Dongfeng’s eπ middle-to-high electrical model signed a cooperation settlement with Huawei to collectively develop a sequence of latest power automobiles. This partnership goals to reinforce the eπ’s gross sales quantity in China because it presently lags behind its predominant rivals.
Dongfeng launched the eπ (pronounced Yipai) model in 2023 to enter the market of semi-premium electrical vehicles and vary extenders. Deliveries of eπ vehicles began in March 2024. Its present mannequin line contains two vehicles: the eπ 007 sedan and the eπ 008 crossover. Their cumulative gross sales reached 45,447 items final 12 months based on China EV DataTracker. For comparability, Aito from Seres and Huawei bought 385,904 items. So, Dongfeng determined to deepen the cooperation with the Chinese language IT large to strengthen its market place.
It’s not the primary time Dongfeng and Huawei have entered into cooperation. Beforehand, Huawei turned the OS and ADAS (Superior Driver Help Methods) provider of the Dongfeng-owned M-Hero and Voyah manufacturers. The most recent product of such cooperation is the refreshed Voyah Dream minivan, launched in September 2024. Its gross sales elevated in China after the vital replace. For readability, Voyah bought 23,754 items of this minivan from January to August final 12 months. The up to date mannequin bought 31,363 items within the subsequent 4 months.
Dongfeng’s eπ and Huawei cooperation
So, Dongfeng noticed that the cooperation with Huawei was extremely efficient. Consequently, the state-owned carmaker’s eπ model signed a strategic cooperation settlement with Huawei on January 22. Two sides will discover cooperation within the fields of good automotive product improvement, advertising and marketing, and ecological companies. The long-term objective is to “create the final word good journey expertise primarily based on consumer wants.”
PR speech apart, it implies that the eπ automobiles will undertake the Huawei Qiankun driving help system. It’s mentioned to be near an skilled human driver. The Qiankun system helps Navigation Cruise Help (NCA) from parking to parking. The driving force solely wants to look at the scenario.
Furthermore, Hiawei and eπ will collectively develop a sequence of middle-to-high new power vehicles. It can broaden the model’s present tight mannequin line.
In January 2025, Dongfeng signed a cooperation settlement with the world’s greatest LiDAR maker, Hesai. Based on the announcement, a variety of Dongfeng automobiles will undertake Hesai ATX sensors. They’ve 256 strains, as much as 300 meters of ranging functionality, and dimensions of 100/100/25 mm. With a brand new LiDAR sensor, the ADAS of Dongfeng automobiles will get yet one more increase. It’s extremely possible that eπ vehicles will even get these sensors.
Editor’s remark
The precise cooperation mannequin between Huawei and eπ has but to be specified. Huawei has three predominant partnership variants. The primary one is the least concerned, the place Huawei solely provides some parts and the OS. The second cooperation mannequin is named “Huawei Inside”. It implies that Huawei gives its full-stack good options to producers. And the third method of partnership is the creation of a joint model.
CarNewsChina expects that eπ and Huawei will discover the second mannequin of cooperation, specializing in constructing vehicles with “Huawei Inside” tech. It’s unlikely {that a} model below Dongfeng will create one other third-layer model, particularly taking into account eπ’s sluggish gross sales.
