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NIO Releases New Midsize Car ET5 at NIO Day
On Saturday of this week, NIO launched its ET5 model, which is available for purchase as follows:
Complete Vehicle Purchase Option:
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70 kWh version for ¥328,000
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100 kWh version for ¥386,000
Battery as a Service (BaaS) Option:
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70 kWh version for ¥258,000 (monthly battery fee of ¥980)
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100 kWh version for ¥258,000 (monthly battery fee of ¥1,480)
In terms of power, the ET5 is equipped with a combination of a front 150 kW asynchronous motor and a rear 210 kW permanent magnet motor, with a maximum output power of 360 kW. With this power, the ET5 has a zero to 100 km/h acceleration time of 4.3 seconds, and the standard four-piston calipers enable the vehicle to come to a stop from 100 km/h within a braking distance of 33.9 m.
In terms of configuration, a 23-speaker, 7.1.4 channel, Dolby panoramic sound, and a 1,400 W power audio system are standard across the ET5 lineup.
For advanced driver-assistance systems, the ET5 features one long-range laser radar, seven 8-megapixel high-definition cameras, four Sony 3-megapixel panoramic cameras, and four Orin X ADAS chips with a total computing power of 1,016 TOPS.
Compared with the ET7, the only feature cut down in the ET5 is that the panoramic camera’s pixel count has been decreased from 8 million to 3 million pixels. However, in terms of configuration, the ET5 is still very competitive in its class.
NIO has not ignored its first-time car owners’ rights: a 10-year unlimited-mileage quality warranty, lifetime free battery swaps (limited to six times per month), lifetime free roadside assistance, lifetime free car networking, free home charging piles.
Quick Review:# ET5: Another Game-Changer for NIO after Model 3 for Tesla
The importance of ET5 to NIO today is not inferior to the role Model 3 played in Tesla in the past. Based on the sales data of the last few months, the first-generation platforms of ES8, ES6, and EC6 have made it difficult for NIO to maintain its position as the top-selling new energy vehicle brand. The upcoming ET7 with its high-end positioning is also unlikely to achieve six-digit sales figures, so a product that can truly boost sales must compete with the best players in the market.
ET5 has done enough preparations in terms of product development and pricing strategy to ensure that it can grab market share from the top contenders.
NiuTron by Niu Technologies: Another Contender in the EV Race
Niu Technologies, a Chinese electric scooter maker, has announced the launch of its new EV brand NiuTron, also known as Ziyuajia in Chinese, with the first product Ziyuajia NV scheduled to be released in the first half of 2022 and deliveries to commence in September 2022.
Ziyuajia NV adopts the Urban Exploring (UE) design concept to create a mix of city and off-road driving. It is primarily designed for comfortable commuting around the city, with the ability to handle light off-road terrains.
Niu Technologies did not allow media to take photos of the car, but the live model appears tough and sturdy, with circular headlights and a dot-matrix light strip running through the front of the car, while the taillights are also dot-matrix-style that run through the rear. The car’s roof has a luggage rack. Inside the cabin, the Ziyuajia NV features a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a vertically-oriented 15.6-inch center console display screen, replacing traditional keys with a gear shift design.
As for the assisted driving part, Niu Technologies has partnered with Tier 1 suppliers to build its own L2-level system.
Quick review:
In a recent interview, Niu Technologies CEO Li Yinan acknowledged the delayed launch of Ziyuajia NV and said, “undoubtedly, we are late, no need to deny it.” However, he expressed confidence, saying that “time is the only correct answer.”
Although the top three players in the new energy vehicle market are rapidly expanding sales and product lines, and are already gathering resources, the smaller competition of second-tier automakers, such as Xiaomi, and even Apple’s cars, have yet to start mass production. The market is still waiting for more imaginative contenders.
So, what about Li Yinan’s new car? We will have to wait and see, and let time tell us the correct answer about Ziyuajia’s place in the market.
Xiaomi-Backed Smartmi Also Joins the Car Market
This month, Smartmi, an ecological chain company backed by Xiaomi, was reportedly joining the auto industry with the addition of former General Motors-Pan-Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) executive Ma Yongdong, leading Smartmi’s overall vehicle business. Also, many electronic and electrical architecture engineers from BAIC have recently joined Smartmi, and automotive design firms are already contacting Smartmi to collaborate on vehicle design work.### Xiaomi’s Car-making Business Keeps Independent from Zhimi Technology and Xiaomi Administrative System Isn’t Offering Evident Support
Zhimi’s car-making direction is also towards passenger cars but it is different from Xiaomi’s car-making because Zhimi’s first car will be an SUV.
Quick Comment:
Xiaomi’s car-making under the “Xiaomi System” is rising by using multiple brands and putting “eggs” in different “baskets”, initially enhancing internal competition and later subdividing brands. The difficulty of brand management is to find and strengthen the differentiation between brands. In the current smart home appliances product line, Zhimi’s positioning is obviously higher than Xiaomi’s. Perhaps Xiaomi intends to use it as a mid-to-high-end brand of Xiaomi’s car-making to market.
XPeng Pushes Xmart OS 2.7.0, Adding Function of Sharing Memory Parking Route Map, etc
On December 13, XPeng P7 received a small-scale OTA public test. The main contents are as follows:
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The new version of VPA automatic parking has added the function of sharing parking route map, becoming the first parking assistant function in the industry that can share routes;
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After this upgrade, the VPA automatic parking also achieved the selection and parking of the nearest parking space to the destination, taking care of car owners without fixed parking space;
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The recognition elements of memory parking are more abundant, adding static barriers such as pillars, gates, and isolation pillars;
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After the upgrade, Xmart OS 2.7.0 optimized the display strategy of the NGP state cone bucket, the experience of exiting the ramp, and the experience of congested following;
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Optimize the display strategy of cone bucket in NGP state, the experience of exiting the ramp, and the experience of congested following;
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Optimize XPILOT 2.5’s intelligent parking assist system, intelligent safety system, and continuous dialogue time of full-scenario voice.
Quick Comment:
This update is aimed at VPA parking memory parking and NGP intelligent navigation assisted driving functions. The highlight of the upgraded “route map sharing function” is that the most significant usage scenario is the supercharging station of supermarkets and underground parking lots. Users can quickly and efficiently reach the parking position near the elevator or the supercharging station in these high-frequency scenarios based on obtaining shared routes from other people.
Geely Auto Issues Notice and Established a Joint Venture with Lifan Technology
Recently, Geely Auto issued a notice stating that it will set up a joint venture with Lifan Technology, with a registered capital of 600 million yuan, and each cash contribution of 300 million yuan, accounting for 50% of the shares respectively.
The announcement disclosed that the joint venture will mainly engage in:
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Design, research and development, and sales of cars (including parts, accessories processing equipment, and car decoration);
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Import and export of goods, agency import and export, and technology import and export;
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Software development, technology development, technology services, technology consulting, and technology transfer.Geely stated that the establishment of the joint venture will complement each other’s strengths and jointly promote the transformation and upgrading of LF-TECH’s automotive industry, thereby rapidly increasing its overall market share in the passenger car market. At the same time, the establishment of the joint venture can continue to promote the development of the Geely brand upwards, forming a complete coverage of different levels in the mainstream market through the combination layout of each brand.
On January 26, 2021, LF-TECH (Group) Co., Ltd. was unveiled and introduced Geely’s first battery-swapping new car model.
In May 2021, LF-TECH’s first battery-swapping model “Maple Leaf 80V” was officially launched, and confirmed the purchasing intention of this model with platforms such as Geely’s Caocao Chuxing.
Quick Comment:
On January 26, 2021, LF-TECH (Group) Co., Ltd. was unveiled and introduced Geely’s first battery-swapping new car model. In May 2021, LF-TECH’s first battery-swapping model “Maple Leaf 80V” was officially launched, and confirmed the purchasing intention of this model with platforms such as Geely’s Caocao Chuxing.
After a six-month period of silence and turbulence, LF-TECH finally delivered the first batch of 100 battery swapping rental cars on September 22. Taking advantage of Geely’s support, LF-TECH’s sales from September to November this year were 200 units, 523 units and 1,140 units respectively, returning to high-speed growth.
Since Geely’s entry into LF-TECH, LF-TECH’s main business has been producing and selling Geely’s battery-swapping Maple Leaf models. According to the plan, LF-TECH will also launch two battery-swapping models, 60S and 80X, later this year. Can Geely’s entry help LF-TECH regain its glory? Let’s wait and see.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.