The offensive of “Tesla killers” starts in Shanghai. Who will be rivals of electric cars produced by Elon Musk's company
At the Shanghai Motor Show, which takes place between April 23 and May 2, over 70 Chinese and international car brands will present over 100 new or updated models, according to Reuters. The event takes place in the context of a fierce competition on the Chinese market, the largest in the world for electric and hybrid vehicles, where every detail can make the difference.
China's top car manufacturers, such as Byd and Geely, will be in the foreground, while international giants such as Volkswagen, Nissan, Toyota and Cadillac (General Motors) will dispute the attention of the public and the press.
Autonomous technology under magnifying glass after a fatal accident
Against the background of a pricing war that lasts for years, the producers are now based on the new driving assistance systems as a competitive advantage. But a recent fatal accident, resulting in three victims, involving the Xiaomi Su7 electric model, which caught fire after hitting a pillar, led to a hard reaction from the Chinese authorities.
The government has forbidden the use in the marketing materials of terms such as “autonomous” or “intelligent”, which has forced companies such as Byd and Zeekr to change their public discourse and emphasize safety in driving, not automation.
Byd plays loudly with the “eye of God”
BYD, the leader of the Chinese market for electric and hybrid vehicles, announced in February that he will include his advanced driving assistance system for free, nicknamed “God's Eye” (“God's eye”), on all his models, including about $ 10,000. The strategy was seen as an aggressive reply to its rivals, meant to lower prices and destabilize competition.
At the same time, the Chinese authorities also imposed restrictions on distance software updates for these systems, without approval of the Government.
Tesla was forced to suspend a free period of her software “Full Self Driving” (FSD) in China and later renounced its name, opting for a more cautious formulation: “Driving intelligently”.
Huawei, who has already launched eight electric models in partnership with various local producers, has also launched a warning campaign regarding the responsible use of its automatic systems.
Geely, through his electricity brand Zeekr, was to launch his first model with level 3 autonomous driving technology (which allows the driver to take his hands off the steering wheel, but obliges him to be careful).
However, in the light of new restrictions, Zeekr announced that it will focus in its presentations on hybrids and innovations in the field of batteries.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have also announced a tightening of EV battery standards regulations, in an attempt to reduce the risk of fires and explosions.
Assault on model y
Despite the restrictions, the Chinese sector of “new energy vehicles” (EV and hybrids) continue to explode, exceeding the symbolic threshold: over half of the new car registrations are electrified models, an objective that Beijing had initially set for 2030.
At the Shanghai salon, a dozen electric crossover models are clearly positioned as direct y rivals from Tesla. They offer higher loading technologies, driving assistance and entertainment on board, at more accessible prices. The “suitors” include Xpeng G6, Zeekr E6 and Xiaomi Su7 Ultra.
Tesla, who has not participated in the China car showing in 2021, continues to lose ground. Its market share for battery vehicles decreased from 15% to 2020 to only 9% in the first quarter of 2024. In addition, the company's annual sales decreased globally for the first time.
The independent auto analyst Lei Xing, who aimed to grow the China's automotive industry for two decades, called them and other new formidable Chinese electric crossovers “Y kilks”.
“It is a pressure tsunami” on the best -selling Tesla model, “he said. “It will not be a single vehicle that will defeat the model Y – CI 12 or 13”.
