Latest news with #XiaomiSU7
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla's budget Model Y just leaked – and it could cut these 3 features for a cheaper price tag
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A lack of panoramic glass roof and rear screen help cut costs Chinese automotive blogger snapped the disguised vehicles Cheaper Model Y is expected to go on sale in China later this year Elon Musk let the cat out of the bag when he revealed that the company was readying a cheaper alternative to the Model Y during Tesla's quarterly earnings call, putting an end to the rumors that the company was working on a standalone 'affordable' Tesla. Instead, the upcoming, simplified Model Y was touted to hold back on some of the additional niceties in pursuit of a cheaper sticker price. It appears that a popular Chinese blogger, dubbed Garage 42, has photographed some of the first budget Model Ys, with images and videos surfacing on Chinese social media site Weibo. Although heavily disguised under black cloth, the images show that these cars lack the large panoramic sunroof that makes the current generation Model Y feel so bright and airy. There's also a lack of infotainment display for rear passengers and the mammoth, full-width LED light bar has been removed from the front and rear. Currently, the cheapest Model Y in China starts at 250,000 yuan (around $34,750) but it is facing increasingly stiff competition from home-grown talent, with the Xiaomi SU7 and YU7 proving runaway sales successes. Car News China also points out that Xpeng, Li Auto, and Nio are all readying keenly-priced Model Y rivals in China for the second half of this year, which will continue to eat into potential Tesla sales. It is not known whether this trimmed-down Model Y will be sold in other markets in this form, but Tesla's sales are suffering on a global scale, so we'd expect to see a Model Y slot in somewhere between the current cheapest Model Y and the most expensive Model 3. Tesla doubles-down on autonomous driving Despite stripping back the Model Y in an attempt to boost sales, Elon Musk announced that Tesla recently signed a $16.5 billion deal with Samsung, which will see the Korean tech giant provide chip technology for upcoming generations of Tesla's hardware array. With the latest cars running Tesla's Hardware 4 (or HW4, for short), this deal will ensure the company has the latest and fastest chipset when its vehicles move to HW6 – seeing as HW5 is already contractually covered by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). With each new generation of semiconductor, Software Defined Vehicles (SDV) become more intelligent and more capable, boasting the sort of processing power required for advanced levels of autonomous driving. However, the news has irked many long-standing Tesla owners, as Elon Musk promised back in 2016 that even on version 2 of its hardware, all vehicles would be capable of full unsupervised self-driving – something the brand has yet to crack. There have been multiple attempts by owners to demand refunds for Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems over false advertising claims, which cost up to $15,000 on top of a car's list price at points. Tesla continues to promise more from its FSD systems, recently stating that "unsupervised" versions will come later this year. But with the company still investing so heavily in the next generation of computing, it has a number of critics skeptical about the true capabilities of Tesla's technology. You might also like I've driven the Xpeng G6 and it doesn't hide its main ambition – stealing the Tesla Model Y's crown Xiaomi's new Tesla-rivaling SUV has a cockpit-style panoramic windshield display and can charge in just 12 minutes More bad news for Tesla – Xiaomi's new Model Y rival beats it on price and just smashed pre-order records
Al Etihad
23-07-2025
- Automotive
- Al Etihad
China to tighten road traffic laws as use of smart-driving systems expands
23 July 2025 14:06 BEIJING (REUTERS)China will tighten road traffic regulations and set out legal responsibilities to ensure public safety, its public security ministry said on Wednesday, as the use of assisted driving technology in vehicles is stepping up scrutiny of the technology after a fatal accident in March involving a Xiaomi SU7 sedan which had been in assisted-driving mode seconds before a tests and verification will be required by car makers, who will have to make clear the limits of such systems and security responses, public security ministry official, Wang Qiang, told a press systems on cars for sale do not have autonomous driving functionality, yet they are included in the assisted-driving category, Wang face safety and legal risks if they are involved in accidents while their hands or eyes are otherwise occupied while the assisted driving feature is turned on, he will bar automakers from "exaggeration and false promotion" of assisted-driving features, Wang said, echoing remarks by the industry ministry. The public security ministry is also considering changes to driving tests to include standards on autonomous driving and standard assisted driving.
IOL News
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Chinese cars are delivering a wake-up call to the West, Ford CEO Jim Farley admits
Ford CEO Jim Farley is under no illusion about the challenges that lie ahead. Image: Ford via AFP It's no secret that Chinese car manufacturers pose a significant existential threat to the 'established' carmakers from Europe, the US, Japan and South Korea. For the most part their leaders are hugely concerned about the path ahead, but none are as bluntly honest and vocal about the position that 'western' firms find themselves in, as Ford's Chief Executive Jim Farley. The CEO has previously stated his admiration for the new wave of Chinese vehicles, even admitting last year that he loved the Xiaomi SU7 that he had been driving at the time. Speaking at the recent Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, Farley again expressed his deep admiration for Chinese cars. He even suggested that Ford may not be around in the future if it cannot keep pace with competition from the east, CGTN Europe reported. 'It's the most humbling thing I've ever seen. 70% of all EVs in the world (electric vehicles) are made in China,' Farley said. 'They have far superior in-vehicle technology. Huawei and Xiaomi are in every car. They have facial recognition. You get in, you don't have to pair your phone, your whole digital life is mirrored in the car. You have an AI companion that you can talk to - ChatGPT equivalent in China. All the automatic payment is already there. You can buy movie tickets. It has facial recognition so it knows who's in which seat and which media you like.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading When asked why Ford cars don't have that, the CEO said part of the reason was that Google and Apple were not in the car business. But beyond that, he said, their cost and quality were becoming superior to what we were seeing in the 'west'. 'I mean, we are in a global competition with China and it's not just EVs, and if we lose this we do not have a future Ford.' Sobering words, those. But at least the Ford CEO is prepared to face the facts. In a prior interview with Robert Llewellyn's podcast, Farley said that when a new technology comes (referring to EVs in this instance) there is a fitness test for cost. Whoever has the lowest cost, like Henry Ford did with the Model T, would ultimately win the battle in global markets. The Ford CEO, in a separate interview with CNBC in 2024, said that making electric vehicles profitable would require radical change. 'The first thing we have to do is really put all of our capital toward smaller, more affordable EVs. That's the duty cycle that we've now found that really matches. These big, huge, enormous EVs, they're never going to make money. The battery is $50,000… The batteries will never be affordable.' To that end, the company is working on a new affordable electric vehicle platform that will be a 'major step forward' in its strategy to bend the cost curve of electric vehicles. These vehicles will also offer more personal digital customisation. The first product off this platform, a midsize pick-up (bakkie) is due in 2027 in the US. For the time being Ford will also be focusing its EV game on larger and more expensive vehicles. In August 2024, Ford announced that it was broadening its electrification strategy to reach more customers and improve profitability. Thus Ford will focus its next generation of electrified and digitally advanced vehicles where it currently has competitive advantages, namely commercial vans, midsize and large pick-up trucks and long-range SUVs. This will see an electric commercial van entering the market in 2026, followed by two pick-up trucks in 2027. Ford also plans to realign its US battery sourcing plan to reduce costs and maximise capacity utilisation. 'An affordable electric vehicle starts with an affordable battery,' Farley said. 'If you are not competitive on battery cost, you are not competitive.' IOL Motoring
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Chinese automaker increases stakes in competition against Tesla with mega-cheap model: 'To become a serious player in the mass-market EV segment'
After Tesla's new Model Y had consumers shocked by its lowered price, Chinese technology company Xiaomi dropped even lower prices on its new SUV. According to Reuters, Xiaomi "priced its new electric YU7 SUV from 253,500 yuan ($35,364), almost 4% below Tesla's Model Y." The details surrounding the new YU7 are already grabbing EV lovers' attention. In one review of the SUV, the comparison of the YU7 and the 2025 Ferrari Purosangue was highlighted. With the Purosangue starting at just under $430,000, the YU7's affordability is even more impressive and appealing. Switching to an EV is a great move for those looking to reduce their tailpipe emissions and put an end to the relentless fluid changes of gas-powered cars. With the electric vehicle market continuing to grow, new models are constantly launching, so your options are broad. Plus, the used EV market also continues to grow. The Tesla Model Y has been doing well in China recently, but Xiaomi has high hopes for the future of the YU7 SUV. "Xiaomi's CEO and founder Lei Jun has said he wants the YU7 to challenge the Model Y, and analysts say it has the potential to succeed," Reuters reported. Rosalie Chen, a senior analyst at Third Bridge, a global research organization, said, "The YU7 will serve as an early test of whether Xiaomi can broaden its appeal beyond early adopters and tech enthusiasts to become a serious player in the mass-market EV segment," as quoted by Reuters. The YU7 SUV by Xiaomi is officially being sold in China now, with plans to bring the vehicle to the global market by 2027. Would you buy a $10K car from China? Definitely Maybe No way I don't need a new car Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Affordable, luxury-looking electric vehicles are just the beginning of ways to save while owning an EV. Installing solar panels is another great way to save big while driving electric, as fueling with solar energy is cheaper than using public charging stations or relying on the grid. With EnergySage, it's easy to compare quotes from vetted local installers and save up to $10,000 on solar installations. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
National Observer
10-07-2025
- Business
- National Observer
Alberta will never double its oil production
An independent Alberta would be able to eliminate personal income taxes, massively reduce corporate taxes, reduce the cost of post-secondary university and eliminate it entirely for pharmacare and dental care for millions of people. At least, that's the fiction that the Alberta Prosperity Project is trying to sell Albertans right now. With all of these lofty (and supposedly 'conservative') projections, it's a minor miracle they didn't promise everyone a free pony. At the heart of their child-like vision is the near-religious belief that Alberta can, and should, massively increase its production of oil and gas. On this, as on far too many things in their cockeyed report (immigration, for example), the supposedly anti-separation premier of Alberta is essentially on the same page. Sure, the separatist manifesto bases its rosy economic picture on an assumption that oil production will increase from 4.2 million barrels per day to 9.5 million barrels per day by 2045, while the premier merely expects it to double from current levels. But both figures are wildly aggressive and utterly at odds with an emerging economic reality that neither the separatists nor Smith dares to address. Why? Because, first and foremost, they can't blame Ottawa or the woke Liberal government for it. This reality is being driven — pun intended — by China and the rapid, almost breathtaking progress of its industrial electrification strategy. That's most visible in the growing fleet of electric vehicles coming out of its factories, ones that are both more technologically impressive and less expensive than anything being made in North America and are dominating global EV markets as a result. Just ask the CEO of Ford, Jim Farley, who has reportedly visited China seven times over the last year and even taken possession of a Xiaomi SU7 to test it. As he told author Walter Isaacson during the recent Aspen Ideas Festival, "it's the most humbling thing I have ever seen. … Their cost, their quality of their vehicles is far superior to what I see in the West.' Those EVs, and the broader push towards economy-wide electrification they represent, are already bending the curve on global oil demand. According to the latest International Energy Agency estimates, China's total oil consumption will peak in 2027, while Sinopec, the country's largest refiner, thinks that domestic demand for gasoline and diesel has already reached its zenith. All told, the IEA thinks global oil demand will top out at 105.6 million barrels per day by 2029 (a scant increase over the 103.8 million barrels per day consumed in 2024) while global production capacity soars to 114.7 million barrels per day. Even if you don't trust the IEA's data (and you should), they are hardly a lone voice in the wilderness here. László Varró, Shell's head of scenario planning, said recently, 'there is very little doubt that peak oil demand is coming.' Paul Gooden, the head of natural resources at asset manager Ninety One, said 'there is no doubt that in the grand scheme of things, this is a sunset industry.' And Bloomberg's David Fickling, who has been covering the oil and gas industry for years, wrote recently, 'the oil industry is already past its peak. The decades to come will only be worse.' That's because the push for economy-wide electrification won't just happen in China. All the other developing markets in Asia oil and gas enthusiasts are counting on for future demand growth are watching what China is doing very closely — and how it's insulating it from the effects of Donald Trump's trade war. Tim Buckley, director of Clean Energy Finance, told the Financial Times that 'countries around the world are going to be thinking very much the same way [as China]. … Obviously, China is very well positioned to aid them in that, and come out of this geopolitical shitshow with a strategic trade weapon: collaborating with anyone that wants to work on energy security and decarbonisation.' Danielle Smith wants to see Alberta double its oil production. The separatists she keeps catering to want to see it increase even higher. They're both delusional — and deliberately avoiding the China-shaped elephant in the room. And then, of course, there's OPEC. The cartel that spent the last few years propping up global oil prices with voluntary production cuts has apparently tired of putting money in the pockets of its rivals. As a trio of Bloomberg reporters noted in a recent story, 'the wider OPEC+ coalition has stunned oil traders in recent months with a pivot from defending crude prices to opening the taps, agreeing to revive production in May, June and July at three times the initially-scheduled pace.' By September, it will have returned 2.47 million barrels per day to the market, or 2.5 per cent of global supplies. None of this is good news for Alberta's apparent ambition to double (or more) its oil production. Indeed, it's the real roadblock standing in the way of new oil pipelines to tidewater: not the federal regulatory framework or irksome environmentalists but the cold economic realities of supply and demand. Oil and gas companies may genuflect to Danielle Smith's optimistic forecasts in public, but in private they understand that they're ultimately accountable to their shareholders — and required to focus on profits, not production. Are they really going to make the sort of multi-decade commitment required to keep these new pipelines filled when the long-term picture is so heavily clouded with uncertainty — and where the cost of growing their production so aggressively may outstrip the price they receive in returns? The separatists can't be stopped from engaging in their self-serving fantasies, of course. But the premier of Alberta has a responsibility to live in closer proximity to reality. Rather than travelling around the province trying to milk people's grievances toward Ottawa, she ought to be directing their attention to the future and the real challenges that lie ahead. Alberta can prosper in this rapidly evolving global economy, whether that's by aggressively lowering the emissions of its existing oil and gas production or finding new and innovative ways to turn its massive bitumen deposits into advanced materials. But this potential future prosperity depends on the province's willingness to acknowledge and accept the reality in front of it rather than pretending it can pursue a different one. And that, in turn, demands the sort of leadership and political courage that is conspicuously absent from the provincial political scene. Catering or cowering to separatists and their fossil-fuelled fantasies might help avoid a schism within the United Conservative Party. However, it won't prevent the economic reality hurtling towards Alberta from having the last word.
