Since 1990, the Beijing Auto Show has united the biggest industry players from China and around the world. Now in its 18th edition, held under the theme ‘New Era, New Automobile’, this year’s show comes at an inflection point for the Chinese automotive industry as many of its OEMs begin expanding to new markets with highly innovative, low-cost, vehicles.
Understanding how it could impact the future of automotive, Victor Zhang, Director of SBD China, and members of our China team attended the event to analyze the new technologies and vehicles on the show floor. In this Insight, we will be highlighting some of Auto China 2024’s key trends and profiling the most exciting new vehicles on show.
Key Technology Trends
While this year’s event presented a vast array of technologies spanning many domains, our experts identified intelligent cockpit, ADAS, and EV charging as the key trends that emerged from the show floor.
Intelligent Cockpit
With the China market already offering a competitive ecosystem of advanced cockpit systems, Auto China 2024 provided many OEMs with the chance to showcase their latest IVI advancements.
Leading the trend was Lynk & Co with an upgraded version of LYNK Flyme Auto, its proprietary cockpit system. Launching with the 07 EM-P, it features new 14.5-inch 3K OLED rear displays that enable rear-seat passengers to access an ecosystem of entertainment and vehicle apps, including navigation. If these passengers wish to control the vehicle’s features, the 12.6-inch central display – called the Lynk & Co Co Pad – can be detached and passed to them. While supporting three-lane AR navigation and displaying ADAS information in front of the driver, the system’s 92-inch 2K AR HUD can also transform into a large cinema-style screen for watching movies when parked. Powering these technologies are two 7Nm SE1000 chips, which also facilitate ‘Lynkie’, an AI-based virtual avatar.
The trend continued in the Mini Aceman and the iCAR V23 – both of which made their global debut at Auto China 2024. Inside the Aceman, a circular OLED display hosts the brand-new MINI Operating System 9, which enables its driving functions to be controlled by touch or voice commands. Its UI adapts to the circular screen, providing minimalistic widgets around its circumference. At the top are widgets for the speed and battery status, while prompts for the Navigation, Media, Telephone and Climate functions appear at the bottom. When tapping the speed widget, for example, a large digital speedometer fills the screen to offer a more focused driving experience. The iCAR V23’s cockpit system leverages Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 chip to power its 15.7-inch 2K central control screen and 3D HMI graphics based on Unreal Engine. In addition to the system’s support for wireless Apple CarPlay, it can also be linked to mainstream videogame consoles and VR glasses for extended functionality.
EV Charging
As OEMs and suppliers alike demonstrated their latest battery technology advancements, EV charging emerged as another of Auto China 2024’s key trends.
CATL, for example, launched its new Shenxing PLUS battery, which leverages LFP to achieve an energy density of 205 Wh/kg and a range exceeding 1,000km (621 miles). After 10 minutes of charging, the new battery can replenish 600 km (372 miles) of range. The event also saw CATL announce its all-new Shenxing Superfast Charging Network and a dedicated EV owners club that will provide owners with a range of services – including public fast-charging, battery testing and more.
Haopin, a GAC AION brand, revealed an all-new all-solid-state battery capable of reaching 400 Wh/kg, and a maximum range above 1,000 km (621 miles). Leveraging its third-generation sponge silicon anode and high-area capacity solid-state cathode technology, it achieves a longer battery life in a compact form factor and a reduced weight. The GAC Group plans to equip new Haopin models with this battery in 2026.
Changan provided insight into the future of its battery brand, Jinzhongzhao, and how the brand will support its future EV batteries. Here, Jinzhongzhao will upgrade and optimize its existing liquid batteries, aiming for a seven-minute charging time and a 400-km (248-mile) range. The brand will continue to develop new electrolyte materials, semi-solid, and solid-state batteries, while planning to launch new batteries with an energy density of 350-500 Wh/kg and a volumetric energy density of 750-1000 Wh/L before 2027.
Key Vehicle Announcements
Xiaomi SU7
At the height of Auto China’s vehicle launches for 2024 is the Xiaomi SU7, the Chinese tech giant’s first vehicle. The all-new EV is equipped with various connectivity and safety technologies, with Xiaomi’s in-vehicle software, HyperOS, at the forefront. The system aims to enhance the interconnectivity between people, cars, and homes, offering deep smartphone synchronization capabilities to achieve this goal. These capabilities are not limited to Xiaomi’s own consumer electronics system either, with the SU7 enabling Apple’s iPad to be mounted and used as a rear infotainment screen.
Similarly self-developed is the EV’s ADAS suite, Xiaomi Pilot. Equipped with 12 ultrasonic sensors, 11 external cameras, 3 mm-wave radars, and a LiDAR, it offers several L2+ assisted driving functions. Among these are assistants for high-speed and urban driving (set to launch in August), as well as an assisted parking service. Xiaomi Pilot also features the company’s in-house Super Resolution Occupancy Network technology that identifies obstacles with enhanced precision, while enhancing its recognition accuracy.
Honda Ye P7/S7
One of the event’s biggest announcements from an international OEM came from Honda, who revealed a new China-focused EV brand called Ye. EVs under the Ye brand will feature an all-new ‘W’ architecture specially designed by Honda for the China market, which offers a large-capacity, high-density, battery with a ‘three-in-one’ high-power drive motor and a unified die-casting shell. Ye EVs built on the W architecture will be available in two drive layouts: a dual-motor four-wheel drive, and a single-motor rear drive version.
Inside, these EVs will offer a new central control layout, presenting a single tablet-like display with a horizontal split-screen view. The display is host to many all-new technologies making their debut on Ye-brand vehicles, including Honda’s new proactive AI, Honda Sensing 360+ and Honda Connect 4.0. These EVs will also provide feature-on-demand services, including the ‘R Ultra Enjoyment Mode’ and ‘V Exclusive Mode’ driving experiences, while Honda’s AI technology helps consolidate and personalize the driver’s service ecosystem by offering proactive recommendations.
Volkswagen Tiguan L Pro
Produced locally through the SAIC-VW joint venture for the Chinese market, Volkswagen’s latest Tiguan is the first equipped with IQ.Pilot, a new ADAS co-developed by the OEM, SAIC, and DJI Automotive. Offering a series of L2+ functions, IQ.Pilot provides intelligent lane change and intelligent cutting-in response functions, alongside an intelligent, semi-autonomous, pilot that can be activated on many expressways.
A key focus of the new Tiguan is its new connected system, which is spearheaded by a six-screen array consisting of a 15-inch 2K floating screen, 11.6-inch passenger entertainment screen, a 10.3-inch digital instrument display, a smaller screen featured on the intelligent control knob, and a windscreen HUD. Across these screens, the Tiguan Pro L offers a broad range of connected apps, features, and services powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 chip. Among these are lane-level online navigation; native in-vehicle applications for WeChat, the iQIYI video streaming service, QQ Music; and iFLYTEK’s voice assistant.
Secure your copy of the 2024 Auto China Flash Report Today!
Throughout this week, Auto China 2024 will provide invaluable opportunities to experience new, exciting, innovations from key players in the China region and beyond. However, with more than 117 world premieres, including 41 concept cars, and a total of 278 all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on display, staying on top of its most important activities can quickly become difficult.
While a portion of these activities have been highlighted throughout this article, our complimentary Auto China Flash Report pinpoints the most critical trends and announcements from the event. In doing so, it provides a concise, hype-free, snapshot of Auto China 2024’s most interesting vehicles and technologies, punctuated by deep analytical insights from our experts attending the event, to help you stay ahead of the curve.
The Auto China 2024 Flash Report is available to read now, so be sure to click below to download your free copy!
Our comprehensive Premium Event Report, which will deliver even deeper insights, analysis, and takeaways, will also be releasing shortly so be sure to stay tuned to our channels!