Former Tesla Autopilot Executive Joins Amazon, and Cybertruck Is Expected to Be Introduced to the Chinese Market | Overseas Daily
"Top 3 News"
Hongqi Exports First Batch of EH7 and EHS7 Electric Vehicles to Europe
Key Points:
Recently, Hongqi, a Chinese luxury car manufacturer, has exported the first batch of 600 electric vehicles to Europe, including the EH7 sedan and the EHS7 SUV models. This move marks a steady progress for Hongqi in the overseas market development. In October 2024, Hongqi made its debut at the Paris Auto Show with its all-electric EH7 sedan and EHS7 SUV, attracting widespread attention. The EH7 has received wide acclaim for its exquisite design, cutting-edge technology, and an impressive 655-kilometer WLTP range, particularly excelling in driving dynamics and comfort.
These two models demonstrate Hongqi's commitment to innovation and sustainability, while the EHS7 stands out with its industry-leading battery safety features, providing multiple protections and unparalleled reliability under extreme conditions. The advanced battery system of the EHS7 adopts a reinforced hexagonal honeycomb structure and multi-layer sealing technology, ensuring industry-leading durability and reliability under various conditions. The battery system uses aerospace-grade insulation materials that can withstand voltages up to 10 kilovolts and temperatures of 1000 degrees Celsius, effectively preventing heat diffusion. This enables the battery system to not only pass traditional extreme tests such as puncture, bottom impact, fire, and long-term water immersion, but also to withstand extreme challenges such as electric shock and electromagnetic radiation.
Thanks to the triple sealing technology, the battery achieves the industry's highest IPX8 waterproof level and can remain stable after being immersed in one meter of water for 60 hours. This breakthrough alleviates concerns about driving in heavy rain and provides drivers with peace of mind in adverse weather conditions. The launch of the Hongqi EH7 and EHS7 comes at a time when the demand for luxury all-electric vehicles in Europe is steadily increasing. These new energy vehicle models cater to the growing demand of European consumers for environmentally friendly, innovative, and high-quality travel solutions. The successful shipment of the EH7 and EHS7 marks Hongqi's further expansion in the European new energy vehicle market. Looking to the future, Hongqi will continue to deepen its layout in the overseas market, provide high-quality products and excellent services, and offer extraordinary travel experiences to more European customers.
Hongqi EHS7 (Source: ElectricCarsReport)
Opinions:
The export of the first batch of EH7 and EHS7 electric vehicles by Hongqi to Europe is not only an important step in the internationalization strategy of the Hongqi brand but also an epitome of the enhanced competitiveness of the Chinese automotive industry in the global market. This event showcases the ambition and strength of Chinese automakers in the global new energy vehicle field, especially in the high-end electric vehicle market. From a technical perspective, the launch of the EH7 and EHS7 models, especially the innovation in battery safety technology of the EHS7, not only enhances the technical image of the Hongqi brand but also provides more safety guarantees for consumers. In the European market, consumers have extremely high requirements for the safety performance and environmental protection features of electric vehicles. Hongqi's ability to meet these demands is undoubtedly an affirmation of its product strength.
In addition, this move by Hongqi also reflects the active layout and enhanced brand influence of Chinese automotive brands in the global market. As the global automotive industry undergoes an electric transformation, Chinese brands are seizing the opportunity to gradually change the traditional international market perception of Made in China through technological innovation and market expansion. However, Hongqi still faces many challenges in the European market, including brand awareness, the construction of after-sales service networks, and cultural adaptability to the local market. Hongqi needs to continuously invest resources to improve product quality and service levels in order to stand out in the highly competitive European market. Overall, Hongqi's export to Europe is a positive signal, demonstrating the confidence and progress of the Chinese automotive industry. With the continuous advancement of technology and the further opening of the global market, it is expected that Hongqi will achieve greater success on the international stage.
Tesla's Autopilot Hardware Engineering Head Joins Amazon's Autonomous Driving Company Zoox
Key Points:
Recently, Tesla has experienced a significant personnel change. Zheng Gao, the head of Tesla's Autopilot Hardware Engineering department, has announced his departure and has joined Amazon's autonomous driving company, Zoox. Zheng Gao has been with Tesla for more than 8 years and has served as the head of the Autopilot Hardware Engineering department for the past three years. In his LinkedIn profile, he mentions that he is responsible for managing the mechanical engineering, thermal engineering, display engineering, and camera engineering teams, focusing on low-voltage electronic systems. Zheng Gao is responsible for designing the hardware that supports Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) functions. Before joining Tesla, Zheng Gao worked at Apple for ten years and participated in the design of many electronic products. Zoox, as an autonomous driving technology company under Amazon, recently announced that Zheng Gao will assume a similar leadership role in the company.
Amazon Zoox (Source: Electrek)
Opinions:
Zheng Gao's departure comes at a time when Tesla claims to be on the verge of achieving unsupervised autonomous driving technology, although CEO Elon Musk has claimed to be on the verge of achieving this goal every year for the past six years. Meanwhile, Zoox has made significant progress in its testing program in California and announced that its robotaxi service will be launched in San Francisco. Electrek's view on this event is that people leave companies for various reasons, and Zheng Gao's 8-year work experience at Tesla is undoubtedly successful. However, if one truly believes that Tesla is on the verge of creating the greatest value, that is, enabling millions of autonomous taxis, then it seems somewhat strange to leave now. Of course, there are also many views that Tesla cannot achieve unsupervised autonomous driving on its vehicles.
US Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Market Share Hits Record High in Q3 2024
Key Points:
In the third quarter of 2024, the electric and hybrid vehicle market in the United States continues to show an upward trend. According to the data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the combined sales of hybrid vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and battery electric vehicles (BEV) soared to 21.2% of the total light-duty new vehicle sales, an increase from 19.1% in the previous quarter.
Battery electric vehicles (BEV) are the main driver of this growth, with the market share significantly increasing from 7.4% in the second quarter to 8.9%. The market share of hybrid vehicles has also increased, reaching a record high of 10.6%. In the luxury vehicle segment, BEVs remain popular, accounting for 35.8% of the market share. However, with the growth in non-luxury market sales, the share of luxury BEVs in the entire BEV market has dropped to the lowest level since 2017. Tesla maintains its leading position in the US BEV market, but its market share has fallen below 50% for the second consecutive quarter, dropping to 48.8%. The Model Y and Model 3 remain strong selling models, and the newly released Cybertruck has outsold its competitors in the electric truck segment, including the Rivian R1T, Ford F-150 Lightning, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV, and GMC Sierra EV, contributing significantly to the sales growth.
Chevrolet Electric SUV (Source: ElectricCarsReport)
Opinions:
Ford's market share ranks second, although it has dropped to 6.9%. Chevrolet has surpassed Hyundai and ranked third thanks to the success of the Equinox EV and Blazer EV models. Although many electric vehicles sold in the United States are domestically produced, a considerable portion also comes from South Korea and Germany. According to estimates by Wards Intelligence, 78.9% of BEVs sold in the United States in the third quarter of 2024 are produced in North America, 7.3% in South Korea, and 5.3% in Germany. The Inflation Reduction Act's clean vehicle tax credit policy introduces more stringent domestic content requirements for vehicles to be eligible for credits. However, the leasing option provides consumers with more flexibility and a wider range of eligible vehicle models. This market share growth not only shows the strong growth momentum of electric and hybrid vehicles in the US market but also reflects the increasing favor of consumers towards environmentally friendly and energy-saving vehicles. With the advancement of technology and policy support, this trend is expected to continue, and the market share of electric and hybrid vehicles in the US and even the global market will further expand.
"Big Events"
Tesla Cybertruck Receives Recognition in China
Tesla Cybertruck (Source: Tesla)
According to foreign media reports, Amazon is challenging Tesla by launching an online car-buying tool and hiring the former head of Elon Musk's autonomous driving hardware development. However, Tesla is not sitting idly by in response to this news. They are considering expanding the Cybertruck to new markets. Tesla is once again considering expanding in India and may once again launch the controversial Cybertruck in the Chinese market.
The Tesla Cybertruck has recently obtained energy consumption certification in China, which is a necessary step for its entry into the Chinese market. Although Tesla previously denied plans to launch the Cybertruck in China in the short term, this certification now leads people to speculate again about its possible plans for the Chinese market. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has stated that due to China's vehicle certification requirements, there are difficulties for the Cybertruck to be listed in China. In addition, the Tesla Cybertruck is currently only sold in North America and has not yet entered other markets. Nevertheless, Tesla is adjusting the Cybertruck to meet the specific needs of the Chinese market, especially in terms of pedestrian collision protection.
CALLUM Unveils Luxury Interior of SKYE High-Performance Electric SUV
The design and engineering company CALLUM has recently revealed the luxurious interior of its high-performance multi-terrain electric SUV, the CALLUM SKYE. This 2 + 2-seater enclosed cockpit stands out from its competitors with its elegant refinement and seamless integration of performance. The CALLUM SKYE combines robustness and functionality with sophisticated design, select premium materials, and finishes, achieving the optimal balance between practicality and luxury.
CALLUM Design Director Aleck Jones explains, "Despite the capable and rugged exterior of the CALLUM SKYE, the interior design has been meticulously and thoughtfully refined to deliver a sense of luxury at every touchpoint. Clever design solutions make the interior sleek yet not simplistic, giving it a light, airy, and refined feel, all within a compact cockpit. Its success lies in the careful balance of opposing factors, incorporating an appearance that people understand and love."
In the center of the cockpit, a stylish "blade-style" console houses tactile switchgear and forms a striking line between the two front seats, with its tip expanding into a geometric shape with a touchscreen rotary dial for HVAC control and other key functions. The clean dashboard, with restraint and functionality as the top considerations, features a central touchscreen that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a glovebox beautifully trimmed with Bridge of Weir leather.
Luxurious Interior of SKYE High-Performance Electric SUV (Source: ElectricCarsReport)
The front row features two comfortable sports seats upholstered in soft and luxurious "Arctic Pearl" white Bridge of Weir leather with semi-aniline finish, complemented by matching removable rear seats suitable for children. The stunning bright white leather is complemented by "vitamin C" orange contrast trim. The leather pulls on the doors and glovebox, as well as the steering wheel trim, are expertly color-matched, while the seats are adorned with double-stitched detailing in the same hue. To add a touch of vitality, CALLUM's signature "deconstructed tartan" has been digitally printed onto the leather of the door cards, center console, and glovebox, with "vitamin C" high-gloss stitching for an additional tactile element. The interior is handcrafted by experts at the Bridge of Weir Advanced Design Studio within CALLUM's Warwick facility. In contrast to the bright white leather of the seats, the footwell is finished in a graphite-colored tactile rubber for added texture and softness, while also being durable.
The CALLUM SKYE made its public debut in May 2024 and is the company's first fully independently developed and designed vehicle. It is designed to offer a capable, exciting, and enjoyable driving experience on both the road and off-road, while delivering refinement and style. This all-electric vehicle is expected to be powered by a 42kWh battery with an estimated range of 170 miles. The CALLUM SKYE measures 4,047mm in length, 1,900mm in width, and weighs just 1,150kg, offering sports car performance with an expected 0 - 60mph acceleration time of under four seconds. It is available in a "Dynamic" variant, primarily targeted at customers planning to use the vehicle mainly on the road, and a "Capability" off-road variant for more challenging terrains and applications. The "Capability" specification, which will feature a robust and durable interior, is expected to be revealed in 2025. Reservations are now open, with prices ranging from £80,000 to £110,000.
Kia Confirms Plans for Electric Tasman Pickup
Kia Tasman Pickup (Source: Electrek)
Kia Motors has officially confirmed that the fully electric version of the Tasman pickup is coming soon. Although there were expectations from the outside world before, Kia has finally confirmed this news. Kia revealed its plans to launch two electric pickups at the CEO Investor Day in 2022, one for emerging markets and the other as a dedicated electric pickup. In the United States, Kia has stated that it will produce these electric versions of SUVs and pickups locally. Christo Valentyn, Head of Marketing for Kia South Africa, disclosed in a media event that the electric Tasman pickup is approaching.
