The vice president of Zeekr posted a photo of him eating hot pot in his car and was criticized by the whole network. Here is his latest response; Wei Jianjun warned: the sequelae of the price war will last for six or seven years; Maybach dealer responded to the owner's new car leaking丨Auto Morning News
Latest update time：2024-10-14
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Important news
NEWS REMIND
1. Maybach's leaky awning leads to a trend: a large number of Mercedes-Benz cars are on the street with a tricolor awning on their heads
2. Zeekr's Vice President posted a photo of him eating hot pot in his car, which caused the whole network to complain about his marketing. The latest response: There is a powerful fresh air system. See you at the press conference
3. Chairman Chu said he was willing to buy the leaking Maybach at the original price. He had previously bought Zhou Hongyi's Maybach for 9.9 million yuan. The owner can drive the same model as Zhou Hongyi first.
4.
Avita promises to deliver 07 Ultra on time, and will compensate 150 yuan for one day overdue
5. Wei Jianjun warns: The aftermath of the price war will last for six to seven years, and counterfeiters should go out of business
Today's headlines
HEADLINE NEWS
Maybach's leaky awning leads to a trend: a large number of Mercedes-Benz cars are on the street with a tricolor tarpaulin on their heads
Recently, a Maybach GLS SUV that was defending its rights to a roof awning has attracted the attention and heated discussion of netizens on the short video platform. The rights protection of the Maybach roof awning has also seen a "car-to-car" phenomenon. Netizens posted videos showing that recently, a three-color awning and a circle of engineering tape have appeared on the top of Mercedes-Benz cars in many places in China. These cars include not only the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but also the Mercedes-Benz AMG sports car, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and other models.
The car owners covered the roof with a layer of three-color tarpaulin and pasted yellow and black engineering tape on the edge; some car owners went even further, not only covering the roof with tarpaulin, but also pasting the same type of awning on the engine compartment of the vehicle. Netizens joked: "I didn't expect that owning a Maybach and having low self-esteem can appear at the same time", "This three-color paint is much better than the original car paint, it's so ugly and cute", "When such a car is on the road, the rate of turning heads is definitely comparable to that of a supercar."
It is understood that the car owner's account name that posted the rights protection video is "Leaking Car Owner". Because the video went viral, the blogger has gained 200,000 followers in 7 days, and the average number of likes for the video has exceeded 200,000. The car owner's account has also opened a product display window, with only two product links in the window: three-color waterproof cloth and tape. (Fast Technology)
Domestic Information
DOMESTIC NEWS
The vice president of Zeekr posted a photo of him eating hot pot in his car, which caused the whole network to complain about his marketing. The latest response: There is a powerful fresh air system. See you at the press conference
On October 13, Yang Dacheng, vice president of Zeekr, recently posted a video of eating hot pot in Zeekr MIX on social media, which triggered a lot of complaints from netizens. In the video, Yang Dacheng and his group rotated the front seats 180 degrees to face the back seats. They also placed a pot base, a plate of tripe, a portion of crispy meat, a dish of vegetables, and four small dishes for dipping sauce on the expandable table. Yang Dacheng also emphasized that the air conditioning in the car is good and feels very cool. He also said that you can play mahjong in the car. Yang Dacheng wrote on Weibo to accompany this video: "For things like products, you still have to listen to the most authentic voice of users. It is still very appropriate to co-create Zeekr MIX with users during the product definition stage."
Regarding this promotional video, many netizens complained that eating hot pot and playing mahjong are fake needs for cars, and believed that Zeekr's marketing direction is wrong. "I have driven the car for more than 200,000 kilometers, and I have never had the desire to eat hot pot or play mahjong in the car." "The whole hot pot is really unnecessary, just the fumes and steam of the hot pot, the car is disposable." "How to remove the hot pot smell in the car? What should I do if I brake suddenly?"
It is worth mentioning that the hot pot in the promotional video was not ignited, and there was no steam rising from the pot. Netizens pointed out that Zeekr was just posing, and in order to demonstrate the product's capabilities, there was no hard scene to build. Industry insiders pointed out that in the extremely involuted automobile industry, sales are closely related to traffic. Nowadays, "refrigerators, color TVs, and large sofas" have become standard features of smart cars. In order to gain traffic, some car companies choose to create hot spots in marketing, and some of them have overdosed and even overturned.
On October 13, Yang Dacheng responded to the hot pot incident in a Weibo post, saying that hot pot can be regarded as a new camping experience. Regarding the odor problem in the car, he said that the vehicle is equipped with a high-efficiency fresh air system. He said he did not expect to cause widespread discussion and thanked the public for their suggestions, while refusing to disclose more technical details.
At the Beijing Auto Show in April this year, Zeekr MIX made its global debut. As an MPV model, large space is one of its major selling points. In order to reflect the spacious cabin space and versatility, the publicity at the time mentioned that "it can be transformed into a restaurant in seconds" and "you can eat hot pot in the car". Yang Dacheng is also the product manager of Zeekr MIX. His Douyin account "Test Driver Yang Dacheng" began to release videos in June this year, half of which are promotional content for Zeekr MIX.
Chairman Chu said he was willing to buy the leaking Maybach at the original price. He had previously bought Zhou Hongyi's Maybach for 9.9 million yuan. The owner can drive the same model as Zhou Hongyi first.
According to reports, Chairman Chu, who had previously purchased Zhou Hongyi's second-hand Maybach for 9.9 million yuan, released a video, saying that he was speaking for justice and was willing to buy back the leaking Maybach at the original price of 2.15 million yuan. Chairman Chu said that the owner could first drive the Maybach he bought for 9.9 million yuan, and if the owner lost confidence in the brand, Chairman Chu was willing to buy back the leaking Maybach at the original price of 2.15 million yuan.
Chairman Chu said that we should not bully people too much. It would be hard for anyone to accept that the owner of the car had to pay 700,000 to 800,000 yuan in just seven or eight days. Chairman Chu gave several solutions: his store has the same Maybach SUV as the owner of the car, and the Maybach S600 that Zhou Hongyi bought for 9.9 million yuan. He can drive both cars if he wants.
It is reported that since he won Zhou Hongyi's second-hand Maybach at the end of April, Chairman Chu's traffic has increased to a certain extent, and his account has more than 1.2 million followers. The owner of the leaking car released a work on the 11th, thanking netizens and the media for speaking out for him, saying that he does not need a refund of three times the amount, but only wants an apology and full compensation. If the refund is successful, he will use the refund to help others. (Blue Whale News)
Maybach dealer responds to owner's new car leaking: Information was distorted and misunderstood, we will be responsible to the end
On October 12, Mercedes-Benz Suzhou Yuanxing issued a statement in response to the Maybach water leakage incident. The response mentioned that on July 11, our company first received feedback from the owner that there were traces of water seepage at the co-pilot A-pillar position, and the appearance inspection found that there were damaged rubber and plastic parts in the corresponding upper right corner. Our company took the initiative to provide a mobility vehicle for the customer to use that day, and with the customer's authorization and consent, we lightly disassembled and inspected the interior trim and luggage rack at the relevant positions of the vehicle, and then identified the water seepage area and actively coordinated the manufacturer's technical guidance.
Mercedes-Benz Suzhou Yuanxing said that in order to further identify the specific water seepage point for targeted repairs, we suggested that the customer remove the strip glass element connecting the sliding sunroof and the front windshield, but the customer strongly opposed it, so the disassembly and repair work has been stalled until now. Our company also promised the customer that we would fully consider the losses caused by the disassembly and inspection in our solutions, and provide reasonable solutions that would not harm the rights and interests of the customer. However, the customer has always refused to authorize, and we have not been able to further understand the problem of the vehicle, nor can we provide a solution.
At the end of the statement, "Mercedes-Benz Suzhou Yuanxing" said that it will work with the manufacturer, within the reasonable and legal framework, do its utmost to provide goodwill care and formulate a comprehensive plan to protect the legitimate rights and interests of customers. It also promised that it will actively promote it, not shirk responsibility, and be responsible to the end! (Sina Technology)
Wei Jianjun warns: The aftermath of the price war will last for six to seven years, and counterfeiters should go out of business
On October 12, Great Wall Motors officially released a video in which Wei Jianjun, chairman of Great Wall Motors, once again launched a full-throated attack on the price war in the automotive industry. Wei Jianjun said that once a fraudulent price war breaks out, the rights and interests of consumers cannot be guaranteed. Secondly, Wei Jianjun also mentioned the problem of false labeling of car range. Even if consumers buy a car at a cheap price, they will eventually be treated as "leeks" to be harvested: "Financial fraudsters, product fraudsters, and dishonest companies should fall." In addition, Wei Jianjun also warned that the sequelae of the price war will last for six or seven years and have far-reaching impacts.
In September this year, Wei Jianjun participated in the CCTV live broadcast of "China's Economic Gravitational Field". During the live broadcast, Wei Jianjun said: "Now the concept of internal competition is not the concept of competition, but malicious competition, selling cars below cost without bottom line. From a legal perspective, selling below cost is not allowed."
In addition, Wei Jianjun once publicly stated: "All companies should not serve capital, nor should they make money from capital, but should create value for society. They should not do anything malicious, fraudulent, or deceiving users, or even take shortcuts by falsifying and using unfair means to compete and deceive consumers." (CNMO)
Zeekr: A fire in a second-tier supplier's factory affected the supply of 7X, and we have helped restore normal production
Recently, Dr. Zhu Ling, Vice President of Zeekr Intelligent Technology, posted on a social platform, revealing the reason why he and the factory director Zhao Chunlin did not directly respond to users' "order urging" for Zeekr 7X some time ago. Zhu Ling said that a second-tier supplier of Zeekr was affected by a fire in the factory (not the Zeekr factory, no casualties), and now the supplier has been assisted to resume normal production. He said with emotion that "it is said that ensuring supply is like 'fighting fires', and our partners in the supply chain are really 'fighting fires'". "So I can officially reply to everyone: stay calm, the Meishan factory is running at full capacity, and your cars will arrive in succession."
Zeekr 7X was released on September 20, with a starting price of RMB 229,900. Zhu Ling, vice president of Zeekr Intelligent Technology, previously stated that all versions of Zeekr 7X are equipped with 800V and LiDAR + dual orinX as standard, and all intelligent hardware is fully loaded. There is no plan to upgrade all hardware within one year, and it cannot be upgraded again. The car measures 4825x1930x1656 (1666) mm, with a wheelbase of 2925 mm, and is available with 75 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and 100 kWh ternary lithium battery.
A blogger previously revealed that Zeekr received more than 10,000 new orders during the National Day holiday, and the cumulative orders for Zeekr 7X have exceeded 20,000. As of October 7, the car has been delivered more than 5,000 times, and it is expected to deliver more than 10,000 this month. (IT Home)
Some car owners complained that it consumed too much power. Ideal revealed that it will significantly optimize the power consumption of Sentry Mode
Recently, a blogger posted a screenshot of the Sentry Mode camera, saying that Ideal MEGA still has a high rate of returning visitors, but Sentry Mode consumes a lot of power. In this regard, Cao Yu, product manager of Ideal Auto Smart Space, revealed that if all goes well, there will be a major optimization of the power consumption of Sentry Mode by the end of this year, so that everyone can safely use Sentry Mode during the Chinese New Year. Some netizens asked, "Will all Ideal models be optimized?" Cao Yu did not respond.
Previously, Li Xiang, founder, chairman and CEO of Ideal Auto, expressed his views on the Sentinel Mode: I have always been against the Sentinel Mode because it increases the anxiety and distress of car owners and complicates problems that can be solved by insurance. However, the software level is completely user demand-oriented, and there is no need to make trade-offs. We will give everything we can.
In April last year, Ideal Auto announced that it would push the OTA 4.4 version of the car system to users of Ideal L9, Ideal L8 and Ideal L7 in sequence. The new version of the car system added a "Sentinel Mode". According to official statements, Ideal Auto's Sentinel Mode has added many energy-saving strategies in terms of energy consumption, minimizing the additional power consumption caused by Sentinel Mode. It can be said to be the most power-saving Sentinel in the industry. It is reported that after turning on Sentinel Mode for 10 hours, the battery life will only be reduced by 3-8 kilometers, which is equivalent to a power consumption of about 0.7-2 kWh. (CNMO)
Avita promises to deliver 07 Ultra on time, and will compensate 150 yuan for one day of delay
Chen Zhuo, president of Avita Technology, posted a message in the early morning of October 13, explaining why the delivery cycle of the Avita 07 Ultra is longer than that of the Max version. Chen Zhuo said that the Ultra version of the Avita 07 is equipped with air suspension and ZF CDC ® as standard, as well as 21-inch wheels and rear ventilation and massage functions as standard. The key components are produced in Germany, shipped to South Korea for final assembly, and finally assembled into a complete vehicle at the Chongqing Digital Intelligence Factory. Due to recent international logistics reasons, the transportation and delivery speed of materials have been affected to a certain extent.
Chen Zhuo said that through the emergency coordination and promotion of Avita, the material logistics problem has been solved. The Ultra version will be put into production in late October and shipped in early November. The factory production line is now in full production, striving to deliver every new car to everyone as soon as possible. At the same time, Avita promised to deliver on schedule, and a compensation of 150 yuan for one day overdue, with a cap of 15,000 yuan. (Bianniushi)
GAC responded to the construction of factories in Europe and South America: No such information has been released, and the European market plan will be released at the 2024 Paris Motor Show
Recently, there have been reports that GAC Group plans to build new production bases in Europe and South America. In response, on October 12, GAC Group said, "We have not released this information. Regarding the European market plan, it will be announced at the Paris Motor Show on the 14th."
Earlier, according to foreign media reports, Wang Shunsheng, senior vice president of international business of GAC Group, said during the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit held in Laos: "We are in talks with potential partners, and the goal is to build factories in Europe and South America next year or the year after. Although tariffs have a great impact on the industry, we are still advancing our global expansion strategy." He said that Brazil is the first choice in South America, but declined to elaborate on which European countries the company is considering.
Data shows that GAC Group has entered 9 ASEAN countries so far and has opened about 54 sales and service outlets. By 2027, GAC Group expects to have about 230 sales and service centers in the region and sales of about 100,000 vehicles. (IT Home)
Wenjie and China Automotive Technology and Research Center jointly established the first new luxury car technology co-creation laboratory in China
On October 11, the unveiling and signing ceremony of the "Wenjie New Luxury Automotive Technology Co-creation Laboratory" jointly built by Wenjie and CATARC was held in Tianjin. An Tiecheng, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of CATARC, Zhang Xinghai, Chairman (Founder) of SERES Group, Zhou Lin, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of SERES Group, Zhou Hua, Member of the Party Committee and Deputy General Manager of CATARC, and representatives of both parties attended the event.
It is reported that the Wenjie New Luxury Car Technology Co-creation Laboratory covers multiple fields of high-end smart electric vehicles. Both parties will focus on new luxury car technology to provide users with a new smart, safe and luxury travel experience.
An Tiecheng expressed the hope that through the innovation and deepening of the cooperation model between the two sides, they can work together to be good practitioners in building a strong automobile country and help national automobile brands move forward. CATARC will also give full play to its advantages in technical services across the entire value chain and fully support Wenjie in making new luxury automobile products. Zhang Xinghai said that Wenjie's new luxury automobile technology co-creation laboratory will further deepen the cooperation between the two sides, deepen and solidify the strategic partnership, help Wenjie create excellent quality products, and support the high-end development of the brand.
Since the strategic cooperation between Wenjie and CATARC began, the two sides have continuously deepened cooperation in the areas of automotive industry policy research, engineering technology services, digital business, information services, and public services, and have successively carried out projects such as Wenjie M9 model evaluation and testing and Wenjie M9 model brand enhancement. The establishment of Wenjie's new luxury automobile technology co-creation laboratory will further promote the domestic new energy vehicles to reshape the definition of new luxury cars, break through key technical difficulties in the industry, and achieve sustainable development. (Gasgoo)
Geely Yuancheng New Energy Commercial Vehicle Shanghai Factory Opens, Plans to Build More Than 400 Standard Methanol Filling Stations by the End of the Year
On October 12, the opening ceremony of Geely Yuancheng New Energy Commercial Vehicle Shanghai Factory was held in Jiading District, Shanghai. It is reported that Geely Yuancheng New Energy Commercial Vehicle Shanghai Factory is located at No. 1200, Xingrong Road, Jiading Industrial Zone, and carries out vehicle production, sales and operation business including pure electric or alcohol-hydrogen electric buses, municipal sanitation vehicles, urban distribution vehicles, and trunk logistics heavy trucks. Officials said that it aims to cover the national trunk logistics and plans to build more than 400 standard methanol filling stations by the end of the year to achieve "no worries about refueling and no worries about endurance."
According to Yuancheng’s official introduction, methanol-hydrogen electric vehicles are based on electrification, using methanol as liquid hydrogen to directly replace traditional hydrogen fuel cell systems for power generation and supply. This eliminates the need for high reliance on charging piles, reduces vehicle costs, and effectively solves the range anxiety and battery weight issues. (IT Home)
Xiaopeng P7+ electric drive details revealed for the first time, with maximum power reaching 270kw
On October 13, the product director of dynamic experience of Xiaopeng Motors recently released the electric drive explosion diagram of Xiaopeng P7+ and revealed some key information. He pointed out that the two models (180kw and 230kw) announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology actually use the same electric drive system, and the maximum capacity of this system can be released to 270kw.
In the standard endurance configuration, the electric drive power of Xiaopeng P7+ is reversely calibrated, limiting the maximum power of 270kw to the required range of 180kw. This design aims to achieve the ultimate energy consumption performance while meeting the power needs of core users. Its energy consumption level reaches 11.6kwh/100km, which is even lower than some smaller competitors. Regarding whether it is possible to remove the power limit in a certain mode, the product director said that they will study how to provide a mode to unlock the seal.
Currently, the Xiaopeng P7+ has begun to be displayed in stores and has arrived in 25 cities including Shenzhen, Wuhan, and Chengdu. It is expected that all display cars will cover stores across the country within October. Officials said that the Xiaopeng P7+ will announce the pre-sale price during the Paris Motor Show on October 14, and plans to officially go on the market and deliver it in early November. (Fast Technology)
A vehicle rolls off the assembly line in just over 30 seconds, and the 3 millionth vehicle rolls off the assembly line at Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory
Recently, the 3 millionth vehicle of Tesla Shanghai Super Factory officially rolled off the production line. Tesla said: "We have doubled our growth in a shorter time: from 0 to 1 million vehicles, it took only 32 months; from 2 million to 3 million vehicles, it took only 13 months!"
It is worth mentioning that the Shanghai Super Factory is not only one of Tesla's export centers, but also exports its products to Asia Pacific and Europe. One-third of the factory's production capacity is sold to overseas markets. The latest data shows that Tesla has delivered a total of about 1.3 million vehicles in the first three quarters of 2024. According to the China Passenger Car Association, in the first three quarters of this year, the Shanghai Super Factory has delivered 675,000 vehicles, accounting for more than half of Tesla's global deliveries in the first three quarters.
In addition, in March this year, Tesla became the first company in the world to achieve the production of 6 million pure electric vehicles, and the Shanghai Super Factory contributed nearly half of the production capacity to this achievement. (Zhongguancun Online)
Sinopec and Ideal Auto have fully launched charging cooperation, and the joint charging stations have achieved initial results
On October 12, Sinopec announced that Sinopec Sales Company and Ideal Auto reached a strategic cooperation framework agreement on charging business, and the cooperation between the two parties in the field of new energy vehicle charging was fully launched. According to the agreement, both parties will give full play to their respective advantages in brand advantages, network channels, industrial capital, etc., and jointly promote resource sharing in the energy field.
The first joint station of Sinopec and Ideal Auto was put into operation at the Hechuan Service Area in Chongqing on July 1, 2024. It is equipped with a 5C full liquid-cooled super charging terminal with a maximum power of 520KW and three 2C fast charging terminals with a maximum power of 250KW. Next, the two parties will continue to jointly promote the layout of new energy vehicle charging stations across the country, so as to provide more convenient and efficient charging services for the majority of users.
In terms of platform interconnection, the two parties have completed the docking. Since September 29, users can search and start Sinopec's charging terminals across the country through the Ideal Auto APP. During the past 7-day National Day holiday, Sinopec charging piles from 29 provinces across the country were successfully started through the Ideal Auto APP.
In addition, based on the rich customer resources of both parties, the two parties will continue to explore joint marketing of car maintenance cards, exclusive rights and interests, joint membership and other models to jointly create a high-value user service platform. (Phoenix Network Technology)
Borgward China's operations were abnormal and it failed to publish its annual report within the prescribed time limit.
Recently, Borgward Automobile (China) Co., Ltd. was listed in the list of abnormal operations by the Beijing Miyun District Market Supervision and Administration Bureau for failing to publish its annual report within the prescribed time limit. Borgward Automobile (China) Co., Ltd. was established in July 2015. Its legal representative is Su Jiashui. Its registered capital is approximately RMB 114 million. Its business scope includes automotive product research and development, sales of Borgward brand vehicles and parts, technology import and export, and goods import and export. Shareholder information shows that the company is wholly owned by Beijing Borgward Automobile Co., Ltd. (Phoenix Network Technology)
Ideal Auto and China Automotive Research Institute signed a strategic cooperation agreement to promote active and passive integrated safety evaluation research, etc.
Recently, the signing ceremony of the strategic cooperation agreement between Ideal Auto and China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "CAERI") was held at Ideal Auto's R&D headquarters in Beijing.
According to Ideal Auto, the two parties will work together to promote the further development of active and passive integrated safety evaluation research, digital evaluation method research, and anthropomorphic/car-like evaluation equipment research based on the three principles of user needs, safety technology development trends, and the actual situation of road traffic accidents in China. And through healthy and environmentally friendly scene evaluation technology and in-vehicle health technology innovation, promote the improvement of automobile health and environmental protection technology capabilities; focus on wind resistance and wind noise joint development (data-simulation-model-test), one-stop thermal management development, active and passive safety development, energy efficiency development and other fields. (IT Home)
International News
FOREIGN NEWS
Waymo's former CEO: Musk is like Trump, treating self-driving taxis as a joke
Tesla CEO Elon Musk's much-hyped self-driving taxi launch failed to impress investors and drew criticism from rivals, with former Waymo CEO John Krafcik saying Musk, like former U.S. President Donald Trump, was overconfident and not taking the self-driving taxi business seriously.
He compared Musk to Trump. "Trump once said in 2016, 'I can stand on Fifth Avenue in New York and shoot people, and I won't lose any voters, understand? Tesla's press conference last night reenacted this scene, and Musk played the role of Trump," Krafcik said.
Krafick also said that the seats of Tesla's self-driving taxis appear to be low to the ground, which may cause difficulties for elderly passengers and people with disabilities. "Self-driving taxi companies like Waymo use taller vehicle forms and are equipped with high-position sensors to improve convenience, comfort and safety, while Tesla's self-driving taxis have compromised on all these attributes." Krafick said. (Phoenix Network Technology)
Tesla Cybercab design sparks investor dissatisfaction, shares plunge 9%
Tesla recently unveiled its Cybercab self-driving taxi prototype, with Elon Musk announcing plans to put it into production in 2026, with an expected price of less than $30,000. However, Musk did not explain how the two-seater design would meet needs such as family travel, nor did he say whether the vehicle would be targeted at a specific market segment. The announcement of this design and the lack of financial details caused Tesla's stock price to plummet 9% on Wall Street.
Experts believe that self-driving taxis should provide spacious space and tall bodies, while Tesla's two-door design does not seem to conform to the design of traditional taxis. According to JD Power data, two-door cars only account for 2% of the US market. In addition, Waymo and Amazon Zoox's self-driving taxis are both four-seat designs, while Tesla's two-door design may cause inconvenience to elderly passengers and people with disabilities.
Although Musk hopes that the operating cost of Cybercab will be lower than public transportation and predicts that its operating cost per mile will drop to 20 cents, he did not disclose Tesla's timetable for mass production of Cybercab and obtaining regulatory approval, nor did he explain how it will compete with competitors such as Waymo, which is already operating in some US cities. (Fast Technology)
Volkswagen executives respond to drop in deliveries: Chinese market competition is too fierce
Recently, Volkswagen released its sales data for the third quarter of this year. According to the report, in the first three quarters of this year, Volkswagen delivered a total of 6.524 million vehicles worldwide, a decrease of 2.8% from the same period last year. Among them, the global delivery volume in the third quarter was 2.176 million vehicles, a year-on-year decrease of 7.1%. In the third quarter, Volkswagen delivered only 712,000 vehicles in the Chinese market, a year-on-year decrease of 15%. Volkswagen executives pointed out that the competition in the Chinese market is extremely fierce, which is the main factor leading to the decline in global deliveries.
With the rise of Chinese independent automakers in recent years, joint venture brands are under increasing pressure in the Chinese market. The price war has gradually reduced the market share of joint venture brands. Taking September sales as an example, domestic brands such as BYD, Chery, and Geely have set new monthly sales records, with BYD selling 419,426 vehicles. In contrast, sales of Japanese, German, and American joint venture brands in the Chinese market have continued to decline, with their market share falling to the lowest point in recent years.
It is worth mentioning that from January to September, the sales volume of Volkswagen Group's pure electric vehicles reached 506,500 units. Although this figure decreased by 4.7% year-on-year, its market share remained at about 8%, the same as last year. Volkswagen's pure electric vehicle deliveries in the Chinese market have achieved significant growth, with an increase of 27%. However, in the US market, Volkswagen's pure electric vehicle deliveries have experienced a decline, with a decrease of 26%. Despite the decline in the delivery of pure electric vehicles worldwide, Volkswagen Group still maintains a leading position in the European market with a market share of about 19%. (CNMO)
Honda to launch electric car-specific simulated gearbox to add fun to electric cars
According to media reports, Honda is developing a simulated manual transmission device, which will be equipped with a clutch pedal and a shift lever, and control the electric powertrain through software to simulate the shifting feeling of a traditional manual transmission model. This design allows the electric motor power output to simulate the impact of shifting, thereby providing electric car drivers with more driving pleasure.
At the same time, Toyota is also conducting similar research and development work. It is reported that Toyota's simulated manual transmission can simulate up to 14 gears and is expected to be used in the next generation of Toyota electric vehicles built on a new architecture. Toyota previously stated that the mass-produced version of its FT-Se concept sports car may be equipped with this transmission. (Fast Technology)
Tesla recruits senior battery materials engineer, or plans to produce lithium iron phosphate batteries in-house
On October 13, Tesla posted a job posting on its official website this week, recruiting a senior battery materials engineer to be responsible for the lithium iron phosphate cathode project. This indicates that Tesla is seeking to develop this battery chemistry internally. The position is located in Palo Alto, California, where Tesla's artificial intelligence and engineering headquarters are located. This move may mark Tesla's further vertical integration in battery manufacturing.
The job description states that the candidate will be responsible for leading a cross-functional team to validate lithium iron phosphate cathode materials, develop new materials and electrochemical tests to speed up certification time, and bring the team's expertise in materials and electrochemical data interpretation to a new level. (Global Network)
Twice as expensive as in China! Zeekr 001 lands in the Brazilian market, with a starting price of about 542,200 yuan
Recently, Zeekr Auto officially announced that Zeekr 001 has officially landed in the Brazilian market, with a starting price of 428,000 Brazilian reals (about 542,200 yuan). For reference, the price of Zeekr 001 in China is 259,000-329,000 yuan. Zeekr's first store in Brazil is located in Sao Paulo and is expected to open in December.
According to reports, in 2024, Zeekr has entered Latin American markets such as Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia. As of the end of September, Zeekr has entered 35+ international mainstream markets, covering Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America. Zeekr will also officially go on sale in Japan in 2025. Stores located in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Kansai region will start to be deployed this year. The right-hand drive version of Zeekr X (compact SUV) and Zeekr 009 (MPV) will be the first to enter Japan. (IT Home)
After announcing a 20% global layoff, Northvolt, the "European battery leader", was reported to be negotiating about 200 million euros in financing
According to foreign media reports, on Friday local time, Swedish electric vehicle battery manufacturer Northvolt reiterated its statement on September 24, saying that it has made significant progress in raising funds, but declined to provide more details. People familiar with the matter said that Northvolt is negotiating with investors and lenders to raise about 200 million euros (about 1.547 billion yuan) in short-term funds to maintain the company's financial stability.
Another source said it was not clear how long this short-term financing would support the company, but it was not enough in the long run. On Thursday evening, Northvolt announced that it would pay 28.7 million Swedish kronor (currently about 195 million yuan) in taxes, which will be due next Monday. Earlier, it was reported that Northvolt planned to sell excess battery materials to raise funds.
Last month, Northvolt said it would restructure and cut jobs due to production setbacks, weak demand and competition from China. Although Northvolt is seen as a "leader" in the battery industry, it still faces challenges in increasing production capacity and quality, leading to BMW canceling a large order and delaying electric vehicle plans at Traton and Scania.
Northvolt was founded in 2016 by Volkswagen Group, Goldman Sachs and Siemens. In July this year, Northvolt announced its performance for the 2023 fiscal year. Data showed that Northvolt's revenue increased to US$128 million, but its losses increased from US$284 million to US$1.167 billion (currently about RMB 8.251 billion). (IT Home)
South Korean car owners file class action lawsuit against Mercedes-Benz, alleging it falsely advertised EQE battery suppliers
On October 12, a group of South Korean Mercedes-Benz EQE electric car owners filed a class action lawsuit against German automaker Mercedes-Benz and other related parties, accusing them of falsely advertising the batteries used in the EQE models. The class action lawsuit stems from a serious apartment fire in Incheon in August this year, which was caused by a Mercedes-Benz EQE electric car parked in the apartment.
According to local media reports, 24 Mercedes-Benz EQE owners filed a class action lawsuit at the Seoul Central District Court, claiming that "most of the Mercedes-Benz EQE models that caught fire" were equipped with batteries produced by China's Farasis Energy Technology, while Mercedes-Benz told consumers that these vehicles were equipped with batteries from CATL. "We have filed a lawsuit for damages at the Seoul Central District Court against seven sales companies including Mercedes-Benz Germany, Mercedes-Benz Korea, and Hanxing Motors, as well as two leasing companies including Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Korea," Ha Jong-sun, the plaintiff's lawyer, said in a statement.
Each plaintiff initially claimed 10 million won (about 52,360 yuan), and once the Fair Trade Commission announces the results of its investigation into Mercedes-Benz's false advertising, the claim amount may increase by another 70 million won (about 367,000 yuan). Ha Jong-sun further clarified: "The damages suffered by each plaintiff due to false advertising amounted to 70 million won, which is the cost of replacing the battery pack installed in the vehicle. Mercedes-Benz knew about these defects, or at least was clearly aware of them after the Incheon parking lot fire, but did not conduct a recall and concealed the defects." (IT Home)
Brembo acquires suspension system maker Ohlins Racing for $405 million
According to foreign media reports, on October 11, Italian brake system manufacturer Brembo said it had agreed to acquire 100% of the shares of Swedish suspension system manufacturer Ohlins Racing for US$405 million, which is Brembo's largest acquisition in history. Brembo said in a statement that the acquisition has been agreed with Ohlins Racing's owner Tenneco and is expected to be completed in early 2025, and the acquisition funds will be paid in cash.
BofA Securities served as financial advisor to Brembo on the transaction, while Jefferies served as lead financial advisor to Tenneco.
Brembo is controlled by the Italian Bombassei family, which holds about 70% of the shares. Earlier this month, Brembo raised more than 280 million euros in cash by selling its entire 5.6% stake in Italian tire maker Pirelli, ending speculation that Brembo and Pirelli might merge. Brembo currently has 500 employees, two production sites in Sweden and Thailand, two R&D centers, and four distribution and testing departments in the United States, Germany, Thailand and Sweden.
Ohlins Racing produces a wide range of products, including shock absorbers, front forks, steering dampers, software and algorithms. The company is also a supplier to racing championships such as the Formula 1 World Championship and MotoGP. By the end of this year, Ohlins Racing's revenue is expected to reach approximately $144 million. (Gasgoo)
Hyundai Motor's Georgia plant begins production of IONIQ 5
According to foreign media reports, Hyundai Motor's plant in Georgia, the United States, has recently started production of the IONIQ 5 model. The Korean automaker's plant in Georgia is located west of Savannah and is named Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA). Hyundai Motor spokesperson Bianca Johnson said that after verifying the production process to ensure that it meets the high quality standards of Hyundai Motor Group, HMGMA has started the initial production of customer vehicles ahead of schedule.
The first electric model to roll off the HMGMA assembly line is the IONIQ 5, one of the automaker's popular electric vehicles. If Tesla electric vehicles are not counted, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is the second best-selling electric vehicle in the United States in the first half of 2024.
Hyundai Motor has partnered with Tesla's long-time supplier LG Energy Solution on its HMGMA plant. The two Korean companies are expected to employ 8,500 people at the plant. Hyundai Motor aims to produce 300,000 electric vehicles per year in Georgia. The HMGMA plant will also produce batteries for these 300,000 electric vehicles. (Gasgoo)
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