• 04.09.2024

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CES 2024: Intel’s Automotive Entry, NIO’s Plans, & Xiaomi’s Car Buzz

Jan 13, 2024

The 2024 CES exhibition, known as the “black technology” event, kicked off at the beginning of the new year. Not only are car companies increasingly participating, but other high-tech companies are also eager to try. Intel has announced its official entry into the automotive field, bringing the next generation of new intelligent cabins, which is very exciting. NIO’s founder, William Li, conveyed a lot of signals in an internal letter in 2024. In a challenging and opportunistic year, NIO will take multiple actions simultaneously. Xiaomi’s car also took the opportunity to interact closely with netizens again, answering questions. It seems that everyone’s attention to Xiaomi’s car has not diminished at all. What will be the final price? Let’s review this week’s hot topics on Weibo together.

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

CES 2024 International Consumer Electronics Show took place in Las Vegas, USA from January 9th to 12th. The event attracted participants from over 150 countries and 309 companies from the Fortune Global 500 registered to participate. CES 2024 showcased the latest technology products and innovative ideas, demonstrating the seamless integration of technology and life. Netizens are discussing:

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz
CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

At the beginning of the new year, the bustling is not only in the domestic car market. Far across the ocean in Las Vegas, the CES 2024 International Consumer Electronics Show, also known as the “Black Technology Event,” once again attracted attention from the industry. The influence of CES is quite extensive. With the rapid development of technology integration and AI intelligent technology, new technologies in the automotive industry are now more frequently being brought to the stage at one of the world’s largest consumer technology industry events. It is not an exaggeration to say that CES and the automotive industry are inseparable. The four main themes of CES 2024 are artificial intelligence, sustainable development, mobile technology, and security for all. When combined with automobiles, you will find that each point is inseparable. Nowadays, cars have entered the era of intelligence and electrification. The achievements in the field of artificial intelligence have very specific manifestations in automobiles, which are best exemplified in domestic new energy vehicles. Sustainable development is also a focus of attention for manufacturers, with environmental protection, low carbon, recycling, and reuse making cars no longer big consumers, but representatives of energy conservation and emission reduction. As for mobile technology and sharing, with the substantial improvement of 5G network, computing power, and platforms, unprecedented possibilities have been provided for the development of automobiles. The integration of car networking and the integration of car and home are gradually becoming a reality. Today’s international exhibitions are bound to feature the presence of Chinese companies, not to mention that China has been the champion of automobile production and sales for many years in a row, especially in the field of new energy vehicles. The performance of Chinese car companies has won the world’s attention. For example, in the popular in-car integrated screens, BOE Technology Group, which is participating in this exhibition, embodies the two characteristics of “technology” and “green,” bringing the world’s first 45-inch 9K oxide MiniLED car through-screen, with a resolution of 10K and a software and hardware integrated smart cockpit solution, which has also attracted the attention of participants. In 2023, the large-scale artificial intelligence models have set off a new wave of industrial trends worldwide, becoming the focus of this CES. Many Chinese companies have showcased their capabilities and achievements in the field of AI. According to reports, during CES, Alibaba and Lenovo both showcased the latest applications and hardware products combining AI. Foreign media reports that many of the products exhibited by Chinese companies are related to mobile travel, smart cars, and other fields, which are considered to be the industrial directions where China has an advantage in the global AI application field. After reading this, do you also want to experience the unique charm of the CES exhibition? #NIO Car 2024 New Year Internal Letter# Read Count: 7.137 million

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

Recently, NIO Chairman and CEO William Li released the first internal letter of 2024. In the letter, Li summarized that 2023 was a “challenging and unforgettable year” for NIO.

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

If we summarize the internal letter to Li Bin, it can be summarized as “having a stronger sense of crisis, improving execution efficiency, and avoiding ineffective and inefficient investment.” Through the letter, it is not difficult to see the pressure faced by Li Bin and his management team. But as the saying goes, “pressure brings motivation.” Which brands will NIO sign a battery swap agreement with, and what progress will be made in the flagship car ET9 and other projects in the future? NIO’s performance in 2024 will undoubtedly attract more attention. Li Bin particularly emphasized the sense of crisis in the letter, facing stronger opponents, more excellent products, fiercer price wars, and public opinion, as well as a highly uncertain overall environment. Li Bin requires all colleagues to remain clear-headed and abandon unrealistic fantasies. At the same time, Li Bin also emphasized the key points for internal staff, clarifying the core of the 2024 development. First, it is to ensure long-term investment in core technology and ensure that products are sufficiently advanced and delivered on time. It is obvious that product quality and innovative research and development are still the foundation for survival. Secondly, to enhance sales and service capabilities to ensure that they do not fall behind in more intense market competition. The last point is to ensure the steady progress of 9 core products from 3 brands. Faced with a more competitive market and more discerning consumers, it is not possible to maintain products that are not updated. Li Bin bluntly stated in the letter, “Our overall performance in 2023 did not meet the expected goals, and there are many lessons to be learned and reflections to be made, and there is too much organizational capacity that needs to be improved as soon as possible.” But at the same time, he also mentioned that 2023 was a “challenging and unforgettable year” for NIO. Regardless, as one of the leading new forces in the domestic market, NIO still has many highlights in its 2024 plan. Don’t you also look forward to it?

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

On January 8th, Evergrande Auto announced in the morning at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that trading of the company’s shares was temporarily suspended.

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

Evergrande Auto, from the initial launch of multiple models to the suspension of trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, has been full of ups and downs. Following the suspension of trading in Hong Kong, the company’s executive director, Liu Yongzhuo, has been criminally detained on suspicion of illegal activities. With the sudden turn of events and various problems, many people are wondering if Evergrande Auto is really on the way out. Going back to August 14, Evergrande Auto announced that Newton Group, a Nasdaq-listed company in which the UAE’s sovereign wealth fund holds shares, would inject approximately $500 million in strategic investment into the company. Undoubtedly, this funding could provide some relief for Evergrande Auto. However, things did not go smoothly, as Newton Group soon announced the suspension of its investment in Evergrande. Losing the life-saving money is undoubtedly a further blow to Evergrande Auto, as its net assets are currently at -32.84 billion yuan, in a state of insolvency. If it fails to find further financial support in the short term, it may face complete exit.

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

Recently, Xiaomi car responded to 100 questions raised by netizens. Regarding the concern of whether Redmi car will be launched in the future, Xiaomi car stated: “There is no such plan, currently focusing on Xiaomi car.”

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

Xiaomi publicly refuted false rumors on the internet, and this time Xiaomi cars and Lei Jun himself once again interacted with netizens through social media, answering the 100 most important questions. It must be said that Xiaomi cars continue to maintain a high level of popularity. From the front-end brand marketing of the official launch of the product, Xiaomi cars undoubtedly successfully captured everyone’s attention. Of course, the other half of success depends on the final pricing and the quality and delivery of Xiaomi cars. From the comprehensive information available at present, Xiaomi cars are very confident in their future performance. A good product is not enough with just marketing; the quality of Xiaomi cars is the core of winning consumer favor. From the dry goods announced at the previous Xiaomi car technology conference, this is an intelligent car armed with technology, cleverly positioning Xiaomi cars as on par with Tesla and Porsche. Therefore, after releasing some of the core technologies, the focus naturally shifted to the final question – the price. From the questions of netizens, it is not difficult to see that the focus is still on the “price” of Xiaomi cars. Whether they will launch a “budget” version is the best proof. Xiaomi cars responded by saying that they have a fully consistent product approval standard internally, with “experience first” always being the top priority, and the Xiaomi SU7 is the standard version. Questions about Redmi cars were also mentioned, and it is believed that Xiaomi’s response also meets the expectations of the vast majority of consumers, focusing on doing a good job of the entire production and sales chain of our first car – the Xiaomi SU7. Xiaomi cars have not yet fully showcased all of their core technologies. The previous technology conference only introduced the 5 core technologies of the intelligent electric car, and there is still a lot of technology and product content that has not been introduced. This mystery will gradually be revealed after the official launch of the Xiaomi SU7. If one of the most anticipated new cars in 2024, the Xiaomi SU7 is definitely a contender. #Which electric cars have never caught fire# Views: 718,000

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

On January 8th, Xike Car released a Weibo post claiming to have delivered 200,000 vehicles. Afterwards, @Avita questioned the statement “the only new energy vehicle in the world that does not catch fire spontaneously” in the long picture, and @Yang Xueliang Victor replied, asking if the editor had reported to the bosses before posting.

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

The rapid development of electric vehicles has brought unprecedented experiences, such as acceleration, intelligence, and convenience. However, with this development comes safety challenges, especially in the management of battery thermal runaway and structural safety, which are significantly different from traditional fuel vehicles. Will people buy an electric car that is prone to catching fire? The answer is definitely no. Knowing which brands of electric cars have not caught fire is not the core issue. Looking at the essence through comprehensive indicators is fundamental. It has been proven that if we only pursue high range and large screens, while neglecting safety, it is a case of putting the cart before the horse. The only constant in the hundred-year history of cars since their inception is safety. Without safety, everything else is nonsense. Entering the era of electrification and intelligence, new energy vehicles have raised new safety standards. The different structures and characteristics of new energy vehicles can sometimes make them “hot-tempered,” and this “bad temper” must be effectively controlled. Therefore, we are seeing more and more manufacturers mentioning the various measures they have taken in battery thermal runaway management, structural safety, integration, and internal battery cell cooling, with the sole purpose of preventing electric vehicles from catching fire. From familiar safety belts and airbags, to cage-type body structures, high-strength steel, and now the prominent integrated body technology and battery cooling of new energy vehicles, the pursuit of safety has reached new heights, unlocking more new technologies. The development of new energy vehicles is definitely on fire, and the “temper” of electric vehicles is certainly getting lower and lower.

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

On January 10th, at the CES 2024 event, Intel announced the advancement of its “AI Everywhere” strategy into the automotive market, including the acquisition of Silicon Mobility SAS. They also launched a series of AI-enhanced software-defined automotive system chips and announced a partnership with Geely’s high-end brand Zeekr to use the new SoC to build the next generation intelligent cockpit system.

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

Review: “Digging into the tiny chip” is a fitting way to describe the current automotive chip field. The development of higher-end chips is crucial for modern vehicles. The dependence of new energy vehicles on chips has never been greater, as these tiny chips determine vehicle performance. Intelligence, multitasking capability, user-friendliness, and even companionship are all hidden in a tiny chip. When Intel announced its entry into the automotive market, there is likely little doubt about its strength. As an international giant with countless classics in the computer field, combining AI intelligence with its advantages in chip technology to create an all-powerful high-end chip seems like a matter of minutes. This has brought more expectations and possibilities for the next generation of high-end intelligent cockpits. There has been a judgment that the second half of the development of smart cars will be a competition of intelligent cockpits, and chips undoubtedly play a kingly role in this. At CES, Intel announced a focus on intelligent cockpit chips, electric vehicle energy AI management, and an open automotive chip customization platform, introducing a new AI-enhanced software-defined automotive system-level chip that will enable onboard AI functionality. It’s exciting to imagine the performance of such an intelligent cockpit. Intel’s chip design and process technology are advanced, and its advantages lie in better performance and lower costs. As autonomous driving technology continues to mature and become more widespread, the demand for intelligent cockpits will undoubtedly increase. Intel’s entry into this field at this time is undoubtedly part of a larger strategy.

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

Recently, the quota for small car indicators in Beijing in 2024 was announced. The announcement shows that the quota for small car indicators in 2024 is 100,000, including 20,000 for regular indicators and 80,000 for new energy indicators.

CES 2024: Intel's Automotive Entry, NIO's Plans, & Xiaomi's Car Buzz

Your Beijing friends must have told you about the Beijing car lottery. From their words, you can feel how precious it is to get a license plate. Every time there is a lottery, “winning” is the best news. According to the latest announcement, the total number of small car license plates in Beijing in 2024 remains the same, with a higher proportion of new energy vehicle plates. There is also a preference for families to participate in the car quota lottery. As the capital and an international metropolis, traffic congestion is inevitable in urban areas. Effectively relieving congestion is particularly important, closely related to people’s daily lives, and has a positive impact on air quality control. Although currently, most individuals participating in the lottery have not won, in the long run, it is positive for improving various aspects of transportation. In this year’s ordinary small car quota, the total quota for family and individual quotas is 19,200, and they will be drawn from the same pool. The quota for institutional quotas is 800. Last year, due to the base of 30,000 quotas, the total quota for family and individual ordinary small car quotas was 28,600. It can be foreseen that this year, the difficulty of winning the ordinary quota, whether for families or individuals, will be higher than last year. Wishing good luck to every friend participating in the lottery in 2024.