Tesla's China rival Zeekr to roll out advanced driver assistance-system for free
The tech enables the car to drive nearly autonomously from one pre-set destination to another, as long as drivers keep their hands on the steering wheel and there is regulatory approval — which is increasingly the case in most major Chinese cities.
It's the latest Chinese electric vehicle brand to upgrade its driver-assistance products as Tesla tries to attract more buyers of its own version, called Full Self Driving, in China.
After initial criticism that the 64,000 yuan ($8,850) software was too expensive, some Chinese social media users said Monday that Tesla was offering some users the driver-assistance system for free through April 16. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Zeekr's version will be free, rolled out to a pilot group initially and then released to the public in April, according to the company.
'Right now, in this period of development, I think subscriptions aren't that meaningful,' CEO An said in an interview Friday, according to a CNBC translation of his Mandarin-language remarks.
Given the intense competition, he said, Zeekr needs to close the gap on driver assistance with market leaders and become a top player. 'So we need to bear some cost,' An said, noting Zeekr previously only offered more basic driver-assistance capabilities, such as for parking.
Zeekr, which is listed in the U.S., is scheduled to release quarterly earnings on Thursday ahead of the U.S. market open. Shares are up about 6% year-to-date.
CEO An said that Zeekr's driver-assistance system uses two Nvidia Orin X chipsets and one lidar, or light detection and ranging unit that allows a vehicle to navigate roads without relying too much on sunlight conditions.
He said a forthcoming version of the system will use Nvidia's more advanced Thor automotive chip, one long-range lidar, and four shorter-range lidar units.
'Using lidar may increase cost, but this reflects how much we value safety,' An said. He said the driver-assistance system for Zeekr cars sold overseas will not use the Nvidia chips for now, given different regulations and local market demand.
Zeekr's driver-assistance system will also be used for fellow EV brand Lynk & Co.'s cars, An said, and potentially vehicles from parent company Geely. Zeekr officially acquired Lynk & Co. this year.
Sales of Nvidia's 'self-driving platforms' helped drive the chipmaker's revenue from automotive and robotics to a record $570 million in the fourth quarter of the 2025 fiscal year.
Also reflecting market demand, major lidar producer Hesai said this month that its lidar shipments have more than doubled annually for four straight years as of 2024.
Hesai's CFO Andrew Fan told CNBC last week that the company expects significant growth in advanced driver-assistance systems this year from last year, and noted an industry joke that China's electric car market has shifted from a price war to a war over driver assistance.
Over the last two years, the technology has increasingly become a selling point for new energy vehicles in China, which include battery-only and hybrid-powered cars.
NEV giant BYD in February announced it was rolling out driver-assist capabilities to more than 20 of its car models. While current features mostly focus on parking and highway navigation, the company said an upgrade with point-to-point driver assistance would likely be issued by the end of 2025.
The most basic version of BYD's driver-assistance system uses Horizon Robotics' chipset along with Nvidia's Orin, while more advanced versions only use other Nvidia chips, according to Nomura's research.
Chinese EV startup Xpeng, another Nvidia customer which made advanced driver assistance an early selling point, has delivered more than 30,000 cars a month since November, thanks in part to its new P7+ car that also did away with requiring additional subscriptions for driver assistance.
Nio has advertised subscriptions for its driver-assistance features but has yet to charge users for them, according to the company.
CNBC
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Nahar Net
3 days ago
- Nahar Net
China targets 2 Lithuanian banks in response to new EU sanctions
by Naharnet Newsdesk 14 August 2025, 15:43 China imposed sanctions on two Lithuanian banks in what it said was retaliation for the European Union including two Chinese financial institutions in its latest round of sanctions against Russia. Lithuania's UAB Urbo Bankas and Mano Bankas AB are prohibited from having any cooperation with individuals or institutions in China, according to a statement Wednesday from the Ministry of Commerce. The European Union adopted a new round of sanctions against individuals and companies supporting Russia in its war with Ukraine in July, which went into effect August 9. Among them were multiple Chinese companies, although China's Ministry of Commerce did not name which financial institutions were affected. "The EU, disregarding China's solemn position, insisted on adding two Chinese financial institutions to its sanctions list for alleged involvement in Russia, and formally implemented the sanctions on August 9," said the statement. It added the move "severely damages the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, and has a serious negative impact on China-EU economic and trade relations and financial cooperation." NATO has in the past called China a "decisive enabler" of Russia's war effort as its companies sold tools, equipment and microelectronics.
MTV Lebanon
5 days ago
- MTV Lebanon
US, China Extend Tariff Truce by 90 Days, Averting Surge in Duties
The United States and China have extended a tariff truce for another 90 days, staving off triple-digit duties on each other's goods as U.S. retailers get ready to ramp up inventories ahead of the critical end-of-year holiday season. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform on Monday that he had signed an executive order suspending the imposition of higher tariffs until 12:01 a.m. EST (0501 GMT) on November 10, with all other elements of the truce to remain in place. China's Commerce Ministry issued a parallel pause on extra tariffs early on Tuesday, also postponing for 90 days the addition of U.S. firms it had targeted in April to trade and investment restriction lists. "The United States continues to have discussions with the PRC to address the lack of trade reciprocity in our economic relationship and our resulting national and economic security concerns," Trump's executive order stated, using the acronym for the People's Republic of China. The tariff truce between Beijing and Washington had been due to expire on Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT). The extension until early November buys crucial time for the seasonal autumn surge of imports for the Christmas season, including electronics, apparel and toys at lower tariff rates. The new order prevents U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods from shooting up to 145%, while Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods were set to hit 125% - rates that would have resulted in a virtual trade embargo between the two countries. It locks in place - at least for now - a 30% tariff on Chinese imports, with Chinese duties on U.S. imports at 10%. There was relief on the streets of China's capital, where officials are grappling with the challenge Trump's trade policy poses to the economy's long-standing, export-oriented growth model. "I don't think either China or the United States wants to see their relationship continue to deteriorate," said Wang Mingyue, a 39-year-old professional working in robotics. "That's why both are taking the current approach, but the game and confrontation may not be over yet - so there's still risk." Markets showed optimism for a breakthrough between the two superpowers, with Asian stocks rising and currencies mostly steady, after treading water for weeks. Trump told CNBC last week that the U.S. and China were getting very close to a trade agreement and he would meet Xi before the end of the year if a deal was struck. The two sides announced a truce in their trade dispute in May after talks in Geneva, Switzerland, agreeing to a 90-day period to allow further talks. They met again in Stockholm, Sweden, in late July, and U.S. negotiators returned to Washington with a recommendation that Trump extend the deadline. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said repeatedly that the triple-digit import duties both sides slapped on each other's goods in the spring were untenable and had essentially imposed a trade embargo between the world's two largest economies. "It wouldn't be a Trump-style negotiation if it didn't go right down to the wire," said Kelly Ann Shaw, a senior White House trade official during Trump's first term and now with law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. She said Trump had likely pressed China for further concessions before agreeing to the extension. Trump pushed for additional concessions on Sunday, urging China to quadruple its soybean purchases, although analysts questioned the feasibility of any such deal. Trump did not repeat the demand on Monday. "What is he going to offer in exchange?" said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit in Beijing. "China says: 'you should allow us to buy more high-tech goods,' but the U.S. is reluctant." Xu said Trump's refusal to ease his 20% tariff on Chinese goods over fentanyl flows suggested both sides believed they could continue to withstand the trade shock. "If (Trump) escalates, he will struggle to gain an upper hand over China, which has many cards to play," Xu said. China's exports to the U.S. fell an annual 21.7% last month, according to the country's latest trade data, while shipments to Southeast Asia rose 16.6% over the same period as manufacturers sought to pivot to new markets and capitalise on a separate reprieve that allowed trans-shipment to the U.S. Separate U.S. data released last week showed the trade deficit with China shrank to its lowest in more than 21 years in June. Still, analysts expect the world's two largest economies to reach an agreement before long, as their deep interdependence makes pursuing alternative markets unattractive over the long term. Ryan Majerus, a former U.S. trade official now with the King & Spalding law firm, said the news would give both sides more time to work through long-standing trade concerns. 'This will undoubtedly lower anxiety on both sides as talks continue, and as the U.S. and China work toward a framework deal in the fall," he said. Washington has also been pressing Beijing to stop buying Russian oil to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine, with Trump threatening to impose secondary tariffs on China.
MTV Lebanon
08-08-2025
- MTV Lebanon
Life-like robots for sale to the public as China opens new store
A new robot shop has opened in Beijing selling everything from mechanical butlers to human-like replicas of Albert Einstein. More than 100 types of products will be on sale at Robot Mall, which launched in the Chinese capital on Friday. The store is one of the first in the country to sell humanoid and consumer-oriented robots. The outlet has been compared to a car dealership as it offers services including sales, spare parts and maintenance. China has invested heavily in the robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) as it looks to overcome challenges such as slowing economic growth and an ageing population. "If robots are to enter thousands of households, relying solely on robotics companies is not enough," Wang Yifan, a store director, told Reuters. The robots on sale range in price from 2,000 yuan ($278, £207) to several million yuan. Visitors will be able to interact with a wide range of robots, including dogs and chess players, organisers said. There is also a separate section offering replacement parts and robot maintenance services. Robot Mall is located next to a themed restaurant, where diners are served by robots and the food is cooked by mechanical chefs. China has increasingly prioritised the robotics industry, with subsidies topping $20bn over the past year. The Chinese government is also planning a 1 trillion yuan fund for AI and robotics start ups. Life-like robots for sale to the public as China opens new store A new robot shop has opened in Beijing selling everything from mechanical butlers to human-like replicas of Albert Einstein. More than 100 types of products will be on sale at Robot Mall, which launched in the Chinese capital on Friday. The store is one of the first in the country to sell humanoid and consumer-oriented robots. The outlet has been compared to a car dealership as it offers services including sales, spare parts and maintenance. China has invested heavily in the robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) as it looks to overcome challenges such as slowing economic growth and an ageing population. "If robots are to enter thousands of households, relying solely on robotics companies is not enough," Wang Yifan, a store director, told Reuters. The robots on sale range in price from 2,000 yuan ($278, £207) to several million yuan. Visitors will be able to interact with a wide range of robots, including dogs and chess players, organisers said. There is also a separate section offering replacement parts and robot maintenance services. Robot Mall is located next to a themed restaurant, where diners are served by robots and the food is cooked by mechanical chefs. China has increasingly prioritised the robotics industry, with subsidies topping $20bn over the past year. The Chinese government is also planning a 1 trillion yuan fund for AI and robotics start ups. Life-like robots for sale to the public as China opens new store A new robot shop has opened in Beijing selling everything from mechanical butlers to human-like replicas of Albert Einstein. More than 100 types of products will be on sale at Robot Mall, which launched in the Chinese capital on Friday. The store is one of the first in the country to sell humanoid and consumer-oriented robots. The outlet has been compared to a car dealership as it offers services including sales, spare parts and maintenance. China has invested heavily in the robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) as it looks to overcome challenges such as slowing economic growth and an ageing population. "If robots are to enter thousands of households, relying solely on robotics companies is not enough," Wang Yifan, a store director, told Reuters. The robots on sale range in price from 2,000 yuan ($278, £207) to several million yuan. Visitors will be able to interact with a wide range of robots, including dogs and chess players, organisers said. There is also a separate section offering replacement parts and robot maintenance services. Robot Mall is located next to a themed restaurant, where diners are served by robots and the food is cooked by mechanical chefs. China has increasingly prioritised the robotics industry, with subsidies topping $20bn over the past year. The Chinese government is also planning a 1 trillion yuan fund for AI and robotics start ups. Life-like robots for sale to the public as China opens new store A new robot shop has opened in Beijing selling everything from mechanical butlers to human-like replicas of Albert Einstein. More than 100 types of products will be on sale at Robot Mall, which launched in the Chinese capital on Friday. The store is one of the first in the country to sell humanoid and consumer-oriented robots. The outlet has been compared to a car dealership as it offers services including sales, spare parts and maintenance. China has invested heavily in the robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) as it looks to overcome challenges such as slowing economic growth and an ageing population. "If robots are to enter thousands of households, relying solely on robotics companies is not enough," Wang Yifan, a store director, told Reuters. The robots on sale range in price from 2,000 yuan ($278, £207) to several million yuan. Visitors will be able to interact with a wide range of robots, including dogs and chess players, organisers said. There is also a separate section offering replacement parts and robot maintenance services. Robot Mall is located next to a themed restaurant, where diners are served by robots and the food is cooked by mechanical chefs. China has increasingly prioritised the robotics industry, with subsidies topping $20bn over the past year. The Chinese government is also planning a 1 trillion yuan fund for AI and robotics start ups. The opening of Robot Mall coincides with the start of the five-day World Robot Conference, which started in Beijing on Friday. Chinese state media said this year's event will see more than 1,500 exhibits from over 200 local and overseas robotic companies. Beijing is also preparing to host the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games from 14 to 17 August. Teams from more than 20 countries will compete in events including track and field, dance and football.
