Tag Archives: China

News

New Chinese Manufacturer PFMoto Debuts The Starship 6 Tourer

In 2022, a new motorcycle manufacturer from China called Paifang Moto, or PFMoto, unveiled some renderings of a futuristic touring machine. At the time, it had affiliations with Lifan and the Geely Group, which owns Qianjiang, Benelli, and Keeway.

Since then, there hasn’t been much news about PFMoto. Many dismissed it as just another Chinese brand with a concept motorcycle that wouldn’t come to fruition. However, it seems that PFMoto has proven them wrong because the company has now revealed the Starship 6, a modern touring motorcycle that appears to have borrowed some styling elements from the popular Honda Gold Wing.

New Chinese Manufacturer PFMoto Debuts The Starship 6 Tourer

The PFMoto Starship 6 resembles a smaller version of the Honda Gold Wing, complete with similar side panniers and a large top case. It also features a spacious windscreen for wind protection and an ergonomic design with a low saddle, upright handlebars, and forward controls, providing a relaxed and comfortable riding position for long journeys.

Surprisingly, the Starship 6 is equipped with a rather underwhelming 573cc, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected V-Twin engine. With only 60 horsepower, it produces less than half the power of the Honda Gold Wing and is considerably smaller in size. Weighing 280 kilograms, the Starship 6 is lighter than the Gold Wing but still hefty for its engine size, which may result in sluggish performance.

Honda Gold Wing
New Chinese Manufacturer PFMoto Debuts The Starship 6 Tourer

Despite its underpowered engine, the Starship 6 boasts several impressive features. It comes with an electronically adjustable windscreen, a full-color TFT instrument cluster, Bluetooth connectivity, and loudspeakers for playing music during rides.

However, it’s unlikely that the Starship 6 will be available outside of China. Its weight and performance may not be competitive in the U.S. and European markets. In China, it is priced at approximately $4,000 USD.

News

Here’s Why China Has Significantly More EV Models Than The U.S.

China is currently leading the electric vehicle (EV) race. There’s no denying it and that’s the reality whether you like it or not. Whether that will be sustained in the years to come is still unknown, of course, but in the here and now, China is the world’s EV hotspot. Thanks to government policies and the realization that they can’t compete with other nations who already have nearly a century of experience with the internal combustion engine (ICE), China built an economy around EVs and the components needed to build one. The result? China is the world’s biggest EV market, accounting for more than half of global EV sales in 2022, and that also means their EV choices are far more diverse than any nation–more so the United States.

Related: 10 Chinese Electric Cars We’d Love To Drive

China Has No Legacy, So It’s Building One

Blue 2023 BYD Atto 3 parked
BYD
3/4 front view of a blue 2023 BYD Atto 3 parked in front of a house

Okay, so the word “choice” could be an oxymoron since government policies led Chinese automotive companies to develop EVs and then make its citizens buy them. Decades and billions of dollars later, there are already more than 100 EV companies in China all vying for the money of its citizens. This is on top of prominent Chinese premium EV brands like Nio, Xpeng, and Li Auto who are making headlines globally, while other more mainstream brands like BYD, GWM’s Ora, and Geely’s Zeekr are already taking away market share from Volkswagen–the biggest automaker in terms of overall sales in China.

Or at least that used to be the case. BYD has dethroned Volkswagen to become the best-selling automaker in China, thus creating a problem for the German brand that used to command a significant market share in China. With Volkswagen having fewer and at the same time, more expensive EVs than BYD, you could say that the downfall of the brand in the world’s biggest EV market is already unsurprising. Ask anyone why they like a car from a certain nation, and you’ll probably end up with remarks on German cars being luxurious and extraordinarily stable at high speeds; Italian cars being beautiful and resonant in terms of engine noise; or Japanese cars being highly tunable and reliable. China? Well, their brands don’t carry decades of legacy, which in the EV age was a good thing for them. Ferrari, for instance, is known for its singing V-8s and V-12s, but if you take that away, what defines Ferrari? On the other hand, Chinese EV startups are still building their legacy, giving them infinite room to innovate and carve out their own identity at a time when everyone else is still protecting their identity from the ICE age.

Related: Will You Dare To Drive BYD’s Three-Wheel Supercar?

Strength In Numbers… And In Innovation

Blue HiPhi Z
HiPhi
Front three-quarter view of the HiPhi Z

China’s wide range of EVs not only outnumbers that of what the United States has to offer but the design and technology that’s been poured into their EVs is also unbelievably good. Nio is one of the most prominent premium EV brands in China, and people are willing to pay Tesla money for its EVs. The brand’s hallmark features like its cute Nomi personal assistant and battery swap technology that Tesla has abandoned are stuff you won’t find in EVs from Western brands.

What about in terms of design? China’s EV brands also have you covered. With so much choice in the first place, there’s practically an EV for every design taste. Perhaps one of the EV brands that stand out in China in terms of design is HiPhi. With three models called the HiPhi X, HiPhi Y, and HiPhi Z, boring is one adjective you will never associate with how they look. A lot of car enthusiasts complain about how cars look too similar nowadays. Well, HiPhi seems to have gotten the memo and none of their cars conform to generic cookie-cutter standards. From aggressive lines, rakish curves, and even LED taillights that are able to display pre-programmed GIFs or animated icons, HiPhi is able to push the boundaries of design and not conform to how the world sees car design.

2023 BYD Yangwang U8
BYD Yangwang
front 3/4 view of a 2023 BYD Yangwang U8 driving off-road

Off-roaders are currently a sensation in North America, and you can bet that China’s EV start-ups have them, too. One of the most recent to make headlines worldwide is the BYD YangWang U8. Comical name aside, the U8 is part of BYD’s new YangWang sub-brand of high-end EVs, including the U9 supercar. Even though this is a large off-roader, it has supercar-like specs with its quad-motor 1,100-horsepower drivetrain and three-second 0-62 mph time. It can even 360-degree tank turns and float on water thanks to the body being waterproof.

Related: How China Became A Dominant Force In The EV Race

And The Chinese Market Has Spoken, Too

NIO ET7 at the Auto Shanghai 2023
NIO
Shot of a blue NIO ET7 at the Auto Shanghai 2023

It’s common knowledge that China is also the world’s biggest car market, which is why a plethora of global brands treat China as an important market for their bottom line. This is especially true for German luxury brands, where they’ve practically doubled down in their operations in China thanks to Chinese buyers considering these cars as their aspirational vehicles. Unfortunately, these brands saw disappointing foot traffic at the recent Auto Shanghai 2023. With the traditional designs of German luxury cars and their lack of EV options (Porsche even chose the show to hold the global unveiling of the Cayenne, which is not available as an EV), wealthy Chinese buyers instead lusted over the booths of brands like Nio, Xpeng, and Li Auto.

That was the case when New York Times interviewed the Cao family living in Shanghai. Formerly the owner of two Porsches, Mr. Ben Cao downsized to one Porsche 911 and the other car is now an electric luxury SUV with a range-extender gasoline engine from Li Auto called the L9. The reason why he chose the L9? Mr. Cao says that most designs of foreign automakers are dull. “They are far behind, no matter whether it is the U.S. ones and even the German ones,” he said. “They don’t even seem to be in the same age.”

Buick Electra E4
Buick China
Three-quarter shot of the Buick Electra E4

Foreign automakers in China are introducing EVs that look like their gasoline counterparts in a bid to create a gradual transition, but for Chinese buyers, these cars end up looking too boring and not groundbreaking enough. As mentioned, since Chinese EV start-ups have freedom from legacy, this gives them room to be creative unlike the established foreign brands whose cars suddenly seemed out of date. This is a sentiment echoed by Felix Kilbertus, Chief Creative Officer at Pininfarina. He told the New York Times at the Auto Shanghai 2023, “Some of that comes from the freedom from legacy.”

Related: 10 Ways Solid State Batteries Will Change EVs Forever

But, There’s A Catch

Rear end of a 2024 Nio ET5 Touring
Nio
Rear end of a 2024 Nio ET5 Touring

In order for these Chinese EVs brands to compete with established brands globally, they have to not just offer better products but also sell them at a lower cost than established brands. As a result, most of these Chinese EV startups, with the exception of BYD, are generating losses instead of profits. Nio, however, is finally narrowing down its losses and expects to be profitable by the end of 2023. It must be noted that this pattern of losses and then eventually becoming profitable is the same path that Tesla took when the brand was launched by Elon Musk. Also, with more than 100 EV start-ups in China, choices for EVs are indeed very diverse, but it also means that market saturation for EVs is going to come sooner rather than later.

Thankfully, in the United States, there are also a couple of EV start-ups like Lucid and Rivian who are making waves with their vehicles. Like China’s EV start-ups, these two brands still aren’t profitable, though they aim to eventually make a profit in the coming years. Ford and GM have also doubled down on their EV development, which means while the United States still won’t have as many EV choices as China right now, that gap will definitely be narrowed down eventually.

News

MVCagiva Crazy Weekend 150 Is Not An Italian Honda Adventure Scooter

Adventure-styled scooters are gaining popularity in China, with various brands offering rugged-looking models for everyday transportation. One such brand is MVCagiva, a new player in the Chinese market. While the styling of their Crazy Weekend 150 scooter may seem appealing on its own, it undeniably bears a striking resemblance to Honda’s X-ADV, ADV150, and ADV160 models. In fact, a reverse image search of the Crazy Weekend 150 prompts Google to suggest the Honda scooters as possible matches.

Adding to the confusion, the Crazy Weekend 150 is powered by an engine provided by Qianjiang Motors, a subsidiary of Geely that partnered with MV Agusta in 2020 and also has a deal with Harley-Davidson. This connection raises questions about the overlap of design and engineering between the MVCagiva scooter and other established brands.


MVCagiva Crazy Weekend 150 - Dash

10 Photos

Despite these similarities, the MVCagiva Crazy Weekend 150 stands on its own as a 150cc single-cylinder, liquid-cooled scooter. It boasts various features, such as LED lighting, dual-channel ABS, a full-color TFT dash, keyless start, an adjustable windscreen, and a forward-facing camera. The base model starts at 14,998 yuan (around $2,068), while an accessorized version with additional storage options and protective pieces costs 15,998 yuan (around $2,206).

The Crazy Weekend 150 is also known by the model identifier KJW150T, with the name Cagiva sometimes pronounced as “Kajiwa” in English. There are rumors of a future model called the KJW 700 that will utilize a larger Qianjiang-sourced powerplant.

PDT

Gui’an Embraces New Energy and New Material Industry to Integrate Guizhou and Shanghai Resources

GUIYANG, China, June 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — A news report by Huanqiu.com:

As the last cubic of concrete craned and placed on the roof of its module plant, CATL Guizhou Power Battery Manufacturing Base celebrated a milestone of its Gui’an Phase I project.

Continue Reading
CATL Guizhou‎ New Energy Power and Energy Storage Battery Production and Manufacturing Base under construction. (Source: Guizhou Daily/ Zhang Jian)
CATL Guizhou‎ New Energy Power and Energy Storage Battery Production and Manufacturing Base under construction. (Source: Guizhou Daily/ Zhang Jian)

Kicking off in Gui’an New District in February 2022, the CATL Guizhou Power Battery Manufacturing Base project covers an area of about 95.7 hectares, with a planned annual production capacity of 60 GWh of power and energy storage battery. The project will be developed in two phases, among which Phase I, covering 59 hectares with an annual production capacity of 30 GWh power, energy storage battery production lines, and supporting facilities, is still under construction.

According to the head of the project, the manufacturing base will be equipped with CATL’s cutting-edge high-takttime and highly flexible production lines with an automation rate of as high as 95%. By taking Gui’an as a significant base, CATL Guizhou aims to create a green industrial chain system with low or zero carbon emissions from upstream phosphate mining, phosphorus, and fluorine chemicals production, to lithium-ion battery manufacturing, downstream applications, and battery recycling, thus helping Guizhou build a new energy automobile industry ecosystem with distinctive characteristics and outstanding advantages.

The manufacturing base remains one of the important projects introduced by Shanghai Zhangjiang (Gui’an) Hi-tech Park. After putting it into operation, the expected benefits of Phase I include RMB15 billion annual output value, RMB 1 billion annual tax contribution, and over 3,000 job opportunities.

The blueprinted Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park, expanding 17 square kilometers in south-central Pudong New District of Shanghai, is one of the key development zones together with Lujiazui, Jinqiao, and Waigaoqiao development zones. In early April, Gui’an New District took the initiative to co-build an industrial park with Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park. Subsequently, Gui’an Development Group and Zhangjiang Group soon reached a consensus on co-developing Zhangjiang (Gui’an) Hi-tech Park in Phase II of Guiyang big data sci-tech innovation city. Backed by Gui’an New District and Pudong New District, the Park will combine the resources and strengths of Guizhou and Shanghai to power up the high-quality development of big data, new energy, and new materials sectors.

The Guizhou-Yangtze Delta industrial match-making conference on June 1 witnessed the execution of the strategic cooperation agreement on Shanghai Zhangjiang-Gui’an Hi-tech Park. Contracts for 46 industrial investment projects were signed at the meeting, including Guizhou Tianneng Recycling Material Industrial Park and Huaxi District Specialty Beverage Production Base and covering a large scope of industries, such as new energy vehicle and battery materials, big data electronic information, aerospace and equipment, cultural tourism, Maotai-flavor baijiu, basis materials, modern chemical industry, modern energy, modern commerce, modern finance, modern logistics, and eco-food.

SOURCE Huanqiu.com

RollsRoyce

ROLLS-ROYCE CELEBRATES CHINA PREMIERE OF SPECTRE AS WELL AS STUNNING BESPOKE CREATIONS AT AUTO SHANGHAI 2023

  • Rolls-Royce Spectre, the world’s first ultra-luxury electric super coupé, celebrates its China debut at Auto Shanghai 2023
  • A Rolls-Royce first and an electric car second: Spectre is greeted by clients as a powerful step into a bold new future as the brand prepares to become fully electric by the end of 2030
  • Rolls-Royce Bespoke unveils a new colour for Spectre: Morganite is named after the rare gemstone
  • Rolls-Royce Motor Cars celebrates the luxury of handcraftsmanship with three stunning Bespoke motor cars, underlining the near-infinite personalisation possibilities offered by the marque
  • ‘Private Office Shanghai’ announced as the next step in the company’s strategy to bring the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood closer to its global clientele and cater for increasing demand for Bespoke
  • Exclusive and immersive visitor experiences offer a glimpse of the marque’s Bespoke capabilities as well as its support and interest in contemporary art.

“Rolls-Royce Spectre is perhaps the most important car in our long and storied history and I am delighted to be in Shanghai for the China premiere of this fabulous car, an important step on our ambitious journey to become an all-electric brand by the end of 2030. As one of the world’s leading NEV countries, China is a key market for Spectre and I am delighted to see that our clients here share our great excitement for this car. Rolls-Royce and electric drive are a perfect fit: battery electric power offers silent propulsion, instant torque and tremendous power – just like our beloved V12. Waftability and our famous ‘magic carpet ride’ are assured.

“Our Chinese clients also truly appreciate the almost endless possibilities offered by Rolls-Royce Bespoke. Here at Auto Shanghai, we are highlighting the power and beauty of our marque’s extraordinary and special models , where rare and luxurious materials meet world-class craftsmanship in a way only Rolls-Royce can deliver . Reflecting our Chinese clients’ ever-increasing desire to commission exquisite, highly personalised motor cars, I am delighted to announce that Shanghai will this year see the opening of a Private Office, bringing the Home of Rolls-Royce to China and marking the next step in our global strategy to bring Goodwood even closer to our patrons around the world.”
 Henrik Wilhelmsmeyer, Director of Sales and Brand, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

“Spectre represents the dawn of a new design typology. This highly emotional, dramatic and progressive design marks a bold first statement for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ electric future, showcasing our commitment to innovation. With its groundbreaking ultra-luxury electric super coupé design, Spectre pays homage to Rolls-Royce heritage while embracing the advancements of modern technology. This extraordinary vehicle is a testament to our relentless pursuit of perfection, ensuring that every aspect of the car, from its aesthetics to its efficiency, is a true embodiment of the unparalleled Rolls-Royce experience. It is, without a doubt, a Rolls-Royce first and an electric car second.”
 Anders Warming, Design Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

“We are honoured to have played a significant role in Rolls-Royce achieving not only record global sales but also, more importantly, record levels of Bespoke in 2022. As we boldly embark on a transformative journey towards an all-electric future, championed by Rolls-Royce Spectre, I am confident that our discerning Chinese clientele will continue to support our success. Moreover, they will undoubtedly revel in the exceptionally high-touch encounters and authentic Rolls-Royce experiences we continue to develop. These include Rolls-Royce Whispers, the marque’s exclusive client-only application created to offer this eclectic group of people a digital world of curated luxury, and our recently updated dealer showrooms, which exude luxury and sophistication, providing our clients with an immersive and contemporary experience to view our motor cars and discuss their own Bespoke commissions.”
 Leon Li, Regional Director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Greater China
CHINA PREMIERE FOR ROLLS-ROYCE SPECTRE

Designed and engineered to be a Rolls-Royce first, and an electric car second, Spectre marks the beginning of a new era for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. To celebrate its China premiere, Spectre is presented at Auto Shanghai 2023 for the very first time in a two-tone Morganite with Gunmetal exterior finish, creating an exceptionally elegant aesthetic. Morganite, a colour between mauve and dark rosé, was inspired by the rare Morganite gemstone and is a new addition to the Rolls-Royce Bespoke portfolio.

Combining elegance and innovation, Spectre delights in an imposing yet effortlessly refined appearance. Creating an extraordinary sense of strength, Spectre has the widest-ever grille produced by Rolls-Royce, with a proud angle and polished stainless-steel finish. The car presents with stunning proportions, revelling in its long front bonnet and graceful silhouette with a beautiful falling fastback roofline; Spectre’s presence is further underlined by the magnificent 23-inch wheels

The excellence of the uncompromising exterior design is continued within, where Spectre’s interior sanctuary offers unrivalled luxury. Auto Shanghai marks the premiere for Spectre’s exquisite Canadel doors: the interior panel is crafted from a single sheet of wood, precisely placed at an exact 55-degree angle to evoke a sense of motion within the car. Sumptuous Grace White leather upholstery is highlighted by bold Ardent Red secondary details, creating a visually stunning hand-crafted masterpiece. The joyous interior is further enhanced by delicate Peony Pink accents on the RR monograms, contrast piping and stitching on the instrument panel. Open Pore Tudor Oak veneer panels gracefully merge into the fascia surfaces, while warmth is added to the exquisite interior design through the veneered steering wheel spokes, for an ultimate lavish touch.

To ensure the famous Rolls-Royce ‘magic carpet ride’, Spectre has undergone the most challenging testing programme ever undertaken by the marque. It was on the Côte d’Azur that Spectre’s digitally integrated evolution of the renowned Planar suspension system was finalised. Planar suspension is an orchestra of systems with precisely defined responses to driver inputs and road conditions, made possible by the latest software and hardware developments. Rolls-Royce’s hallmark experience of silence within the car is supported by the clever mounting of the battery, which enables Spectre’s perfectly smooth underfloor profile. This not only creates a low seating position and enveloping cabin but realises a secondary function for the battery – almost 700kg of sound deadening.

EXQUISITE BESPOKE MODELS SHOWCASE ROLLS-ROYCE CRAFTSMANSHIP

Alongside Spectre’s captivating stage presence are other specially created Bespoke models, showcasing Rolls-Royce’s world-leading expertise in handcraftsmanship and luxury excellence.

Bespoke Phantom Extended
Rolls-Royce Phantom occupies an unrivalled position at the very apex of the luxury world. Presented here in extended version and designed especially for the Shanghai Auto Show, this magnificent motor car is finished in a deep Submariner Blue with the bonnet, roof and rear pillar rendered in contrasting Silver.  Phantom Extended’s stunning exterior is further dramatised with a hand-painted single coachline and the Spirit of Ecstasy presented in stunning Rose Gold.

The exterior theme continues inside, with the front seats in Submariner Blue leather, accented with Rose Gold contrast stitching and ‘RR’ headrest monograms, and blue Piano Milori Sapphire Veneer throughout the cabin.  Phantom Extended’s generous rear suite is rendered in Cashmere Grey with Rose Gold speaker grilles and a Bespoke Starlight Headliner that emits an atmospheric blue glow.

The unique embroidered artwork in the Gallery features an extraordinary 47,943 individual stitches and takes around six hours to handcraft. It represents an abstract interpretation of a floral theme in a precise geometric pattern.

Bespoke Black Badge Cullinan
Another exceptional model is the super-luxury SUV Black Badge Cullinan, which takes the stage in Shanghai finished in a satin Iced Burnout Grey hue, reinforcing the truth that a Black Badge motor car need not be black. In this highly Bespoke commission, the Black Badge aesthetic has been extended to the smallest details: brake callipers, bumper inserts, side trims, Spirit of Ecstasy and 22” Part-Polished Black Badge Wheels are all finished in black.

Inside, the bold splash of Peony Pink over Scivaro Grey applied throughout the cabin, including the Bespoke steering wheel, provides a daring contrast to the more understated exterior. Textured Scivaro Grey boxgrain on the fascia and Technical Carbon veneers on interior surfaces provide additional depth. Each leaf of Technical Carbon is finished with six coats of lacquer before being left to cure for 72 hours and then hand-polished to Rolls-Royce’s hallmark mirror finish – a meticulous process that takes 21 days to complete.

The boundary-pushing Black Badge attitude is further exemplified by the Bespoke Starlight Headliner which features 1,344 fibre-optic ‘stars’ emitting a pink hue, given a playful extra dimension by the inclusion of ‘shooting stars’.

Bespoke Ghost
A stunning Bespoke Rolls-Royce Ghost completes the lineup of beautiful and unique Rolls-Royce motor cars. Gracing the Shanghai Auto Show in a Bespoke two-tone finish that showcases the limitless Bespoke potential of its pure, minimalist design, the main body is in rich, dark Olivin, with Diamond Black contrast above, accentuated with a single hand-painted coachline in Seashell. The matching tyre pinstripe mimics the white-banded tyres beloved by the marque’s patrons in its early days, reflecting a heritage dating back more than 100 years.

Ghost’s interior features a Bespoke colour split, with the front seats in Black Leather and the rear in Seashell, with contrast stitch and piping in Iceland Moss providing a visual connection to the exterior finish. The colour split is also carried over to the Bespoke two-tone steering wheel, which features Black outer and Seashell inner leather trims. Veneers in Stained Black Ash complete the motor car’s timeless, understated aesthetic.

THE BOUNDLESS CREATIVITY OF ROLLS-ROYCE
Beyond the display of these magnificent models, the Rolls-Royce stand offers a range of immersive experiences designed to captivate and fascinate. The Bespoke Atelier will provide guests with a unique opportunity to explore the countless personalisation alternatives that create the Rolls-Royce experience. Meanwhile, the MUSE Rolls-Royce Art Programme has a dedicated space to highlight the brand’s support for and interest in contemporary arts, showcasing the remarkable works of the three winning artists from the recent Spirit of Ecstasy Challenge. These artistic endeavours demonstrate the brand’s commitment to fostering creativity and inspiring greatness, while connecting patrons and the public to the thriving art world.