In China, electric cars with built-in fridges and even in-car karaoke systems are no longer seen as trendy. Instead, car manufacturers are adding new features like beds and cooktops to boost sales, which have been slow lately.
Big electric car companies are experiencing a decrease in demand at home because people are spending less money.
This comes at a time when there are tensions with major Western countries, affecting export prospects. Smaller companies in the industry are relying on creativity to survive.
👉 Smart Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) Evolution
They expect there might be fewer companies in the future due to China's efforts to control the industry after years of giving out a lot of subsidies.
💡Table of Content
➥ Drones
These fancy features also show a risk for Western car makers if they don't keep up with the Chinese market. Chinese-made cars are seen as better by local customers because they offer more technology and connectivity options.
Wang Binggang, who works at Xpeng Inc., a Chinese electric car company, says that while traditional car companies mainly focus on how a car drives, Chinese companies are thinking about how cars can be used in different parts of life. That's why customers are liking electric cars more now.
👉 The Future of Electric Vehicles
Here are some unusual things you can find in China now:
➥ Kits for Sleeping
In Xpeng's G9 SUV, which starts at 263,900 yuan ($36,700), there's a cool feature where with just a click on the car's display, you can turn the back seats into a comfy bed for two.
This is called the "sleeping kit" feature. It's perfect for people who love camping in China, but it's also handy for folks who work long hours and need a quick nap. During the Lunar New Year holiday, it even helped families stuck in long waits, traffic jams, and snowstorms find a safe place to sleep.
➥ In Time Heartbeat
Electric cars are quieter and smoother to accelerate than traditional cars with combustion engines. However, they can sometimes make people feel sick while riding in them. Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd., based in Hangzhou, has addressed this issue with its Galaxy E8 electric sedan.
This car vibrates at the same frequency as a human heartbeat (1.25 hertz) when driving on uneven roads, which helps reduce motion sickness. Additionally, it has a braking system that minimizes the jerking sensation often felt by drivers and passengers when starting to drive an electric vehicle. The Galaxy E8 went on sale on January 5th, starting at $24,450.
➥ Get Your Tailgate Ready
Li Auto Inc.'s L-Series SUVs are very popular in China because they have lots of space inside, can go long distances without needing to refuel, and even have massagers built into the seats! This has made them sell really well, but now other companies want to compete with them, especially targeting middle-class families in China.
One of these challengers is Rox Motor Tech, a new company started in 2021 by the person who created a robot vacuum company. They want to appeal to people who love outdoor activities. Their first car, the Polestones 01, has a kitchen in the back like those used for camping, with a stove and water dispenser.
👉 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in Morden cars
It also has a canopy that can be put up on the roof to provide shade, and the company says it's easy to set up or take down in just a few minutes. This car costs $48,700.
➥ Drones
BYD Co., which makes electric cars, wants to make its fancy $153,000 Yangwang U8 car more appealing to people who like technology.
They teamed up with DJI, a big drone company in Shenzhen. Now, a small drone can launch from and land on a special case on the car's roof. It can even fly back and dock itself when the car reaches its destination.
You can control the drone's movements using the screen inside the car. The car also has a system to charge the drone's batteries and switch them out when they run low.
The drone follows the car's path and takes really clear pictures. This lets drivers see what's around them from above in real time. They can also make short videos using the screen inside the car.
➥ Playing Games in Your Car
Many cars now offer games inside them. Tesla put Steam games in its cars in 2022, and Li Auto lets people connect Nintendo Switch to their cars. BYD went further by making a detachable steering wheel so drivers could play games with the pedals on the screen.
But some worry this could distract drivers and cause accidents. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration looked into Tesla's games but stopped after Tesla turned off a feature called "Passenger Play."
👉 Electric car maintenance tips
In China, electric car makers have rules like only allowing games when the car is stopped and the engine is off.
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