Fast Technology News on November 17th, HarmonyOS Zhixing officially announced today that,The intellectual community, the intellectual community and the enjoyment community are the first to launch the worry-free service rights of smart driving.
From now until December 1st, we will make a decision on the car models of HarmonyOS Zhixing, namely, the car models of the car industry, the car model of the car industry and the car model of the car industry.Enjoy the worry-free service rights of smart driving with a maximum value of 4,000 yuan, and the duration of the rights is 12 months after the rights are activated.
The rights and interests of intelligent driving protection include five intelligent driving scenarios: intelligent parking assistance (APA), parking service assistance (AVP), remote parking assistance (RPA), lane cruise assistance (LCC) and intelligent driving navigation assistance (NCA).
In terms of the specific amount of protection, the upper limit of the protection rights and interests of the new border M5, the new border M7, the intellectual border S7 and the intellectual border R7 is 3 million yuan.The upper limit of the rights and interests of the M9 and S9 is 5 million yuan.
At the same time, HarmonyOS Zhixing also stressed that the HUAWEI ADS advanced intelligent driving system is only used as a driving aid, and cannot replace the driver’s visual inspection. The driver is still the driving subject and is responsible for all behaviors during the driving process.
When using this right, the vehicle shall be insured with compulsory insurance and commercial insurance, and the vehicle damage insurance shall be fully insured within the validity period, and the compulsory insurance and commercial insurance shall not be released or surrendered within the validity period of this right.
At the time of the accident, the intelligent driving function was turned on, and the traffic police determined that the vehicle was responsible for the accident.This worry-free service right of smart driving cannot replace compulsory motor vehicle traffic accident liability insurance and new energy vehicle commercial insurance.
Beijing News Shell Financial News (Reporter Lin Zi) On April 18th, at the 2024 Chery Fengyun New Energy Night and Fengyun T9 Pre-sale Activity, the global pre-sale of Chery Fengyun T9 was officially opened, with a price of 159,900 yuan.
At the scene of the 2024 Chery Fengyun New Energy Night and Fengyun T9 Pre-sale Conference, Zhang Guozhong, executive deputy general manager of Chery Automobile Co., Ltd., said: 2024 is the year when Chery Group’s new energy strategy bears fruit and its firepower is fully open. The four brands of Chery Group are fully committed to new energy, and new models will be launched one after another. Fengyun plans to launch 11 new cars within two years.
On March 29th, the official announcement of Aouita 2024 Spring Conference will be held at 17:30 today (March 29th) to launch the 2024 Aouita 12 model ().
Aouita announced on March 24th that the order for its pure electric car Aouita 12 exceeded 40,000 units. At the same time, the car is about to launch a new color scheme called "",which is expected to be the model in the poster.
In February this year, Chen Zhuo, President of Aouita Science and Technology, announced at the user meeting. It said that under the situation that the supply of spare parts is facing great challenges, Aouita joined hands with Huawei to speed up the supply guarantee, and delivered more than 2,000 units in 20 days and exceeded 5,000 units in January, striving to overcome the delivery problem of hot-selling models and speed up the delivery of products to users.
Aouita 12 was delivered nationwide on December 10th, 2023 and listed on November 10th. The car has launched three models, and the price range is 30.08-40.08 million yuan.
Its length, width and height are 5020*1999*1460mm, and its wheelbase is 3020 mm. The streaming media exterior rearview mirror can be selected. In front of the windshield, Aouita 12 is equipped with a signature HALO screen, which contains 10,500 light beads, and can display rich scene modes after OTA.
Aouita 12 is equipped with a cockpit based on 4 development, equipped with two electronic exterior rearview mirrors with 6.7-inch high-definition display, with a resolution of 1280 * 720; Nappa leather seat, steering wheel and dual 50W adaptive wireless overcharge are standard in the whole system. The front row is equipped with double zero-gravity seats. Both seats support one-button zero-gravity, three-speed temperature heating, SPA-level 8-point massage, ventilation and other functions, and support remote start.
The car comes standard with 29 intelligent driving sensors, including 3 laser radars. With the blessing of Huawei ADS2.0, it can realize intelligent driving NCA without relying on high-precision maps.
In terms of power, the Aouita 12 four-wheel drive model is equipped with Huawei DriveONE dual-motor system, and the maximum power of the front and rear motors is 195kW and 230kW； respectively; In addition, the new car also offers a single motor model with a maximum power of 230kW. As for the battery, the new car is equipped with the battery pack provided by Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited, with a pure electric cruising range of 650km and 700km. The whole car is equipped with a 750V full-stack high-voltage overcharge platform, which can quickly recharge 50%(30%~80%) in 20 minutes.
[car home New Car Launches] On November 17th, 2023 Guangzhou Auto Show officially kicked off. At the BMW booth, it brought us (|) models. As a model favored by domestic users, the BMW 5 Series has ushered in the eighth generation of products, and this time coincides with the electrification wave of the automobile market. Therefore, the BMW i5 came into being. In the future, a new generation of BMW 5 Series will be put into production in the BMW Brilliance Dadong factory following the BMW iFACTORY strategy. According to the official, the new car will be a model with emotional design, luxury, electric fun and intelligent technology. It is worth mentioning that, according to the previous plan, a new generation of domestic BMW 5 Series /i5 cars will start production in January next year.
In terms of appearance, the new car has a sharper line design, which outlines a more vivid sense of edges and corners. In the front part, the new car still adopts the kidney-shaped front grille design, and the champagne gold elements are integrated around the grille and the front enclosure, which plays a very good role in embellishment. At the same time, we can also see similar designs at the rim. In addition, the new car has simplified the angel eye headlights to make them more in line with the minimalist aesthetic trend of the current era.
Coming to the side of the car, the new car has a very stretched visual experience, inheriting the elegant temperament of the BMW 5 Series. In the rear part, the new car will adopt a highly recognizable taillight design and incorporate L-shaped chrome decoration, highlighting the luxury attributes of the vehicle. In addition, the new car also designed a "5" bright logo at the corner of Hoxhorn, which can produce a blue breathing effect when the vehicle is charging, which is an exclusive customized design element for domestic users.
Entering the car, the new car is built with the latest generation of family-style design language, reaching the leading level of the brand. First of all, the new car will be equipped with a 12.3-inch LCD instrument+a 14.9-inch touch screen, and adopt the currently very popular joint screen design. In addition, the new car will also be equipped with an encircling interactive light belt, and the concealed air conditioning air outlet will be integrated with the light belt design to make the visual effect inside the car more simple. Finally, the design of the flowing gold plaque in front of the co-pilot was inspired by China, in order to blend a touch of oriental charm into the luxurious atmosphere.
In addition, the new car has been upgraded for the rear row. It is worth mentioning that the new car will be equipped with a rear suspended giant screen. This luxury configuration from the BMW 7 Series will become the exclusive option for domestic long-wheelbase version of the 5 Series customers (not available in overseas versions). The screen size reaches 31 inches, the resolution is 8K, and it supports real-time interconnection. Not only that, the new car will also be equipped with Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system, four-zone automatic independent air conditioning (with independent control panel in the rear) and other high-level configurations. Finally, the front seat backrest will also be equipped with the Chinese character "five" exclusive logo, further highlighting its special status as a domestic version of the model.
The BMW i5 adopts the upgraded fifth-generation eDrive electric drive system, and the eDrive 40 will be equipped with a rear motor, with a maximum power of 340 HP, a peak torque of 430 Nm, an acceleration time of 6.0 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h and a top speed of 193 km/h.. In order to make effective use of space, the 81.2kWh high-voltage battery pack of BMW i5 is placed under the car body. The cruising range of the eDrive 40 model under WLTP is about 497-582 kilometers. (Text/car home Zhouyi)
On November 15th, today, the 2024 Guangzhou Auto Show (the 22nd Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition) officially opened. The total number of cars exhibited at this year’s auto show reached 1171, including 78 new cars in the world. Compared with last year, the number of new cars launched and the number of exhibition cars have improved significantly.
Specifically, the exhibition lasted from November 15th to 24th, 2024, and the scale of the exhibition hall reached 220,000 square meters, and the indoor exhibition halls of Zone A and D, the outdoor exhibition area of North and South Square and the Guangjiao Hall of the Canton Fair were used. From luxury brands to mainstream joint venture brands, from independent brands to new ventures, all brands have taken out their heavy models to participate in the exhibition.
In Area A, mainstream joint ventures and foreign brands including BMW and MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen brand, FAW Audi, SAIC Audi, Volvo, FAW Toyota, GAC Toyota, Lexus, Dongfeng Honda and GAC Honda; Domestic independent brands such as BYD, Geely, Chery, Chang ‘an, Great Wall, GAC and SAIC gathered together.
In Zone D, there are new car-making forces such as Weilai, Tucki, Ideality, Xiaomi, HarmonyOS Zhixing, Ledao, Zero Run, Zhiji, etc. Among them, "Weixiaoli" will release the latest technology-related, while Xiaomi and Ledao will make their debut at Guangzhou Auto Show, injecting new vitality and highlights into this industry feast; Luxury brands such as Porsche, Lamborghini, Bentley and Lotus will also be exhibited.
It is worth noting that various car companies have launched a "C-position dispute" around new energy. BYD set up a whole pavilion and an outdoor venue, Guangzhou Automobile Group also set up a whole pavilion, Xiaomi SU7 Ultra made a public appearance, and the "fourth world" of HarmonyOS Zhixing unveiled its mystery and launched a popularity competition …
"Near the end of the year, car companies are also accelerating the completion of the annual tasks." In the eyes of the industry, before the Beijing and Shanghai auto shows, car companies showed more strength, while the Chengdu and Guangzhou auto shows were more inclined to sales attributes. Therefore, new cars, such as Tucki P7+ and Equation Leopard 8, are pre-released and pre-heated to boost sales at the auto show.
[Autohome Changde Discount Promotion Channel] Recently, we learned from Autohome Changde dealers that the high-profile models are being heavily promoted, with a maximum discount of 28,000 yuan and a minimum starting price of 188,600 yuan after the discount. For consumers who are interested in buying the eπ 008, now is undoubtedly the best time to start. If you are interested in this model, you may wish to click "Check the car price" in the quotation form to strive for higher discounts.
The EPi 008 adopts a dynamic and stylish design language. The front face is outlined with streamlined lines, and it is matched with sharp LED headlights to present a strong visual impact. Its air intake grille adopts a closed design, and with chrome decoration, it shows a sense of futurism and technology. The whole vehicle has smooth lines and a sense of power, showing the vitality and dynamic of modern cities.
The body size of the eπ 008 is 5002mm*1972mm*1732mm, with a wheelbase of 3025mm, which makes the interior of the vehicle spacious and more comfortable to ride. The smooth lines on the side, with 265/45 R21 tire specifications, and sporty rims make the eπ 008 visually very dynamic and stylish.
Welcome to the Autohome Shenzhen Promotion Channel, where we bring you the latest automotive news. Currently, high-profile models are undergoing an unprecedented promotion, covering the bustling city of Shenzhen. The maximum discount is as high as 40,100 yuan, which brings the minimum selling price of this popular model down to an attractive 99,800 yuan. This is an opportunity not to be missed. Want to know more about the discount details of the Blue Electric E5 and the specific pickup price? Click "Check the car price" in the quotation form now to seize this perfect opportunity to save on car purchase costs.
The exterior design of the blue electric car series E5 is unique, showing a streamlined body profile, the front face part adopts a sharp line combination, and the air intake grille adopts a delicate mesh design, which not only enhances the visual impact, but also effectively optimizes the aerodynamic performance. Overall, the blue electric E5 combines modern and technological elements to create a stylish and dynamic appearance image, which is unforgettable at a glance.
The blue electric E5’s body lines are smooth, highlighting the modern urban fashion sense. Its body size is 4760mm x 1865mm x 1710mm, and the wheelbase is up to 2785mm, making the interior space spacious and comfortable. The front and rear wheelbases are 1585mm and 1580mm respectively, providing good stability and handling for the vehicle. In terms of tire specifications, the blue electric E5 adopts 225/55 R18 tires, with exquisite wheel rim design, which not only ensures driving performance, but also adds to the visual beauty of the vehicle.
The interior design of the Blue Electric E5 is exquisite and practical, and it is dominated by a simple style to create a warm and comfortable driving environment. The steering wheel is made of high-quality leather materials, providing a good grip and supporting manual up and down adjustment to adapt to the driver’s needs. The center console is equipped with a large 12.3-inch screen, clear display interface and automatic speech recognition control system, supporting multimedia, navigation, telephone, air conditioning and sunroof operation, bringing convenience to the driver. In terms of seats, imitation leather materials are used, which are not only beautiful and durable, but also take into account comfort. Both the main seat and the passenger seat provide front and rear adjustment, backrest adjustment and height adjustment functions. The second row of seats supports backrest adjustment, and the seat reclining function provides flexible space utilization for passengers. USB and Type-C ports are distributed in one location in the front and one in the back to meet the charging and multimedia needs of passengers.
The Blue Electric E5 is equipped with a 1.5L L4 engine with a maximum power of 81 kW, providing a stable power output for the vehicle. Its torque performance is 135 Nm, which meets the daily driving needs. With the E-CVT continuously variable transmission, this engine not only guarantees a smooth gear shifting experience, but also achieves a balance of high efficiency and low emissions.
Summarizing the owner’s evaluation, the Blue Electric E5 has won him high recognition for its atmospheric and calm appearance design, especially the through-type LED light strip on the front face. The smooth design of the body line, with the large 23-inch tires, undoubtedly enhances the overall visual impact. It can be seen that this model does bring a satisfactory experience to the owner in appearance.
Shenzhen News Network, August 22, 2023(Reporter, Zhang Junda) On August 19, the new Lantu FREE was officially launched on the 2023 VOYAH NIGHT Lantu user night, priced at 266,900 yuan. The new Lantu FREE adopts new appearance, new interior, new total and new smart driving, positioning "smart driving tour five-seat SUV", the first Baidu Apollo Highway Driving Pro pilot auxiliary smart driving; the whole system is standard with four-wheel drive system and air suspension; using 1.5T depth Miller cycle extender, the CLTC comprehensive cruising range reaches 1201km, and the pure electric cruising range is 210km, which is the first comprehensive upgrade of the Lantu FREE model since its launch.
Landmap User Night Announces New Landmap FREE Surprise Price
At the 2023 VOYAH NIGHT Landscape User Night, the new Landscape FREE officially entered the market range of 250,000-300,000 yuan at a price of 266,900 yuan. It is equipped with Baidu Apollo Pilot Assistant Intelligent Driving, standard all-aluminum suspension and air suspension, and has a long battery life of 1201km, which has shaped the rare competitiveness of this level of models. More importantly, the new Landscape FREE full car series has only launched one version, that is, the new Landscape FREE ultra-long battery life intelligent driving version, which eliminates the user’s choice "trouble" and also shows the bold and innovative courage of Landscape.
As an important upgrade point of the new Landscape FREE, Baidu Apollo Highway Driving Pro pilot assistance intelligent driving package is priced at 25,000 yuan and provides two optional forms.
Lu Fang, CEO of Lantu Automobile, said that as a "smart driving tour five-seat SUV", the "wisdom" of the new Lantu FREE represents the smart driving experience brought by the Apollo Highway Driving Pro pilot-assisted smart driving; "driving" means inheriting the driving control strength in the genes of the Lantu brand; "tour" is the comfort brought by super long battery life, ultra-low energy consumption and luxury configuration. The new Lantu FREE is intelligent, powerful and passionate, and is specially designed for "road travelers" who pursue freedom. Lantu looks forward to working with the majority of users to release the freedom in their hearts, go to the distance, and start the "smart driving tour" of life.
Baidu Apollo pilot auxiliary intelligent driving empowered, new Lantu FREE into the first echelon of intelligent driving
The new Landmap FREE is equipped with Baidu Apollo Highway Driving Pro pilot-assisted intelligent driving, which can bring users a high-level intelligent driving experience that integrates travel and parking, point to point. The intelligent driving system has pilot-assisted intelligent driving function (NOA) and human-machine co-driving map, and more than 60 million kilometers of testing and verification ensure safety and reliability.
In high-speed scenarios, Xinlantu FREE’s pilot assistance intelligent driving can achieve efficient lane change, automatic identification of on-and-off ramps, car avoidance and the world’s first intelligent in-and-out service area auxiliary features. The success rate of autonomous lane change is greater than 99%, the average number of takeovers per 100 kilometers is less than 1, the success rate of on-and-off ramps is greater than 95%, and the average time-saving for a single trip is 7%. Under congested road conditions in urban areas, the adaptive cruise of the new car can realize automatic acceleration and deceleration, smart car following, and can also realize automatic lane change after dialing the turn signal, and help the vehicle choose the optimal route in real time by perceiving the road condition information in advance.
In terms of parking, Xinlantu FREE supports a variety of accurate and intelligent parking functions such as full-attitude efficient automatic parking, one-button remote control parking, memory parking, and remote summoning, etc., to solve various parking problems such as parking difficulty, parking trouble, and finding a car during daily travel.
Continuing the Lantu driving control gene to create the best new energy SUV
In terms of performance, the new Lantu FREE inherits the driving genes of the Lantu brand, using the first 160kW and the second 200kW dual permanent magnet synchronous motor, the maximum power of the vehicle can reach 360kW, the peak torque is 720N · m, and the zero-hundred acceleration can reach 4.8s. It has powerful performance comparable to supercars, allowing users to enjoy the passion and pleasure of high-speed driving.
In terms of handling, the new Lantu FREE adopts dynamic intelligent control electric four-wheel drive, equipped with front double fork arms and rear multi-link motion independent suspension and all-aluminum alloy chassis, which is 30% lighter than the steel chassis, bringing better handling smoothness and fuel economy, and never rust, durable and reliable. In addition, the high-performance air suspension used supports up and down 100mm height adjustment, and is equipped with a millisecond speed adjustable system, matching five driving modes of economy, comfort, high energy, outing, and customization, allowing users to calmly cope with various complex road conditions when traveling.
1201Km long battery life, worry-free journey and free departure
In order to achieve both high performance and low energy consumption, Xinlantu FREE adopts a 1.5T deep Miller cycle range extender, equipped with the world’s leading hybrid special electronic control supercharger and 350bar direct injection technology in the cylinder, the thermal efficiency exceeds 42%, and the fuel consumption of 100 kilometers of feed is reduced to 6.69L, surpassing the same level. Based on this, Xinlantu FREE can achieve a pure electric battery life of 210km, calculated according to the round-trip 30km to work, it can be charged for a week; the comprehensive battery life of 1201km can be fully charged from Wuhan to Shenzhen, one-way without power or refueling, truly realizing fuel-saving and power-saving long battery life.
A high-quality travel experience is inseparable from a comfortable in-car environment. The new Lantu FREE has a series of advanced configurations such as the world’s longest integrated liftable triple screen for cars, the largest smart dimmable panoramic canopy in the same class, Danah Hi-Fi high fidelity audio, first-class luxury comfortable seats and 50W floating fast charging panels. The standard Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip brings a smooth car experience. At the same time, the new Lantu FREE uses baby-grade skin-friendly materials certified by OEKO-TEX European Union textiles, and the whole car is equipped with a forest oxygen bar fresh air system, allowing users to breathe freely in the car.
Pioneer designs eye-catching, launches exclusive car color "Dai Green"
"Road traveler" is also a scenic line on the road. New Landscape FREE adopts the concept of avant-garde mechanical aesthetics for exterior design. On the basis of maintaining the outline of the yacht body, it adopts a light wave rhythmic air intake grille and a flying wing penetrating light strip to make the front face more modern and technological beauty; the sports fast attitude body and anti-gravity fixed wind tail give the whole vehicle a sporty atmosphere. In the body color scheme, in addition to the new Chinese-style Daigreen, there are Xuanying Black, Du Ruobai, Cloud Blue, Liuguang Gold optional, and the interior color scheme has three options: light brown, red rice, and dark.
As the first model of Lantu, the Lantu FREE has gained a good reputation since its launch, and has also become the first model of Lantu to go overseas in Europe. Now, the new Lantu FREE has come back with a new look, and will provide every "road traveler" with a smart, reliable, interesting and considerate "smart driving tour" to help them pursue freedom and go to distant places. In the future, Lantu will continue to enrich the high-end new energy product matrix, lead the new energy automobile industry to higher quality, and provide users with a smarter, safer and more convenient travel experience.
(The picture in this article is provided by Lantu Automotive)
Welcome to [Autohome Wuxi Promotion Channel] to bring you the latest automotive market trends. At present, the much-anticipated promotion is being carried out with unprecedented intensity. For consumers in Wuxi, the maximum discount amount has reached an astonishing 250,000 yuan, making the original high-end Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe model more cost-effective. The starting price is as low as 593,800, which is a great opportunity not to be missed. To learn more about the discount details and get this very attractive offer, just click the "Check the car price" button below and let us seize this rare opportunity together.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe has attracted a lot of attention with its unique design charm. The front face design highlights power and elegance, and the iconic double air intake grille is inlaid in it, and it is matched with exquisite chrome decoration, showing the usual luxury of Mercedes-Benz. The body lines are smooth, and the low roof and dynamic side profiles combine to present the sporty essence of the coupe SUV. The overall style blends luxury and sports, showing the unique personality of the Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe in terms of appearance.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe has a unique profile with its elegant sideways lines. The body size is 4941mm long, 2018mm wide, 1716mm high, and the wheelbase reaches 2935mm, showing a spacious and dynamic body ratio. Its tire size is 275/50 R20, and the front and rear wheels are of the same specification. The choice of tires not only guarantees driving stability, but also adds luxury. The design of the side is carefully crafted, reflecting Mercedes-Benz’s attention to detail and pursuit of aesthetics. Overall, the side design of the Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe shows its aesthetic concept of sports and luxury coexisting.
The interior design of the Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe shows the perfect combination of luxury and technology. The exquisite leather steering wheel provides an excellent grip, supports manual and electric adjustment, and ensures the comfort and convenience of the driver. The center console is equipped with a 12.3-inch high definition touch screen, which integrates multimedia system, navigation and telephone functions. The operation is smooth and the information is clearly displayed. The seats are made of imitation leather, and the main and passenger seats are equipped with multi-directional adjustment functions, including front and rear, backrest, high and low and waist support, which enhances the ride comfort. The seats are also equipped with heating and ventilation functions, especially the driver’s seat also supports electric memory, reflecting the user-friendly design. The car is also equipped with a USB/Type-C interface and a wireless charging function for mobile phones, meeting the needs of modern drivers for convenient functions.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe is equipped with a powerful 2.0T engine that can output a maximum power of 258 horsepower and a peak torque of 400 Nm. It is combined with a delicate 9-speed automatic transmission to provide excellent driving performance and response speed, ensuring a smooth experience for drivers in various road conditions.
As a loyal fan of the Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe, we are well aware of the pursuit of cost-effectiveness by every consumer. At this moment, Mercedes-Benz has grasped the pulse of the market and decided to offer unprecedented discounts in this promotion in order to repay the support and love of the vast number of consumers. The outstanding performance and elegant design of the Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe are now at your fingertips at an even more attractive price. Seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring luxury and driving pleasure home, and make the Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe a dazzling sight in your life. Take action now, experience a distinguished driving experience, and enjoy the respectful courtesy that Mercedes-Benz brings to you.
Even though Dongfeng Group’s top resources are integrated, the facts show that it is difficult for Lantu Automobile to support Dongfeng’s high-end automobile brand dream.
Image Source: Car Story/Photo
Text | Car Fiction, Fig
On August 12, Lantu Auto announced on its official account that "from now on, the purchase of Lantu FREE in Hubei Province can enjoy a comprehensive cash subsidy of 30,000 yuan from the local government".
Going back one month, on July 16, according to Hubei local media "Hubei Daily", at the "Lantu Dreamer Central Enterprise Bulk Purchase Signing Ceremony and High-end New Energy Electric Vehicle Development Forum" held that day, Lantu Automobile signed a purchase order for a total of 6,000 Lantu Dreamers with central enterprises and provincial state-owned enterprises in Hubei.
In just two months, it was the collective procurement of local state-owned enterprises and the support of local car purchase subsidies. These "off-the-shelf moves" showed that Lantu Automobile was "anxious" about the status quo that it could not open up the situation at the end point of the market. At the same time, it also showed that Lantu Automobile could not support Dongfeng’s high-end dream.
Image Source: Car Story/Photo
The business strategy is not clear, and the market performance is sluggish
On the official website of Lantu Automobile, there is an introduction to the Dongfeng Group, which it belongs to: "53 years of car manufacturing and precipitation, ranking 85th in the world’s top 500, with 20 years of accumulation of new energy technologies, and infinite strong partners. In 2020 alone, the total number of invention patents reached 2,391, ranking first in China’s vehicle group."
This was in the early days of Lantu Automobile’s establishment, and such a hard-core introduction was undoubtedly a plus for the new brand. At least it was helpful in winning consumers’ trust in this new brand. However, this introduction today has undoubtedly become the "magic mirror" of Lantu Automobile.
Even though Dongfeng Group’s top resources are integrated, from the perspective of the operation performance of Lantu Automobile, not only has it failed to convert the huge energy given by Dongfeng Group into its own market competitive advantage, but today, it still relies on its background resources to support its face.
Perhaps, from the perspective of its establishment time, Lantu Automobile, which has just been established for two years, is still a "newcomer", and it is too early to characterize it now. But it must be known that today’s automobile market is no longer in the era of traditional oil vehicles, as long as it can withstand it, it will have a day to come. Under the background of the current industry’s accelerated transformation to "electrification", as "new players" continue to join, for the consumer market, not only are the models available for users to choose rapidly increasing, but "new concepts and new ways to play" that are different from the past are also emerging one after another. The market is huge, but the opportunities have not changed.
Li Xiang, chairperson of Li Auto, has said in public on several occasions that "[Li Auto] has only one chance to play", noting that if one fails, there will be no chance to play again. "Even if you raise money, it’s useless because the suppliers won’t play with you anymore – that’s the one thing we fear the most."
In fact, this sentence also applies to all "newcomers" in the car industry, including Lantu Automobile.
According to the latest sales data, in the past July, Lantu Automobile sold 1793 vehicles. This sales performance is only 17.2% of Li Auto, which also uses the extended range route, and 22.97% of AITO.
From January to July, the cumulative sales volume of Lantu Automobile was 8671 vehicles. Only 28% of the annual sales target (31,000 vehicles) after the reduction was completed. Such a market performance is obviously not optimistic.
At least from the point of view of the cards, it is difficult to say that Lantu Automobile’s first license is successful. Of course, backed by the big Dongfeng Group, Lantu Automobile will naturally not encounter the supply chain problems that Li Xiang worried about earlier. But from the fact that Lantu Automobile has resorted to "off-the-shelf tricks" such as large local subsidies and centralized procurement by state-owned enterprises, it can be seen that the management of Lantu Automobile has entered a technical poverty in dealing with the current predicament.
When the monthly sales volume is expanded, it is not difficult to see the dismal state of Lantu Automobile’s business.
Data show that in the first six months of this year, Lantu sold 1,553 vehicles, 604 vehicles, 1,400 vehicles, 1,049 vehicles, 906 vehicles, and 1,202 vehicles respectively.
In an interview with Shell Finance, auto analyst Zhong Shi pointed out that "high-end electric vehicles are for a small number of specific groups of people to experience new technologies. The full set of brand hype and market operation are completely different from traditional cars. It is very difficult for managers who are used to the operation of traditional car companies to make sharp turns to adapt. It is impossible for traditional car companies to change their genes casually."
In contrast, whether it is "Wei Xiaoli", the head camp of the new car-making forces, or "Ask the World AITO", the various ways that Lantu Auto has operated for two years are more like an "old-fashioned" traditional car brand, and it does not see the attributes of being a "high-end smart electric brand".
So much so that since the launch of the brand in July 2020, Lantu Auto has still not had a clear imprint in terms of brand tone building.
In the end point market visit, the car story learned that there is still a considerable proportion of consumers who do not know "Lantu Automobile", and many consumers are unfamiliar with the Lantu Automobile LOGO. Even if there are consumers who know this brand, most of them will use "a brand new to Dongfeng" and "an extended range car imitated by Dongfeng Ideal Lane" to express their awareness of Lantu Automobile.
In sharp contrast, most consumers can clearly express the brand imprint of "Li Auto – focusing on home use, NIO – focusing on services, XPeng Motors – focusing on intelligent driving, and asking the world AITO – Huawei car" at the first time.
This also shows that the team of Lantu Automobile has lacked a strategy at the brand level in the two years since its establishment, or the related work has been basically ineffective.
At the Yabuli China Entrepreneur Forum 2021 in June last year, Wang Chuanfu, chairperson and president of BYD, told "new players" that the cost of time was important. "Maybe losing five billion is not much, but you lost three years, how much is that three years worth? You can’t buy it with money."
At the moment, I don’t know how Lantu Motors will interpret the past two years.
In addition, only 28% of the annual target was achieved in the first seven months, and it was also a revised sales target, which also shows that the Lantu Automotive management team has a cognitive bias towards the competitiveness of its products and the market conditions in which it operates.
At present, for Lantu Automobile, the core key to turning around the decline is the lack of a helm like "Li Xiang, He Xiaopeng, Li Bin" with a clear strategic thinking of development. At the worst, it is necessary to have at least one hard-working "salesperson" like Yu Chengdong.
Image Source: Car Story/Photo
The product force is mediocre, and the spontaneous combustion accident needs to be explained
Although in terms of brand positioning, Lantu Automobile is positioned as Dongfeng Group’s "high-end smart electric" brand. But in terms of product strength, the current models are obviously not very close to "high-end".
After flipping through the official website of Lantu Automobile, it was noticed that Lantu Automobile’s more dissemination still stayed in traditional fields such as vehicle testing and body safety. However, there is little mention of "smart electric vehicles", such as "smart cockpit" and "intelligent assisted driving".
The only battery technology that was singled out for amplification ended up being overturned.
On March 1, at a media event, Lantu Automobile highlighted the battery technology used in Lantu’s first mass-produced model, the Lantu FREE. According to its introduction, the Lantu FREE battery can achieve the "three no principles" including "no smoke, no fire, and no explosion" after passing the safety inspection.
Image source: Landmap Automotive
In addition, Lantu Automobile also publicly claimed: "Lantu Automobile’s self-developed high-safety battery PACK solution, the industry’s first three-dimensional thermal insulation technology, and the original battery safety detection and early warning model", "Lantu FREE uses five battery safety structure designs to create full-scene safety of battery packs", "Lantu FREE battery safety zero anxiety", "Lantu Automobile shows the leading level of the new energy model battery pack thermal diffusion management industry".
What was rather embarrassing was that the bragging voice on the front foot had just fallen, and the video of an open flame spontaneously igniting in the position of the battery pack of the Lantu FREE chassis on the back foot spread all over the Internet.
Image source: Video screenshot
On June 27, according to a video circulating on the Internet, a Lantu FREE had a burning accident that day. Through the video taken at the scene, it can be clearly seen that the fire of the Lantu FREE is located at the bottom of the vehicle, which is where the battery pack is located.
After the accident, Lantu Automobile only said that "the accident did not cause damage to people or surrounding property, and has provided users with a solution to travel by car. The task force has rushed to the scene to investigate and deal with it, and the results of the accident investigation will be announced in detail as soon as possible."
Since then, Lantu Automobile has never updated the results or progress of the investigation into the incident. As if the accident had never happened. In response, the car novel called Lantu Automobile 400 to inquire about the progress of the investigation into the open fire accident. The answering staff responded in a panic that it was "still under investigation."
Although the domestic performance is mediocre, the cause of the fire involving vehicle safety has not yet been identified, but these do not seem to affect the "flying" mood of the management team of Lantu Automobile.
According to the official website of Landmap Automobile, on July 8, Landmap Automobile officially announced its entry into the overseas market.
Lu Fang, chief executive of Lantu Automobile, said: "Created in China is becoming the core competitiveness of China, giving Chinese cars the strength and confidence to look at the world. While Lantu Automobile continues to explore the domestic market, it is also fully committed to the vast international new energy market, and is committed to becoming a leader in high-end electric vehicles."
Image Source: Car Story/Photo
As Lu Fang said, "Created in China is becoming China’s core competitiveness, giving Chinese cars the strength and confidence to look at the world head-on." I just hope that Lantu Automobile can think thrice before acting. Before making the basic skills solid, it may as well take a small step first, and not drag down the good reputation that China’s new energy vehicles have just established in overseas markets.
On July 19, according to a report by "Dongfeng Toutiao", a subsidiary of Hubei Dongfeng Newspaper Media, entitled "Adjustment of Leadership Team Members of the Two Units", on the afternoon of July 18, the Dongfeng Party Committee announced at the cadre meeting held by Lantu Automobile that Lu Fang would no longer serve as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), a position held by Wang Junjun, deputy director of the DONGFENG MOTOR CORPORATION Technology Center.
In addition, Qin Jie served as a temporary party committee member and party secretary of Lantu Automobile; Liu Mingjiao served as a temporary party committee member, disciplinary committee member, and secretary of the disciplinary committee of Lantu Automobile; Gong Xuesong and Shao Mingfeng served as assistant general manager of Lantu Automobile.
Whether Dongfeng can save the crumbling Lantu car through this personnel change is still unknown, but in the car novel, whether a ship can drive out of the storm zone, the "helmsman" who controls the direction is very crucial.
