The 21st Guangzhou International Auto Show officially opened on November 17th. The development of smart cars and new energy vehicles is not just a revolution in transportation, but also a change in lifestyle and mindset. With the continuous escalation of competition in new energy vehicles, more new products and technologies will appear before the public. This year’s Guangzhou Auto Show will be themed “New Technology, New Life,” showcasing the latest technological achievements brought by the development of smart cars, as well as the new changes it brings to consumers. In response to this, different executives have expressed their views. Shi Xiangfeng, the public relations director of the marketing department of GAC Toyota, said, “In fact, GAC Toyota is now also moving towards intelligence and electrification, and we are still promoting its transformation. I have looked at it, the penetration rate of electrification in GAC Toyota’s sales structure has reached 35%, and our coverage of intelligence is close to 90%, which should be at the forefront in joint ventures; Another is that in the new joint venture system we just mentioned, GAC Toyota is breaking the inertia of the past and carrying out a more thorough transformation of intelligence and electrification, rebuilding our competitiveness from multiple dimensions such as brand, technology, and products.”
Here is the interview record: Sina Auto: Mr. Shi, what new cars and highlights has GAC Toyota brought to us at this year’s Guangzhou International Auto Show? Please introduce them to us. Shi Xiangfeng: At this year’s Guangzhou Auto Show, our GAC Toyota has launched the all-new YUEJi ZhiDian SUV Platinum 4X, and simultaneously exhibited two pure electric concept models. At the same time, the all-new 9th generation Camry also made its debut at the auto show. The first highlight is that we have announced a new system and layout for the next three years, promoting the iterative acceleration of the joint venture system and the transformation of intelligent electrification. Over the next three years, GAC Toyota will focus on the ultimate pursuit of user value, carry out self-innovation of the system mechanism, and iterate from the past unidirectional “utilitarianism” of the joint venture 1.0 era to the bidirectional empowering “integrated co-creation” of the joint venture 2.0 era, fully promoting the transformation of intelligent electrification. We will comprehensively rebuild competitiveness in new energy from the perspectives of brand, technology, and products, achieving a dual advancement in electrification and intelligence. Second, the all-new YUEJi ZhiDian SUV Platinum 4X has officially launched with a starting price of 179,800 yuan (25160$), reducing the threshold for ownership. It fully maximizes the value of quality, safety, endurance, and intelligence, truly benefiting consumers. In addition, two pure electric concept cars made their debut at the auto show, including a C-class intelligent electric drive sedan and an A+ class intelligent pure electric SUV. Third, the all-new 9th generation Camry made its debut. The all-new 9th generation Camry is the first B-class car with intelligent electric hybrid technology, equipped with car-machine and intelligent equipment that surpasses the same class. It is worth mentioning that the 9th generation Camry made its global debut simultaneously for the first time, featuring an electrified exterior design and significantly upgraded intelligent cockpit and driving performance. Sina Auto: I’m actually looking forward to the Camry. How long will it be before it officially launches? Shi Xiangfeng: In the first half of next year, stay tuned. Sina Auto: Will there be continuous updates during this process? Shi Xiangfeng: Yes, we have them now. As the first B-class car with a fifth-generation intelligent electric hybrid dual engine, the all-new ninth-generation Camry flagship sedan can be called an evolution in history, and it can be said to be the “smartest” Camry ever. Sina Auto: “The smartest,” why is that? Shi Xiangfeng: Why do we say it’s smarter? First, it achieves comprehensive hybridization, offering a smoother, more fuel-efficient, and quieter driving experience. The all-new ninth-generation Camry has introduced the fifth-generation intelligent electric hybrid dual engine for the first time, launching a more affordable 2.0L hybrid version and the 2.5L intelligent electric hybrid dual engine, forming the strongest hybrid combination in the B-class car segment. The fifth-generation intelligent electric hybrid dual engine brings a more powerful, smoother, fuel-efficient, worry-free, and quieter experience. The second is the larger central control screen, providing users with a smarter and smoother car machine usage experience. The new car is the first to be equipped with the Qualcomm 8155 chip in the Japanese high-end sedan segment, with over 4 times the computing power and a significant increase in the 12GB operating memory, greatly improving interaction efficiency. The new AR-HUD allows drivers to see the road conditions without lowering their heads, fully ensuring driving safety. The ninth-generation Camry is equipped with the advanced TSS3.0 enhanced version, providing consumers with a smart driving experience. The third is the electrified exterior design, significantly upgrading driving performance and providing a more diverse selection of three exterior options, including a more electrified exterior design and the popular Cyber Gray color, fully meeting consumers’ personalized needs. While upholding the excellent driving quality of the TNGA architecture, it also strengthens acceleration control and quietness. But today’s auto show is the debut appearance. If you have time, please go to the venue to take a look as well. Sina Auto: I’ll go take a look at this car later. This time is considered a major upgrade, perhaps because we had a topic on Weibo a few days ago called “Is 200,000 the last stronghold of gasoline cars?” Now it seems that all price ranges may have been disrupted by new energy vehicles, with only the 200,000 range being dominated by models like the Magotan and Camry. In terms of this, we have some views on or plans for the future of the relatively stable market. This is an additional issue we can chat about. Shi Xiangfeng: Actually, GAC Toyota is now also focusing on intelligence and electrification. We are still promoting its transformation. I have looked at it, and the penetration rate of electrification in GAC Toyota’s sales structure has reached 35%. Our coverage of intelligence is also close to 90%, which should put us at the forefront of joint ventures. In addition, as we just mentioned, under the new joint venture system, GAC Toyota is breaking the inertia of the past and carrying out a more thorough transformation of intelligence and electrification, rebuilding our competitiveness from multiple dimensions such as brand, technology, and products. Actually, our competitiveness in the field of new energy, in our field of fuel vehicles, including the price range of 200,000, we will continue to strengthen and co-build repeatedly, and it may not just be the region you mentioned, we are doing it in the entire field. So in this way, we are advancing in electrification and intelligence, and we will also strengthen and consolidate in the existing field. Sina Auto: I understand. I heard that we have also brought two pure electric concept cars. What are the highlights and positioning of these concept cars? Shi Xiangfeng: The two pure electric concept cars unveiled at this auto show are the “Comfortable Space” C-class intelligent electric sedan and the “Joyful Space” A+ class intelligent pure electric SUV, both dedicated to creating a smart electric mobile home with large space and intelligence. The first “Joyful Space” A+ class intelligent pure electric SUV has four major breakthroughs in intelligent electric technology, advanced electronic and electrical architecture and platform, “China Solution” intelligent cockpit bringing a fully sensory intelligent driving experience, and a safer intelligent driving experience. The second “comfortable space” C-class intelligent electric sedan brings a high-quality smart electric new choice, with top-level body size and rear space experience, as well as higher-level driving control, intelligent driving and driving experience, dedicated to bringing a technology and quality smart electric travel experience to the affluent middle-class families. Sina Auto: My final question, what do you think the performance of the Bo Zhi 4X will be like after entering the market, or what will its market competitiveness be like? Shi Xiangfeng: The Bo Zhi 4X, an upgraded intelligent electric SUV launched at the Guangzhou International Auto Show, starts at 179,800 yuan (25160$). It has the characteristic of “entry-level is high-end, cost-effective,” and has strong competitiveness in the same level of pure electric SUV market. First, the quality, safety, endurance, and intelligent all-round leap of Bo Zhi 4X are very sincere. Superior space quality: It has an ultra-long wheelbase of 2850 mm, and the 1000 mm rear space can fully rival a D-class sedan. Endurance price ratio is superior: The entry-level version has a super long endurance of 615 kilometers, comparable to the endurance of a fuel car. Intelligent price ratio is superior: It provides configurations such as face recognition, digital key, intelligent parking, panoramic image with transparent chassis, and four-corner reverse radar, offering a one-click purchase of high-end intelligent experience. Safety price ratio is superior: The entire range comes standard with the T-Pilot intelligent driving assistance system at the L3 level, and comes standard with 8 airbags, achieving technological equality and maximum safety. Second, Bo Zhi 4X has broken through the price difference between oil and electricity, truly benefiting consumers. In this launch of the upgraded intelligent electric SUV Bo Zhi 4X, GAC Toyota actively broke through the price system, the entry threshold, and the price difference between oil and electricity. The suggested retail price of the 615 AIR version of Bo Zhi 4X is 179,800 yuan (25160$), the 615 PRO version is 199,800 yuan (27960$), the 615 MAX version is 219,800 yuan (30760$), and the four-wheel drive 560max version is suggested to retail at 238,800 yuan (33420$). Sina Auto: Thank you for allowing us to interview you today. We are truly committed to benefiting consumers and making high-quality new energy vehicles accessible. Thank you.