From cutesy to cutting edge, China has an EV for everyone

Local and foreign automakers seeking to make inroads in the world’s largest car market are putting every iteration of electric vehicle on display at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show.

From Chinese automaker Geely’s EV made for Generation Z to the $4,230 Hongguang Mini and Mercedes-Benz’s luxury model targeting wealthy electric-converts, there are EVs for every age and budget parked at Shanghai’s National Convention & Exhibition Center.

A common thread running through all models is a particular focus on vehicle technologies, which show up in the form of larger and more numerous displays and autonomous driving features, and crescendo with the Xpeng Inc. Heitech flying vehicle.
 

Evergrande hasn't sold a single car under its own brand, but shows it doesn't lack ambition with its planned Hengchi 1 electric vehicle. The luxe sedan, targeted for mass-production and delivery next year, has a range of 760 kilometers (472 miles) per charge, which puts it in the same league as Mercedes-Benz's luxury EQS EV.

The Honda SUV e:prototype previews a crossover with the same design as the latest Vezel sold in Japan and the HR-V marketed elsewhere. The vehicle will go on sale in the spring of 2022 as Honda’s first EV in China. Honda says it will introduce 10 Honda-brand EV models in China within five years.

Geely is targeting a younger audience with its new Zeekr 001 electric sedan.

The "Zeekr" brand name comes from "z" for Generation Z and "geek" which Geely defines as "those that are fixated with and have extensive knowledge of technology." With facial recognition, the car automatically detects approaching passengers and adjusts to their personal preferences. Geely promises to upgrade the car's software at least once per quarter via over-the-air updates. 
 

BMW's flagship electric vehicle, designed to look like a clean and "well-rounded stone," has a spacious cabin and minimalist interior. It's largely made from carbon-fiber enforced plastic, making it lighter and capable of traveling about 300 miles per charge.

The Cyberster has a range of up to 805 kilometers (500 miles) and an interactive cockpit with 5G connectivity and multiple screens for the driver to browse. Its Zero Gravity seats also come with floating head restraints for extra comfort.

BYD's Han series, named after China's Han dynasty, includes three pure electric models and one hybrid model. The flagship series went on sale last year after a decade in planning, fueling a rise in BYD's car shipments for the year. The long-range electric version has a range of 605 kilometers (376 miles) and comes with a "blade" battery that BYD claims is safer than traditional EV battery packs.

Chinese electric-vehicle maker XPeng says its third production model, the P5 electric sedan, is the world's first mass-produced vehicle equipped with automotive-grade lidar — laser sensors used to detect obstacles and other vehicles when driving. The automaker's autopilot system reportedly navigated a fleet of vehicles 3,675 kilometers (2,283 miles) from Guangzhou to Beijing in March.
 

BAIC's Arcfox Alpha S electric vehicle comes equipped with technology and equipment produced by China's telecom giant Huawei. The electric sedan features autonomous driving-enabling Huawei chips and lidar technology.

Looking more like a futuristic chariot on wheels, the Zhiji IM Airo Concept car comes from a joint venture between SAIC, Alibaba and Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Group. With seats that face each other and horizontal sliding doors, this isn't one you can expect to see on roads anytime soon.

The Hongguang Mini quickly topped China's new-energy vehicle sales when it debuted last year at a base price of just $4,230. The no-frills, 106-mile-per-charge SAIC-General Motors joint venture model sold more than 20,000 units in September, almost double that of Tesla's Model 3 that month.

Nio's ET7 electric sedan promises to be a "second living room." The model comes with heated massage chairs in the front and back, 64 colors of ambient lighting and the ability to detect bumps in the road and adjust to provide smoother driving. Nio touts the 33 sensor, 11 high-resolution camera-equipped car as its first autonomous driving model. Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg

 

Alibaba-backed electric vehicle maker Xpeng is developing a series of flying vehicles as part of its long-term growth strategy. Xpeng head He Xiaopeng said he sees the on-the-ground market for EVs entering into a period of rapid expansion, but at the same time the upstart sees flying vehicles benefiting its future mapping technologies.