- tech360.tv
China's Dominance in Flying Cars and Asian Collaboration in AI
Flying cars are gaining popularity in China, with Ehang's air taxi generating significant interest. Xpeng's dual-mode flying car has faced skepticism, as it combines EV and eVTOL technologies. China's advanced EV-related technologies, particularly in batteries, give Chinese eVTOL manufacturers an advantage.
While Chinese EV maker Xpeng's ambitious plans for a dual-mode electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle have been met with skepticism, the concept of flying cars is gaining traction in China's cyberspace.
Last month, Guangzhou-based autonomous aerial vehicle manufacturer Ehang made headlines by selling its air taxi on Taobao, China's popular e-commerce platform. Priced at 2.39 million yuan (approximately $330,000), the air taxi garnered significant attention, with Chinese influencer Luo Yonghao selling one during a livestream for 1.99 million yuan. Ehang received 12 preorders, highlighting the growing interest in this emerging market.
However, Xpeng's rival dismissed their dual-mode flying car as a joke, citing concerns about the company's attempt to combine both electric vehicle (EV) and eVTOL technologies. This approach could potentially subject Xpeng to two sets of regulations, one for land vehicles and another for aerial vehicles.
China's dominance in the eVTOL market is evident, with the country accounting for 50% of the world's total eVTOL models. This advantage can be attributed to China's advanced EV-related technologies, particularly in the field of batteries. Chinese battery manufacturers, such as CATL, are actively developing battery solutions specifically for eVTOL vehicles, giving Chinese eVTOL manufacturers a competitive edge in procurement.
With strong support from local governments for the low-altitude economy, Chinese vehicle makers like Xpeng, Ehang, Guangzhou Automobile Group, and Geely are racing to capture a significant share of the global market. Ehang, in particular, recently received authorization to mass-produce its flying vehicles, further solidifying China's position as a leader in this emerging industry.
Despite the enthusiasm and support, challenges remain for widespread adoption of flying cars in China. The lack of sufficient takeoff and landing points, as well as the absence of clear traffic rules for individual drivers, pose hurdles to the seamless integration of these vehicles into everyday life.
In a separate development, Susquehanna International Group, a global financial firm, made a significant investment in TikTok parent company ByteDance a decade ago. However, as TikTok became entangled in the geopolitical tensions between the US and China, the firm's efforts to influence the outcome ultimately fell short. President Joe Biden recently signed legislation that could lead to the banning of TikTok, highlighting the complex dynamics at play in the tech industry.
Meanwhile, small Japanese EV battery suppliers are struggling to meet the surging demand for batteries due to various constraints, including a lack of workers, finance, and space to expand production. Unlike their Chinese and South Korean counterparts, many Japanese suppliers are small and specialized, operating in niche areas of the production process. This has led to some suppliers turning down new orders and facing competition from overseas manufacturers in their home market.
In the field of artificial intelligence (AI), two leading Asian chipmakers, SK Hynix and TSMC, have joined forces to develop advanced chips. SK Hynix specializes in high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips critical for generative AI computing, while TSMC's advanced packaging technology enhances the efficiency of HBM chips and graphic processing units (GPUs). This collaboration aims to strengthen their positions in the fast-growing AI market and solidify their roles as key suppliers to industry leader Nvidia.
Flying cars are gaining popularity in China, with Ehang's air taxi generating significant interest.
Xpeng's dual-mode flying car has faced skepticism, as it combines EV and eVTOL technologies.
China's advanced EV-related technologies, particularly in batteries, give Chinese eVTOL manufacturers an advantage.
Source: NIKKEI ASIA