*Author: Wang Xuan
Recently, NETA U underwent a mid-term facelift, and the product name was changed from NETA U to NETA U Pro. It has only been three years since NETA Automotive’s first product was launched. Currently, the main models in the market are only NETA U and NETA V.
To be frank, NETA Automotive’s sales performance has always been very plain, which forced NETA Automotive to broaden their thinking in order to seek a larger market. Currently, the most clear way is to enhance their product strength.
The pre-sale price of NETA U Pro is between 140,000 to 170,000 yuan. Compared with the old model, the official guide price of the low-end model remains basically unchanged, while the guide price of the high-end model is 20,000 yuan cheaper than the old model. The optional L2 level assisted driving requires 18,000 yuan, and the transparent A-pillar option requires 12,000 yuan. The basic cruising range has increased from 400 kilometers to 500 kilometers, and the cruising range of the long-endurance model has increased from 520 kilometers to 610 kilometers.
The main content of this facelift is the upgrade of 33 configurations. So next, let’s see if these upgraded configurations have touched on the pain points you have encountered during driving, and whether they have solved the driving anxiety of consumers.
Three configurations all enjoy upgrade
In terms of performance configuration, NETA U is an SUV model, so it is affected by the height of the body. During the test drive of the old model, the car will sway laterally when crossing bumps, and the upgraded chassis of the new model is expected to optimize this phenomenon.
During the test drive of the old NETA U, its L2 level assisted driving performed relatively stably, but the old model exposed a problem that not all models can choose the intelligent driving package. This product logic is more like a traditional automobile company. In today’s trend of assisting driving becoming more common, it is not wise to bind assisted driving with specific versions of cars. The product strategy of NETA U Pro being able to choose L2 intelligent driving package for all configurations can attract more consumers.The new intelligent driving package includes a variety of auxiliary driving functions such as APA fully automatic parking, one-key remote control parking, ACC full-range adaptive cruise control, ICA high-speed cruise central driving assistance, FCW front collision warning, AEB automatic emergency braking, LDW lane departure warning, LKA lane keeping assistance, TJA traffic congestion assistance, TSR traffic sign recognition, BSD blind spot monitoring, fatigue driving monitoring, and HBA intelligent high-beam assistance.
For novice drivers in the driving field, the 3D dynamic panoramic image can help them better deal with complex traffic situations. At the same time, the entire series is equipped with the C-boost intelligent braking system, coupled with Maxxis tires, reducing the braking distance of the old model by 10%.
The NETA U Pro also adds a sentinel mode. After parking, if the vehicle encounters external force, it will automatically inform the owner through the phone. The owner can learn relevant information through the panoramic image recorded by the vehicle after returning to the car, and the safety performance is significantly improved.
The new model also adds a four-way adjustable seat for the passenger, an induction type electric tailgate, and a one-key lift window with anti-pinch function. In addition to these three comfort configurations, the unique scene mode function on the NETA U has been expanded in the new model. A nap mode has been added to provide soothing music for drivers in parking or waiting scenarios, while the screen on the transparent A-pillar displays unique ambient effects such as water flow, realizing the linkage between intelligent cabin software and hardware.
In order to improve the vehicle’s endurance mileage, the new NETA U Pro is equipped with AGS active air intake grille, single pedal mode, and PDCS power domain control system, as well as the low drag braking system recently popularized by Volkswagen ID4. Unlike drum brakes, the NETA U uses a low drag caliper while retaining the disc brake structure. Since the NETA U Pro is currently in the pre-sale phase, the performance of this low drag braking system still remains to be seen.
The shortcomings exposed in the old model have been improved in the new NETA U Pro, especially the reflective problem of the gear-shift knob that has been widely criticized.The shifting knob above the display screen showing the gears on the older models would block the gear information in bright light, which has been improved on the new models by adding an independent P gear and redesigning the shifting knob and auxiliary instrument panel. To improve driving quality, the Nappa leather texture steering wheel is used and the motor noise is reduced by 5dB in NETA U Pro.
In terms of intelligent configuration, the new NETA U Pro has physically processed the in-car voice assistant Xiao You in the high-end models, located above the central control panel, similar to NIO’s NOMI, and its ability has been enhanced by full-duplex continuous voice interaction. The high-end models are also equipped with face recognition seat memory, one-click remote parking and finding functions, and support remote OTA.
The new NETA U Pro first gives people the impression of “more for the same price”, but through the interpretation of the product configuration, we found that behind this “more for the same price”, the three configurations of NETA U Pro reflect two characteristics, which are “practical for low-end models and affordable for high-end models”.
First, as we mentioned earlier, the intelligent driving package of L2 level can be selected for all configurations, and the functions of the low-end version are more inclined to intelligent attributes, such as seat memory with face recognition, physical voice assistant, intelligent air purification system, and panoramic sunroof. These configurations are unnecessary for “old drivers”, and the hardware upgrade we introduced earlier is also standard on the low-end models.
In fact, both the 150,000 yuan and 170,000 yuan NETA U Pro are high-end models. The 20,000 yuan difference is mainly in the difference in range, and the 610-kilometer range model can be equipped with a transparent A-pillar and a physical voice assistant. The high-end model with 500-kilometer range only has a 10,000 yuan difference compared to the low-end model, but has a large improvement in intelligent configuration. Consumers who choose the 170,000 yuan model are more for considering the long range.
The flat configuration makes NETA U Pro more competitive.# Translated English Markdown Text with HTML Tags
The upgrade of NETA U Pro aims to streamline the entire product line by eliminating the cluttered configuration models, while simultaneously enhancing the overall product performance and lowering the cost. As a result, consumers can now choose between practical needs and smart configurations when selecting NETA. However, the upgraded configuration of NETA U Pro has already shown its competitive edge in the market.
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.