Diversified development, green and smart CIIE reflects new trends in the new energy automobile industry

Embodied robots that can accurately assemble auto parts, tires made of sustainable materials such as plastic bottles and cashew nut shells, "air taxis"... From parts to complete vehicles to future travel, in the automotive and smart travel exhibition area of ​​the 9th China International Import Expo, a number of exhibits debuted for the first time, presenting a new picture of smart travel.

As a showcase for new product displays and a window for observing the smart transformation of the global automobile industry, what new trends does this year’s CIIE reflect?

The technical route is more diverse——

Walking into the exhibition area, we can see that electrification is still the main focus of most participating car companies, but plug-in hybrid, extended range, and hydrogen energy are also advancing simultaneously. Multinational car companies exhibited new electrification transformation products, the latest technical solutions and localized research and development results, showing a more diversified technical route.

Volkswagen brought a new pure electric model, Nissan brought a variety of models to form a new energy matrix; BMW simultaneously displayed its sixth-generation large cylindrical battery technology, Hyundai Motor displayed a new generation hydrogen fuel cell system; LG New Energy participated in the exhibition for the first time with its latest battery products and forward-looking technology...

"At this exhibition, Hyundai Motor will focus on electrification, hydrogen energy and other sectors to showcase many of its latest achievements in China. This is also a manifestation of our multi-technical route to deeply explore the Chinese travel market." Hyundai Motor's staff told reporters at the booth.

The “green content” is getting higher and higher——

Audi brought a pure electric SUV, Beijing Hyundai’s C-class pure electric coupe made its debut, and Toyota brought a hydrogen fuel cell combined heat and power system from concept to practical display... Wandering around the exhibition area, various new energy models and technologies still occupy an important position.

At the booths of some automotive supply chain companies, exhibits made of renewable and recycled materials also attracted attention: carbon fiber was recycled from retired car models and "remade" into recycled carbon fiber inner door panels and interior parts; rice husks were burned and converted into silica as tire rubber reinforcement materials, and agricultural by-products were "transformed" into green tire raw materials...

One exhibition and one area. Whether for complete vehicles or parts, continuing to promote green innovation is undoubtedly one of the important directions for deepening China's new energy vehicle market.

"In 2021, the proportion of renewable and recycled materials in the tires we displayed will reach 46%, and this year it will reach 75%. The CIIE has witnessed our continued breakthroughs in green material innovation." said Ye Fei, President and CEO of Michelin Greater China and Mongolia.

Wan Gang, honorary chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology and chairman of the World New Energy Vehicle Conference, said that China's new energy vehicle industry has embarked on a development and growth path that deeply integrates technological innovation and industrial innovation. Next, it must continue to promote industrial development to improve quality and efficiency, and make more contributions to the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development.

AI applications are becoming more and more in-depth——

In the AI smart cockpit, multiple occupant preferences are "firmly remembered", and seats, air conditioning, and audio and video are automatically adapted after getting in the car; intelligent sensing technology analyzes tire grip, load, tire pressure and wear status in real time, predicts potential risks such as air leakage and wear, and provides support for chassis control and predictive maintenance... The reporter saw in the exhibition area that AI has gradually been deeply applied to cockpit interaction, road decision-making, tire detection and other aspects.

"Chinese consumers, especially the younger generation, have a lot of requirements for new technologies, so the market is first in China." Xu Daquan, president of Bosch China, believes that this is due to both the market size and the active embrace of new technologies by Chinese customers.

"Driven by cutting-edge technologies such as AI and new energy, the core of competition in the automotive industry is shifting from manufacturing capabilities to technological innovation capabilities and ecological synergy capabilities." Li Chuanhai, vice president of Geely Automobile Group, said that in the future, we will continue to strengthen underlying innovation in AI technology to better meet user needs.

Outside the booth, deepening cooperation and win-win future are the constant themes.

At the Volkswagen Hefei R&D Center, more than 3,000 R&D personnel work side by side. New-generation vehicle platforms, electronic and electrical architecture, intelligent driving and other technologies are all developed in China. Tesla currently has more than 400 local first-tier suppliers signed in China, of which more than 60 have entered its global supply chain system...

"From fuel vehicles to new energy vehicles, and now to intelligent connectivity, the competitive logic of automobiles has undergone fundamental changes. Iterative upgrades of automobiles, including opening up new market spaces, require better collaboration." said Tang Yunyi, deputy director of the Institute of Applied Economics of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.