In fact, many ordinary people do not understand the difference between auto shows. They often hear friends from other places say, "We are also doing auto shows there."
To put it in general terms here, the only two major international A-class auto shows, Beijing and Shanghai, that can have an impact on the future of the Chinese auto market and even the global auto market, rotate once a year, and this year coincides with the rotation of the venue. Arrived in Beijing.
Some people predicted earlier that the Chengdu Auto Show would replace the Beijing Auto Show as the benchmark for China's auto market this year. However, the OEMs that had been dormant for half a year still turned Chengdu into a happy place for car sales. Some forward-looking models have not yet arrived. Chengdu.
This makes people speculate that many people in the industry may already know that the Beijing Auto Show will be held as scheduled, but there are some hiccups in the middle. Almost all foreign company executives are absent from the Beijing Auto Show. It seems that It also sends out another signal, that is - this time, it is the home court of the real Chinese, and it is time for Chinese brands to show their strength.
In this article, let’s talk about the representatives of the Northern District, Southern District and Central District, BAIC-GAC and Dongfeng Motor.
Coincidentally, these three companies all regard new energy development as the main theme of this auto show.
BAIC: The technology is well prepared, but the mass-produced works are slightly insufficient
BAIC is the earliest in the development of new energy. Relying on the restrictions of Beijing’s travel policies and BAIC’s own online ride-hailing advantages, its sales volume It has been rising steadily, but its shortcomings have gradually become apparent.
That is, the purchasing intention of ordinary families is low.
With the rapid development of new energy in China, BAIC has also felt the impact from new car-making forces, and the upgrading of technology and models is imminent.
Last year, BAIC’s new brand logo and electrified concept car were unveiled. After a year, BAIC took advantage of the momentum of its home field and once again brought a new concept car. This time the concept car captured the “Chinese elements” and “ "Ruishi front face", a body curved design inspired by ancient Chinese calligraphy, and an interior atmosphere that integrates traditional Chinese architecture and furniture design styles.
As far as design is concerned, it is enough to impress Chinese people who love traditional culture.
As for its core, we only know that it has a range of 800 kilometers and is equipped with L4 autonomous driving technology. This is not unfamiliar, and some brands have already added these to mass-produced cars.
Therefore, BAIC’s pace can be accelerated.
In fact, BAIC’s focus is on the BEIJING-X7 PHEV, which is BAIC’s first plug-in hybrid model.
1.5T turbocharged direct injection engine + high-efficiency drive motor, with a combined power of 234kW, a combined torque of 460N?m, and a pure electric cruising range of 83km?. The product has certain competitiveness, but the disadvantage is the price. On the high side, the starting price exceeds 180,000 yuan.
This may be a long-standing symptom of BAIC. Although it yearns for "brand improvement", it does not have a very convincing voice. I don't know how much of this concept car will be reflected in mass-produced cars. .
If we can really rely on the "future", we may be able to occupy a certain market share. Of course, BAIC also needs to solve the inherent brand image of consumers and how to achieve true "high-end" .
GAC: New energy sources are already diversified
First of all, let’s take a look at the sales volume of GAC New Energy. From January to August, Aion? S*** sold nearly 26,000 units. It occupies the third place in the new energy sales list, and the gap from the second place is less than 1,000 units.
Of course you will say that the average monthly sales volume is not worth mentioning compared with Tesla, but it has not been a long time since GAC New Energy was established to achieve such results, and it is still in the middle. A detour.
Shujin believes that all this is due to the birth of GAC Research Institute.
From research to R&D, GAC has grasped the main selling points of new energy in the future, including stylish appearance, simple interior, and intelligent use. The launch of the Aion series models is also very similar to the original concept car.
For GAC, efforts have been made to build a new energy architecture. So far, the Aon series has three models, including Aon V, Aon S, and Aon LX, covering different market segments.
GAC’s ambitions are not limited to this. The first mass-produced hydrogen fuel car has been unveiled at the previous GAC Technology Day. Compared with many brands that are still in the imagination stage, GAC is starting to take steps. .
At this Beijing Auto Show, GAC brought a pure electric hard-top convertible sports car - ENPULSE.
According to the official introduction, Yingdong has both the world's top wind control capabilities and the dynamic posture of a sports car. The body uses new "electroluminescent" paint. Yingdong also creatively introduces AR-HUD technology to open up "competition". "Speed ??Mode", it can be seen that GAC is advancing towards luxury and sports, and at the same time it is also announcing to the world that GAC has amazing imagination and we can deliver world-class answers.
The above can be said to be the highest goal of GAC. From imitating Honda and Toyota models to developing models that fit the Chinese automobile consumer market, and then envisioning the future, GAC has begun to have its own brand. own label.
Of course, GAC is still a car company that mainly focuses on fuel vehicles, and the development of new energy is still in the process of exploration. What kind of models can be free from price constraints and truly well received by the market? This may be This is the next step that GAC needs to think about.
Dongfeng’s auto show announcement can be summed up in one sentence, which is dazzling.
Dongfeng: I am not willing to just be a younger brother
There are too many new things, so let’s just pick the most important ones.
Lantu still remembers the Dongfeng New Energy brand that has just entered the market.
Only two months after the world premiere of the first concept car Lantu iLand, another new concept car Lantu iFree was unveiled at this auto show. Dongfeng seems to be announcing to everyone: We have been ready for a long time.
Lantu is a brand that targets the high-end new energy field.
Lantu iFree is positioned as a "zero-anxiety mid-to-large high-end smart electric SUV" and is expected to meet the expectations of users for good-looking, high-performance, high-intelligence and high-quality electric vehicles.
As we all know, except for Tesla, the word high-end is a huge threshold for the new energy market. You can get the title of "high-end" from materials, power, and intelligence, but for the consumer market For example, how people are willing and willing to spend money has become a difficult problem.
Therefore, we can understand that Lantu is trying to get rid of the inherent image of the Dongfeng brand and find its own path.
Although it is a little late, the plan is not conservative at all. Lu Fang, CEO and CTO of Lantu Automotive Technology Company, said that starting from 2021, Lantu Automobile will launch at least one new car on the market every year; In the next three to five years, Lantu Auto's products will cover multiple market segments such as sedans, SUVs, and MPVs, expanding the product lineup of high-end electric vehicles.
This seems a bit like Tesla. I have built the car. As for the price and style, you can choose whatever you want.
Lantu's strategy is a bit risky, but this is something that the belated Dongfeng must catch up with.
At this Beijing Auto Show, many brands have set the time for the outbreak of new energy in 2025, which means that there is not much time left for Dongfeng.
Fortunately, Dongfeng is not only limited to the Lantu line. At the auto show, it also displayed the latest technological highlights on various fronts, such as the HD120 electric drive assembly, which is the "five-wheel drive" independently developed by the Dongfeng Technology Center. "In-one" (drive motor, generator, drive motor controller, generator controller, and reduction gearbox integrated into one) highly integrated hybrid drive assembly, supporting EV, engine direct drive, series, parallel, and braking energy recovery , parking power generation and other driving modes.
In addition, Dongfeng Hydrogen Boat, the first hydrogen fuel cell passenger car, made its debut. It is equipped with Dongfeng’s independently developed medium-power stack and 50kW fuel cell system. The maximum efficiency of the hydrogen fuel cell system can reach 55 %, and uses two 52L 70MPa hydrogen bottles. The hydrogen filling time is less than 3 minutes, and the NEDC cruising range can reach 500km.
Whether it is striving to catch up or accumulating accumulation, Dongfeng has shown us a different future development trend. Guided by the group, the development of various brands of fuel and new energy is proceeding in an orderly manner.
As the big brother of China's automobile industry, Dongfeng is obviously unwilling to lag behind others. Positive subjective awareness is good, but like BAIC and GAC, it needs to be tempered in the market.
Tempering with the world's well-known brands, tempering the competition with new car-making forces, this kind of competition may be more fierce than in the era of fuel vehicles, because consumers' choices are no longer single, but at least, everyone has On the same starting line.
I wish BAIC, GAC and Dongfeng good luck to those who want to flex their muscles. We have seen you desperately trying to do better.
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.