In the future, Toyota intends to use the Huawei driver assistance system in its cars in order to increase driver safety and the level of autonomy. This information came from unverified sources, and Toyota did not make a statement.
As a reminder, Huawei provides smart components and systems for autonomous vehicles, and this is not the first time that these two companies have collaborated together, as they previously worked on smart cockpits and connected systems for vehicles. In this case, Momenta would provide the software while Huawei would be responsible for the hardware.
China is one of the largest markets in the world and it is especially interesting for manufacturers of electric vehicles to keep up with Chinese manufacturers. In this market, the Japanese manufacturer currently offers electric vehicles bZ3 and bZ4X, but the sales results are not so good. Cooperation with the Chinese company could be a turning point, because Toyota is currently lagging behind other major manufacturers when it comes to car autonomy systems.
Whether this cooperation will happen, we will know after the 2024 Beijing Auto Show, which will be held from April 25 to May 4, 2024.
In March, Xiaomi premiered its first car, the SU7. This powerful all-electric sedan has attracted a lot of attention as well as the interest of customers, receiving more than 100,000 orders so far, of which over 50,000 in 27 minutes after the presentation. Now, we know that the car will be produced at the Super Factory in Beijing, which has a production capacity of 47 cars per hour, which is one SU7 every 76 seconds.
Super Factory is an almost fully robotized factory with more than 700 industrial robots, and only 20 employees. Under normal conditions, this factory can produce 40 cars every hour, which means that one car leaves the assembly line every 90 seconds. However, when the factory is operating at full capacity, one Xiaomi SU7 is produced every 76 seconds.
Robots perform most of the operations such as installation, inspection and transportation, while 20 employees manage eight robotic arms per workstation, or four on each side of the car. The robotic arms are programmed to install the doors, install the front windshield, the rear window, and the panoramic roof. Xiaomi claims that from the moment of taking the parts to the connection to the car body, the robots need less than 30 seconds. That is impressive, but also twice as fast as in traditional car companies, Xiaomi points out.
SU7 comes in three versions: SU7, SU7 Pro and SU7 Max. The standard version is powered by an electric motor with 299 hp (220 kW) and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque, and will have RWD. It will accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.28 seconds with a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph). It is equipped with a BYD Blade 73.6 kWh battery that provides a range of 700 kilometers. It will cost $29,900.
The more powerful version of the SU7 Pro will be equipped with an 800V architecture, a 94.3 kWh battery that provides a range of 830 km, and will cost $34,000. However, the most powerful version, Xiaomi SU7 Max, is really impressive. It is powered by two electric motors with a total output of 673 hp (495 kW) and 618 lb-ft (838 Nm) of torque, and has AWD. It reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 2.78 seconds with a top speed of 265 km/h (165 mph). It is equipped with the Xiami Pilot Max ADAS system, 800V architecture, and a CATI Qilin 101 kWh battery that enables a range of 800 km, or 510 km after a 15-minute charge. It costs $41,500.
Xiaomi has big plans with this car, aiming to produce 900,000 units in the next three years.
In 1990, Renault launched its supermini B-segment car, the Renault Clio. It is a popular model of the French manufacturer, which has been produced in five generations so far, and soon a new generation should arrive on the market as the only Renault hatchback with an internal combustion engine.
The new generation should fill the gap between the R5 and Megane, and the hybrid option will play a major role at least until customers get used to fully electric cars. It will use an upgraded version of the existing CMF-B platform. The Ampr Small platform (CMF-BEV) used by the all-electric R5 shares about 60 percent of components with the CMF-B platform, meaning a crossover is possible. This would mean that the hybrid and all-electric versions will have an identical design.
Speaking about the design, the new Clio will stand out from the current offer with its aesthetics, and the goal is to attract the attention of young families. Also, the sixth generation will face strong competition from rivals such as the Peugeot 208 and Opel Corsa, models that offer electric and hybrid variants.
It is now certain that Renault will continue to develop the hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrain options used by both the existing E-Tech-badged Clio and Captur. By 2026, electrified cars could offer greater range while reducing fuel consumption.
