Representatives from major global automakers attending the ongoing 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which runs from April 25 to May 5, say they remain bullish about the Chinese market.
With the biggest car show in China returning after four years, automakers are using the event to release 117 brand new models and 41 new concept cars. The show, which has 278 new energy vehicles (NEVs) on display, comes as NEV sales hit a milestone in early April, accounting for over 50 percent of cars sold in China, showing an overwhelming trend that the Chinese market is going electric.
Foreign auto industry representatives said they face stiff competition from Chinese automakers but still have high expectations for the world's largest auto market.
Thorsten Godulla, president of the Sales and Marketing Division at SAIC Audi, a joint EV venture between Chinese carmaker SAIC and the German auto giant, said he hopes for promising sales growth in cooperation with the company's new partners in China.
"Let's talk about Audi in general, which have sold last year nearly 730,000 cars. We from SAIC Audi, we have sold more than 30,000 cars, and that was only in our second year. And this year already in the first quarter we have delivered 12,000 cars to our happy and young SAIC Audi customers. So, this year we will reach a new record for SAIC Audi and this is just in our third year. [Automakers in] China are very strong, there is no doubt. They bring new ideas to the market. And I always say competition is good, because when you have competition, you will grow, you need to improve yourself. And that's what we are doing, as we are doing also with the cooperation with SAIC and Mr. Dollner (Audi CEO) said today also very clearly how important this cooperation between the two strong players SAIC and Audi is for the future of the Audi brand in China," said Godulla.
Automotive suppliers from around the world also praised China's determination in promoting NEVs and said they hoped to enhance cooperation with Chinese companies in this field.
"[We are in the] process of trying to get EV vehicles also in Ghana to use. So, once we have seen a lot of them here we will communicate to our bosses and then our companies and then we see how best we can have EV vehicles in Ghana. EV is really taking over China and it is globally acceptable because of emissions, you are controlling emissions and it's good for China to grow in the market. So EV vehicles for China is the best to go now," said Ing Charles K. Tei, technical director of J.A. Plant Pool, an auto dealer in Ghana.
Automakers optimistic about Chinese market as China's largest auto show opens
Chinese President Xi Jinping's Tuesday visit to an AI incubator in Shanghai inspired researchers to strive for more progress in artificial intelligence development.
During his inspection tour, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, a large-model incubator home to over 100 enterprises in Shanghai's Xuhui District, calling for accelerated efforts to build the city into a world-class hub for sci-tech innovation with global influence.
Researchers at the center said Xi's visit brought a strong boost of confidence and encouragement to those working at the frontlines of AI innovation.
"The general secretary showed great interest in our intelligent autonomous platform. While observing, he leaned in to take a closer look at the detailed movements of the robots and asked me what they were doing. I told him that this is a robotic chemist with the capability to conduct all kinds of experiments just like human scientists. [General Secretary Xi's visit] boosted our confidence and inspired us to do our best and strive to be at the forefront of this field," said Ma Jian, CEO and co-founder of XtalPi, a biotechnology company that engages in AI-enhanced research and development. "We're deeply inspired [by General Secretary Xi's visit]. On one hand, the embodied intelligence was included in this year's government work report. On the other hand, it is also a major focus of international competitions with rapid progress. The general secretary learned about our progress in humanoid robotics two years ago. And over the past two years, we've clearly witnessed how the industry has matured in terms of development arising from the entire industry. I think both the breakthroughs in core technology and the pace of mass production have exceeded expectations," said Peng Zhihui, co-founder and chief technology officer (CTO) of robotics company Agibot.
Xi also joined a salon themed on the autonomous evolution of next-generation intelligent agents, engaging in discussions with young innovators on the spot.
"High technologies like AI is a nascent undertaking that belongs to young people. This undertaking is part of our endeavors to advance Chinese modernization, build China into a strong country, and realize the great cause of national rejuvenation, and the hope lies in all of you," said Xi.
Among the encouraged innovators was Hamza Boukili, a young researcher from France who now runs a startup focusing on optimizing computational algorithms for energy efficiency.
"Personally, it was a very proud moment because I had the honor to present myself and my work, my working project. He said that during the 1980s, when he was in Xiamen, he participated in an official visit to Nice in southern France, then visited a research lab. He was quite impressed by the research lab at that time. A few dozen years later, here we are in Shanghai, and we have this kind of huge research and development environment. This was a very deep thought of his," said Boukili.
Xi's Shanghai inspection inspires AI researchers
