation changed this year, and 001 was iterated in the first half of the year. Zeekr CEO An Conghui further said, "Maybe we didn't do it well enough and didn't communicate in advance. In the future, Zeekr's products will be released in advance."
"We understand and respect the feelings of users, and we are also aware of the importance of trust. Therefore, Zeekr provides old car owners with a car purchase voucher worth 10,000 yuan, so that old car owners can buy the latest Zeekr products at the best price." Zeekr said. It is understood that at the end of February this year, Zeekr released the 2024 Zeekr 001, with a price range of 269,000-329,000 yuan. On August 13, Zeekr launched the 2025 Zeekr 007 and the 2025 Zeekr 001 at the same time, with a price range of 259,000-329,000 yuan, achieving an increase in configuration and a price reduction, which caused dissatisfaction among old car owners. (Sina Technology, Fast Technology)
Industry News
INDUSTRY NEWS
It is said that Hodo's pursuit of GAC's restructuring was blocked, core departments were disbanded, and July wages could not be paid.
According to reports, the restructuring plan promoted by smart driving solution provider Hodo Technology and GAC Group has encountered changes, and Hodo's capital chain is very tight. Affected by this, Hodo is disbanding most of its core departments such as data and R&D, and suspending R&D activities.
It is reported that Hodo held shareholder meetings in Beijing and Guangzhou last week regarding the reorganization of GAC, but the reorganization plan was not supported by all shareholders. Ni Kai subsequently sent an internal letter to inform employees of the reorganization and said that the company would not be able to pay the July salary and the overdue wages and provident fund. On August 12, Hodo held an online meeting to inform employees to pack up and leave the office, and they could apply for voluntary resignation later. Some employees who have not been able to get their wages moved the company's water dispensers.
According to public information, Hodo founder Ni Kai once worked for Microsoft and Baidu, created Baidu's driverless team, and was an important technical leader in the early days of Baidu's autonomous driving business. Hodo Technology was founded in June 2017 and has raised more than 1 billion yuan in total. Investors include IDG, Sequoia China, Guangdong Science and Technology Finance, GAC Group and NavInfo. Map supplier NavInfo has invested in Hodo many times. In its 2023 annual report, it mentioned that they have included 18.96 million yuan of "loss of other comprehensive income" in their investment in Hodo Technology. (Late Auto)
A customer was insulted by a BYD salesperson when buying a car: "You bought a broken car, why are you arguing with me?" The 4S store responded
Recently, a netizen posted a video saying that he was repeatedly insulted and slandered by a salesperson when he bought a 60,000 yuan car at BYD Auto Beijing Ruijie 4S store. The male customer who posted the video said that on the day of picking up the car on August 10, the salesperson answered a private phone call while helping him with the car pick-up procedures. After two urgings, the salesperson said that he would no longer help him with the car pick-up procedures, and he was also insulted by the salesperson.
Then a conflict broke out between the two parties. During the conflict, both parties were very emotional and pushed each other. The male salesman was being pulled away by other employees, but at the same time he said to the customer, "I just bought a broken car, why are you arguing with me?" He kept cursing and tried to rush to the customer. In the face of the salesman's continuous insults and counterattacks, the customer said, "I bought a car worth 60,000 yuan. Do you think I am not worth it? Do you look down on me?"
In response to this, BYD 4S store said in an interview that it would take relevant measures against the person responsible. The customer hit the salesperson, the 4S store has called the police and will take legal action. However, the customer said that he did not hit the salesperson and hoped to get an apology from BYD 4S store. The customer said that he submitted a complaint to BYD customer service on August 10, but did not receive any response until August 13. "Why didn't you solve my complaint, but instead spread rumors that I hit someone." (Hong Kong Satellite TV)
Cadillac launches "immediate replacement" service to mock Zeekr, and Zeekr's vice president hits back
On August 14, Cadillac launched the "Instant Replacement" service, which was a veiled satire on Zeekr's two model changes in half a year. In the poster, Cadillac used the word "ZEEKER" directly, and the copywriting was "Not afraid of sharpening the sword three times a year, giving you the confidence to maintain the value of 20% off for three years", which was full of sarcasm. However, Cadillac's official Weibo account has deleted the post.
In response, Zhu Ling, Vice President of Zeekr, said: I didn't want to reply, but there are always netizens @ me. The hero is old, the sunset is afterglow. Once a classic, it is finally a wave. In the electric era, China is rising, and Detroit is no longer glorious. The entry-level version of Zeekr 007 only needs 20.99W standard configuration, a single motor is 310KW, dual orin, laser radar, 8295... Faster than you, smarter than you, younger than you, and more affordable than you... Time will not go back, history will not go back, see you in my mirror. (Sanyan Technology)
Car owners complain that it is difficult to renew insurance for electric vehicles such as Nezha and Aion. Insurance companies: It is not profitable
Recently, some Nezha and Aion car owners reported that their new energy vehicles had never been used for online ride-hailing, but their premiums increased significantly when they renewed their insurance, or that insurance companies refused to provide insurance. Nezha Auto officials said the news was untrue, and that the renewal rate of Nezha Auto's sold vehicles had dropped by more than 8% overall, and that there were no insurance companies refusing to provide insurance. However, there are still car owners who posted online that they have experienced premium increases and insurance rejections.
According to reports, a female GAC Aion car owner told the insurance company that she spent 150,000 yuan to buy an Aion S Plus last year, and drove more than 8,000 kilometers in a year, but did not use online ride-hailing services. As a result, when she renewed her insurance this year, her car was rejected and the premium even increased significantly. She even complained more than a dozen times, but the insurance issue has not been resolved. The female car owner said that her car insurance premium is normally around 4,000 to 5,000 yuan, but the insurance company quoted her 6,000 to 7,000 yuan.
Despite her repeated complaints, the insurance company still did not give her a satisfactory quote, and the insurance agent was even unwilling to communicate with her when he heard that she was driving a new energy vehicle. The insurance agent told her that because they did not receive commissions for selling insurance for some new energy brand models, they were unwilling to accept such orders. The agents who were willing to sell insurance often required bundled sales, such as requiring car owners to purchase seat insurance when buying car insurance.
In this regard, the lawyer explained to Autohome that the insurance company's practice is legal and compliant, because the insurance company calculates the premium based on the overall compensation data of the car brand. Some brands have a high proportion of online ride-hailing vehicles, and the overall brand and model compensation rate is also high, so the insurance premiums for private car owners are higher, and it is not targeted at a certain model, brand or consumer. (Fast Technology)
Ideal Auto responds to suing auto blogger for millions: There is a lot of insulting information about MEGA models
On August 14, Ideal Auto responded to the lawsuit against the auto blogger, saying that the video posted by the blogger contained a lot of insulting information that defamed the brand and the MEGA model, causing adverse effects on the company. The case is currently under trial in court, so it is inconvenient to respond to more details.
Previously, the car video blogger "Dong Laosi Talking about Cars" released a video saying that he had received a response notice from the Wujin District Court of Changzhou City. Beijing Ideal Auto Co., Ltd. sued him for the video he had previously released about Ideal MEGA, which damaged the image of MEGA and caused a decline in sales. At present, the blogger has entrusted a lawyer to respond to the lawsuit. The blogger said that he would actively respond and hoped to solve the problem through communication. He emphasized that his original intention of talking about cars was to make friends and create enthusiasm for new energy together, rather than deliberately damaging the image of any company.
"Dong Laosi Talks about Cars" has 356,000 followers on the Douyin platform. It uses a funny style of situational dialogue. As of press time, its account has published 195 works and received 5.195 million likes. The blogger also mentioned in the video that Ideal Auto believes that its behavior constitutes infringement of the MEGA model and damages the image of entrepreneurs. According to the relevant content of the response notice, Ideal Auto made three demands: first, delete the video, second, publicly apologize for 30 days, and third, compensate 1 million yuan and bear the litigation costs.
Ideal Auto also stated: "The public and self-media have the right to reasonably evaluate and discuss social hot issues, but these have certain limits and cannot exceed the boundaries of the law. This includes so-called jokes created by self-media, which cannot rise to serious insults or defamation to slander the company." (Sina Technology)
Jaguar Land Rover becomes the brand with the highest inventory in July, and some dealers lose more than 100,000 yuan by selling one car
On August 14, the China Automobile Dealers Association released the results of the "Auto Dealer Inventory" survey in July 2024: Jaguar Land Rover, Beijing Hyundai, and Dongfeng Nissan became the three brands with the highest inventory depths. Jaguar Land Rover's inventory coefficient reached 2.55, which has exceeded the 2.5 mark of excessive inventory, making it the brand with the highest inventory in China in July.
By visiting many Jaguar Land Rover sales outlets in Guangzhou, Zhuhai and other places, many salesmen said that the current discounts are very large and the cost-effectiveness is very high, and it is a good time to buy. Take the 25th Discovery Sport, which was just launched on July 15 this year, as an example. The starting price of the car is 388,300 yuan, but the current terminal quotation has a discount of more than 100,000 yuan, and it can be landed at 238,000 yuan, including purchase tax, insurance and other miscellaneous fees.
A dealer revealed that they have been losing money selling Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. In the past, they lost about 80,000 to 90,000 yuan per vehicle, but now they lose 130,000 to 150,000 yuan per vehicle. Among the 12 models in the store, only the Range Rover and Defender are profitable, while the other 10 models are losing money. Affected by the high losses, many Jaguar Land Rover brand dealers have chosen to switch to other brands or close down. It is reported that there are no Jaguar Land Rover sales stores in Qingyuan and Zhanjiang, Guangdong, and they only provide after-sales services. (Fast Technology)
Zeekr officially responds to the recent controversy over 001: Old users cannot update the Haohan Intelligent Driving
On the evening of August 13, Zeekr released the 2025 Zeekr 001 and the 2025 Zeekr 007. On August 14, Zeekr Auto released "Zeekr 2025 New Product Release and Answers to User Questions", responding to some recent controversies.
Regarding the question of "Why is the vast intelligent driving version of Zeekr 001 released at this time? Is there any preparation for the release of the 2024 Zeekr 001 in February?", Zeekr officials said: "For models like the 2024 Zeekr 001, which include the development of the whole vehicle, three-electric, cockpit, etc., the development cycle is about 14-18 months, so it was confirmed and launched in early 2023. At that time, there was no plan to adopt the vast intelligent driving solution. After the 2024 Zeekr 001 was launched on February 27 this year, the vast intelligent driving equipped with Zeekr 007 has been widely praised by users and the industry. Therefore, an internal decision was made to launch a self-developed intelligent driving solution. Therefore, the vast intelligent driving version, which was originally planned to be realized by the end of this year, has realized the first phase of functions ahead of schedule, and more functions can be realized through OTA within the year."
Regarding the question of "Can old users pay to switch to the Haohan Intelligent Driving Solution?", Zeekr said: "I'm sorry, the old models cannot be replaced. Because Zeekr 001 uses the Haohan Intelligent Driving Solution version, it uses a different layout scheme from the Mobileye Intelligent Driving Solution in terms of underlying chips, system control, wiring harness layout, etc., and there are two sets of solutions at the system and hardware level."
Regarding the question of "Will there be no models with Mobileye solutions in the future?", Zeekr said: "Zeekr and Mobileye are strategic partners. The current Zeekr 001, 009 and overseas models are equipped with Mobieye's intelligent driving solution. The two parties will continue to work closely in the future, and the intelligent driving functions of Mobileye's solution will continue to be updated." In addition, Zeekr said that Zeekr 009 currently has no plans to update the vast intelligent driving solution, and will not be updated within the year. (CNMO)
Dong Yuanqiang, head of Xpeng's technology development department, resigned, and Zhang Yu, head of QINGZHOU perception, joined
On August 14, Leifeng.com's "New Intelligent Driving" reported that Dong Yuanqiang, head of Xpeng's technical development department, had resigned. Zhang Yu, head of Qingzhou Zhihang's perception, had also resigned and joined Xpeng Motors. According to a previous report by "Red Star", Xpeng recently adjusted its organizational structure, and the technical development department was split into three departments, namely AI end-to-end, AI application, and AI energy efficiency.
Dong Yuanqiang graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2010 with a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering. Previously, Dong Yuanqiang was the general manager of Xiaopeng Motors' intelligent driving perception. Zhang Yu worked as a software development engineer at Waymo Research. In 2019, Zhang Yu left Waymo and joined QINGZHOU Zhihang as the director of perception. He has served in QINGZHOU for more than 5 years and is responsible for the algorithm development of QINGZHOU Zhihang's perception module. (For more information, please click
Exclusive丨Xiaopeng Technology Development Department Director Dong Yuanqiang resigned, and QINGZHOU Perception Director Zhang Yu joined
)
Zeekr Legal Department refutes rumor that CEO threatens to lock car owners' backend information
On the evening of August 14, the legal department of Zeekr issued a statement saying that in response to the release of Zeekr's 2025 new products, a large number of organized rumors, photoshopped images, and fabricated personal attacks and other false information have appeared on the Internet platform recently. This illegal act of fabricating and spreading false information has greatly damaged the reputation of the Zeekr brand. In this regard, Zeekr Automobile has secured relevant evidence and reported to the police, and will severely investigate the legal responsibilities of all rumor makers in accordance with the law. (Sina Technology)
SAIC Passenger Vehicle personnel changes: Yu Jingmin appointed as executive vice president, Zhu Yong appointed as vice president
On August 14, the Passenger Vehicle Branch of SAIC Motor Corporation Limited (hereinafter referred to as "SAIC Passenger Vehicle") announced that, upon the decision of the SAIC Group Party Committee, Yu Jingmin, former Secretary of the Party Committee and Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing of SAIC Volkswagen Co., Ltd., was appointed as Executive Vice President of SAIC Passenger Vehicle; and Zhu Yong, former Executive Director of Powertrain Platform of the Business Planning and Project Management Department of SAIC Passenger Vehicle, was appointed as Vice President of SAIC Passenger Vehicle.
Public information shows that Yu Jingmin has nearly 30 years of experience in the automotive industry. He has served as regional general manager of SAIC Volkswagen, sales director of SAIC Volkswagen Skoda brand, deputy general manager of SAIC Passenger Vehicles, executive vice general manager of sales and marketing of SAIC Volkswagen and general manager of Shanghai SAIC Volkswagen Sales Co., Ltd., and secretary of the Party Committee of SAIC Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd.
Zhu Yong also has more than 20 years of experience in the automotive industry and is a "technical" executive. Zhu Yong has served as the senior manager of engines in the Business Planning and Project Management Department of SAIC Passenger Vehicles, the senior manager of NLE projects in the Business Planning and Project Management Department, the director of the Powertrain Project Management Department of the SAIC Group Technical Center, and the executive director of the power drive platform of the Business Planning and Project Management Department of SAIC Passenger Vehicles.
Since the beginning of this year, SAIC Passenger Vehicle has focused on the field of plug-in hybrid technology, and has launched major products such as Roewe D5X DMH, and recently launched the "Super Safe Chip Commitment" policy to deal with the price war in the auto market. In the first seven months of this year, SAIC Passenger Vehicle's Roewe and MG dual brands had a cumulative global terminal sales of 477,000 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 12%. (Daily Economic News)
A powerful alliance? It is reported that the next generation Audi A5 will be equipped with Huawei's intelligent driving solution
On August 14, it was reported that the next-generation Audi A5 built on the PPC platform will be the first model equipped with Huawei's intelligent driving solution. According to Audi's new naming rules, the A5 will replace the A4 currently on sale. Audi China officials said that its Beijing ADAS Technology R&D Center is committed to providing Chinese consumers with top driving assistance technology and is working extensively with many domestic and foreign suppliers, but the specific details of the cooperation and the names of the suppliers are not available for the time being.
Next-generation Audi A5
It is reported that the core electronic and electrical architecture of the PPC platform was jointly developed by Audi and CARIAD, in which Huawei's intelligent driving technology will be deeply integrated into Audi's HCP 2 driver assistance system. The report also pointed out that in addition to the cooperation with Huawei, Audi has also launched another cooperation with SAIC Group. The models built on the Zhiji platform will be equipped with intelligent driving solutions from Momenta, a Chinese startup autonomous driving company. This model will partially use another logo on the body, but the traditional Audi four-ring logo will still appear in certain positions on the body. (CNMO)
Dongfeng Motor denies rumor of building a factory in Italy: only preliminary contact
On August 14, in response to rumors of building a factory in Italy, Dongfeng Motor Group said that Dongfeng Motor and the Italian government are only in preliminary contact and have not yet started substantive contact. Recent market news shows that as a condition for supporting Dongfeng to build a new factory in the local area, the Italian government requires Dongfeng Motor to agree to take measures in terms of network security and data protection.
In addition, Italy requires that 45% of the parts of each car produced by Dongfeng must come from Italy. However, Dongfeng Motor said that during the negotiations on the conditions for building the factory, such as network security, data protection, and 45% of the parts being produced locally, Dongfeng Motor did not discuss related topics. (Southern Finance Network)
One of the best-selling fuel SUVs, the new generation Changan CS75 PLUS rolls off the production line
On August 14, the new generation Changan CS75 PLUS (fourth generation) rolled off the production line of Changan Smart Factory in Hefei and is expected to be officially launched in September. CS75 PLUS is Changan's star SUV model and the best-selling self-branded fuel vehicle. The car as a whole continues the family design language, equipped with a large-size inverted trapezoidal front grille, and also has a through-type LED daytime running light. There are three parallel daytime running lights on each side, and the Changan logo in the grille can be lit up. Its length, width and height are 4770/1910/1695 (1705) mm respectively, and the wheelbase is 2800mm. It is positioned as a compact SUV. The tail also uses the currently popular through-type taillight group, but it has a lot of pixelated light sources, and it is very recognizable when lit.
As it is a new generation model, the overall changes are very big. The most eye-catching thing on the center console is the integrated triple screen similar to Mercedes-Benz. The specific size is not known yet. It is estimated that the center console screen is larger and is expected to reach 15.6 inches. The instrument panel and the co-pilot entertainment screen may be 13.2 inches, which is also the most common solution at present. In addition, the car is also equipped with a new double-spoke style multi-function steering wheel. The multi-function buttons on it are visually changed to touch-type. At the same time, almost all physical buttons in the car are cancelled, so it will appear more simple, but it also brings some troubles to users who are used to physical buttons.
The declaration information shows that the new car will be equipped with a brand-new Blue Whale 1.5T engine with a maximum power of 141 kilowatts. It will still be matched with the Aisin 8AT gearbox. It is expected to launch a 2.0T version and a plug-in hybrid version in the future. (Fast Technology)
Sales volume surged 16 times, and the M7 became the No. 1 extended-range model in China in 2024, far surpassing the No. 2
According to data from the China Passenger Car Association, China's new energy vehicle retail sales in January-July 2024 reached 4.99 million, a year-on-year increase of 34%. Among them, extended-range models are becoming more and more popular. They accounted for only 8% of new energy vehicle models in 2023, but the proportion in January-July this year has increased to 11%, and even reached 13% in July.
In terms of specific models, the top 10 extended-range models in wholesale from January to July 2024 are Wenjie M7, Ideal L7, Wenjie M9, Ideal L6, Ideal L9, Ideal L8, Deep Blue S7, Qiyuan Q05, Deep Blue SL03, and Wenjie M5. Among them, Wenjie M7 performed the best, with wholesale sales reaching 122,000 units in the first seven months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 1661%, far ahead of other models. (Fast Technology)
The all-new Lincoln Navigator will be released on August 15: starting at RMB 1.008 million
On August 14, Lincoln Motors officially released a preview of the new Navigator, announcing that this new generation model will be officially released on August 15. The new Navigator is expected to adopt a design style similar to the new Navigator and may be equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 hybrid system. For reference, the current price range of the Lincoln Navigator on the market is 1.008 million to 1.258 million yuan.
The design details of the new Navigator are shown in the preview image, including the luminous front grille, two-tone rims, the Navigator logo on the front door, the slender light strip at the rear, and the "LINCOLN" logo. From the camouflaged real car image, it can be seen that the front face of the new car has been greatly adjusted, with a larger air intake grille and a slender headlight group, and the overall style is consistent with the new Navigator. In addition, the side styling of the new Navigator basically continues the design of the current model, and the rear of the car is expected to use a through-type taillight shape.
In terms of power configuration, the new Navigator is likely to be equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 hybrid system, while the current model is equipped with a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine with a maximum power of 305 kilowatts and a maximum torque of 670 Nm, matched with a 10-speed manual transmission. (Fast Technology)
Smaller size and lower price! SAIC Volkswagen Tuyue XR will be released on August 21
According to news on August 14, SAIC Volkswagen will launch a new model, Tuyue XR, on August 21. The price is expected to be lower than the current Tuyue, and its price range is 158,600 to 216,600 yuan.
The exterior design of the Tuyue XR is available in two styles: black version and chrome version. The black version is decorated with black elements on the exterior mirrors, window edges and roof racks, and is equipped with black rims, showing a more dynamic appearance. The front design of the new car is similar to the new Tiguan L PRO, with a multi-banner air intake grille and headlights connected by LED light strips, and a through-type taillight and hidden exhaust layout at the rear. The rear bumper is decorated with silver, and the tail mark "XR" highlights its identity.
The body size of the Tuyue XR is 4355 mm long, 1762 mm wide, 1605 mm high, and the wheelbase is 2651 mm. Compared with the 4458 mm, 1841 mm, 1632 mm, and 2680 mm wheelbase of the Tuyue, the Tuyue XR is smaller in all dimensions. In terms of power, the maximum power of the 1.5T engine is 118 kW, while the maximum power of the 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine is 81 kW. (Fast Technology)
Industry attention
INDUSTRY FOCUS
Musk responded to the auto union's accusation with a threat: the union chairman will go to jail
The United Auto Workers (UAW) reportedly filed federal labor charges against former President Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Tuesday, claiming that the two tried to intimidate employees during a conversation on X. Musk responded on X on Tuesday, saying: "The two previous UAW presidents went to jail for bribery and corruption, and based on recent news, it looks like this guy (Fein) will join them!"
The UAW said in its complaint that both men threatened workers who engaged in protected labor activities, including strikes. The union seized on comments made by Trump during Monday's exchange, in which he commented on how employers should handle striking workers: "I mean, I'm watching what you do. You walk in and you say, you want to quit? They're on strike, I won't mention the name of the company, but they're on strike. You (can) say, that's fine, y'all are fired. You're all gone. So, every single one of you is gone."
It is reported that the UAW supports Democratic presidential candidate Harris and is eager to portray Trump as a friend of the rich to weaken the Republican presidential candidate's appeal to working-class voters. "When we say Trump is against everything our union stands for, this is what we mean." UAW President Shawn Fain said. (Financial World)
GM's official response to layoffs in China and plans for large-scale reforms: The company's confidence and commitment to the Chinese market remain unchanged
On August 14, in response to recent rumors that GM will restructure its China business, lay off employees and reduce production capacity, GM officials clearly stated that the company's partnership with SAIC Motor remains unchanged and promised to continue to promote the long-term development of the joint venture. GM also mentioned that it will continue to provide Chinese consumers with high-quality products and technologies and plan future products.
GM Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson also emphasized at an investor conference that "China's business is a high-quality asset for us now and in the future." Although previous reports said that GM planned to lay off employees in the Chinese market and discussed possible capacity cuts with SAIC Group, GM's response showed that the company's confidence and commitment to the Chinese market remained unchanged.
According to people familiar with the matter, GM realizes that sales in China are unlikely to return to the peak level of 2017, so it plans to carry out larger-scale structural reforms. Data shows that GM lost $104 million in the Chinese market in the second quarter, and its market share dropped from 8.6% in the same period last year to 6.4%, with a cumulative loss of $210 million in the first half of the year. GM's second quarter financial report in 2024 will further reveal that the company is actively responding to the challenges of the Chinese market and will continue to work with partners to promote the restructuring and optimization of its business. (Shangguan News)
Texas sues GM for allegedly violating driver privacy
On August 14, according to foreign media reports, the state of Texas accused General Motors of installing technology to collect driver data on more than 14 million vehicles and then selling the data to insurance companies and other companies without the driver's consent. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the lawsuit filed on August 13 stemmed from an investigation announced by the state in June of this year. At the time, the investigation targeted several automakers, and the state suspected that these manufacturers collected and sold a large amount of data without the driver's knowledge. Paxton said that the data collected by General Motors was used to develop a "driving score" to assess whether more than 1.8 million drivers in Texas have "bad" driving habits, such as speeding, sudden braking, sharp turns, not wearing seat belts, and driving late at night. Paxton said that insurance companies can use this data to decide whether to increase premiums, cancel policies, or refuse coverage.
The company is investigating the matter, which was filed in the federal court in connection with the investigation. The company is investigating the matter, which was filed in the federal court in connection with the investigation. The company is investigating the matter, which was filed in the federal court in connection with the investigation. The investigation was filed in the federal court in connection with the investigation. The investigation was filed in the federal court in connection with the investigation. The investigation was filed in the federal court in connection with the investigation. The investigation was filed in the federal court in connection with the investigation. The investigation was filed in the federal court in connection with the investigation. The investigation was filed in the federal court in connection with the investigation.
GM said in an emailed statement: "We have been in discussion with the Attorney General's Office and are evaluating the complaint. We also want to protect consumer privacy." Texas filed a lawsuit against GM in a state court in Montgomery County near Houston. The state requires GM to destroy improperly collected data, compensate drivers, pay civil fines and provide other remedies. (Gasgoo)
North American auto factories are in crisis: Demand for electric vehicles is falling and capacity utilization will be less than two-thirds
On August 14, the average capacity utilization rate of North American auto plants (i.e. the ratio of actual factory productivity to potential productivity) was 70% so far, 10 percentage points lower than the goal pursued by most automakers. S&P Global Mobility predicts that the capacity utilization rate of North American auto assembly plants will drop from about 72% in 2024 to about 63% in 2030. Michael Robinet, executive director of the research firm's global automotive business, said: "I am very worried that by 2035, the capacity utilization rate of auto plants may drop significantly."
Michael Robinet said that automakers had previously made production plans for electric and fuel-powered models in each factory, but the current sales growth of electric vehicles is lower than expected, and temporary strategic adjustments are very difficult. Michael Robinet explained: "Some factories plan to produce only pure electric vehicles, some factories plan to produce only internal combustion engine-powered vehicles, and some factories plan to produce both models at the same time. This is why the factory capacity utilization rate will decline as the demand for electric vehicles decreases."
Jeff Schuster, global vice president of automotive research at GlobalData, said that automakers' capacity utilization rate of less than two-thirds is inefficient. In the next few years, the average capacity utilization rate of North American auto factories may not be able to maintain at least 70%. Jeff Schuster said: "The slowdown in the transition to electric vehicles has hindered the improvement of auto factory capacity utilization. Automakers need to maintain flexibility to produce both internal combustion engine-powered vehicles and pure electric vehicles, as well as all products in between, which leads to inefficiency." (Gasgoo)
WeRide gets approval to test autonomous vehicles with passengers in California
On August 14, according to foreign media reports, a license issued by California's public utility regulator showed that Chinese autonomous driving startup WeRide has obtained approval from California to allow its driverless cars to carry passengers. It is reported that earlier this month, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a three-year license to WeRide, allowing its driverless test cars to carry passengers, regardless of whether there is a driver on board. However, WeRide is still not allowed to provide ride services to the public or charge any fees.
The California Public Utilities Commission said in a statement to Reuters that WeRide currently has 12 active vehicles in California and will operate in San Jose and nearby areas. In response to the above report, WeRide has not immediately responded to Reuters' request for more details. People familiar with the matter revealed that the US government plans to release a proposed rule in the coming weeks to ban the use of Chinese software in L3 and above autonomous vehicles in the United States, and to ban the testing of autonomous vehicles produced by Chinese companies on US roads. Despite this, WeRide is still seeking a valuation of up to $5.02 billion in its initial public offering (IPO) in the United States.
In the United States, developing and commercializing self-driving taxis has been much more difficult than expected due to regulatory barriers, opposition from municipal agencies and public anger. Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving subsidiary, has about 700 driverless cars and is the only company in the United States that operates self-driving taxis and charges fees. In addition, after an autonomous vehicle hit a pedestrian last year, General Motors' autonomous driving subsidiary Cruise also restarted autonomous driving tests with safety drivers in April this year. (Gasgoo)
GM recalls 21,000 SUVs in U.S. over brake problems
On August 14, according to foreign media reports, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on August 13 that General Motors will recall 21,469 electric SUVs in the United States due to concerns that the anti-lock braking system will be accidentally activated, and will release an OTA update to fix the problem. NHTSA added that the recall will affect General Motors' 2023 and 2024 Cadillac Lyriq all-wheel drive models.
In April this year, NHTSA began a preliminary assessment of claims for brake assist system failure in more than 3,000 Cadillac Regal EVs. A safety recall report submitted by GM to NHTSA showed that on May 31, 2024, GM launched a product investigation into possible problems. Previously, it was reported that "after extensive engineering analysis and testing, two minor accidents allegedly caused by brake failure may have been caused by software problems in the vehicle's anti-lock braking system."
GM spokesman Bill Grotz said that of the 21,469 recalled vehicles, less than 500 were 2023 models, and GM dealers have already taken remedial measures and have begun repairing vehicles for customers free of charge. Grotz told the media: "We have identified a solution to the problem and will provide a solution to most affected vehicles via OTA later this month. Vehicle safety and customer satisfaction are our top priorities." (Gasgoo)
Tesla stops accepting orders for its cheapest Cybertruck
On August 14, according to foreign media reports, Tesla's website showed that the company has stopped accepting orders for the cheapest version of the Cybertruck truck, priced at $61,000, while the Tesla Cybertruck truck priced at $100,000 can be ordered immediately and delivered as early as this month. The cheapest version of the Cybertruck, priced at $61,000, provides a range of 250 miles and was previously scheduled to start delivery in 2025. But now, customers can no longer book this version of Cybertruck on the Tesla website.
The limited edition Foundation series Cybertruck with dual motors offers a range of 318 miles and is priced at $99,990, with deliveries expected to begin as early as this month. The three-motor Foundation Cyberbeast series Cybertruck, priced at $119,990, offers a range of 301 miles and is expected to be delivered starting in October this year. Guidehouse Insights analyst Sam Abuelsamid revealed: "Tesla now has a large inventory of dual-motor and three-motor Cybertruck trucks." (Sina Auto)
Tesla Model 3 prices in the U.S. have risen 30% this year
On August 14, foreign media reported that the price of electric vehicles in the United States rose month-on-month in July, but fell year-on-year. Among them, the price of Tesla Model 3 in the United States rose by 30% compared with January this year, which was a surprising increase.
Tesla's average transaction price in the United States has been falling in 2023, but began to rebound after approaching the industry average in December 2023. In July, Tesla's ATP in the United States was $59,593, an increase of 11% year-on-year, reaching its highest point since February 2023. The success of Cybertruck has pushed up Tesla's prices, and the prices of Model 3 and Model Y have also been rising steadily this year. In July, Model Y's ATP in the United States was $52,055, an increase of 5% from January; Model 3's ATP was $53,878, an increase of 30% from January, when Model 3's ATP was $41,531. It is reported that Model Y and Model 3 are the best-selling electric vehicles in the US market. (Gasgoo)
Today's Hot Videos
//
Recent Hot Articles
京公网安备 11010802033920号