By tf-lawyer.com On October 17th, the 2024 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference kicked off in the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area (also known as Beijing E-Town). Coinciding with the event was the China International New Energy and Intelligent Connected Vehicles Exhibition and the 2024 National Autonomous Driving Test Competition hosted in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. A total of 252 companies from around the globe showcased their latest technologies, products, and applications in the intelligent connected vehicle sector.
Beijing E-Town has emerged as a hub for innovation in China’s autonomous driving industry, with over 40 companies presenting more than ten groundbreaking products and solutions—either international or domestic firsts. In the vehicle segment, the Xiaomi SU7 series has continued to draw significant interest. These vehicles are produced just 7 kilometers from the conference venue at Xiaomi’s factory, which rolls out a new car every 76 seconds.
In the crucial components sector of intelligent connected vehicles, two chip manufacturers backed by the Beijing E-Town Industry Upgrade Equity Investment Fund introduced significant products. “The AI cockpit from Gotion Technology is built on the Gotion X9 series cockpit chip, capable of controlling multiple screens and operating systems with a single chip, addressing the demands for powerful computing and communication capabilities in next-generation automotive electronic cockpits,” said Chen Shujie, Vice President of Gotion Technology. He also mentioned that the company’s global headquarters has recently established itself in Beijing E-Town, with total shipments of over 6 million automotive chips covering more than 70 popular vehicle models.
Yang Yue, co-founder of Huixi Technology, introduced a competitive “E-Town chip,” the company’s first high-performance intelligent driving chip, supported by the Beijing E-Town initiative. This chip, designed with a forward-thinking architecture, boasts double the computing performance of current leading international chips at a lower cost, with plans for mass production scheduled for 2025.
During the concurrent Future City Autonomous Driving Carnival, a blue autonomous minibus—adorned with radar cameras on either side—captured attention with its futuristic design. This marks the world’s first multifunctional commercial scene based on a high-level autonomous minibus, suitable for business, leisure, entertainment, and new retail needs. A gentle press on the sliding door reveals an interior resembling a small room: plush sofas surround a central table that includes a mini-refrigerator, with the in-car digital assistant “Yiqi” providing guidance and announcements through voice interactions.
According to officials from the Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area, over 120 intelligent connected vehicle companies are concentrated in Beijing E-Town, including three unicorn firms and ten national-level specialized “little giants.” Leading domestic autonomous driving companies such as Pony.ai, WeRide, Baidu, Didi, and New Stone Equipment are also based there, showcasing top-notch innovation capabilities in areas like automotive design, manufacturing, chips, intelligent cockpits, and smart chassis.
Additionally, Beijing E-Town has become the go-to location for the rollout of new products, technologies, and models from intelligent connected firms, with more than 870 vehicles deployed across eight main application scenarios, ranking first nationwide. The area features full connectivity across various types of roads, including closed campuses, urban roads, arterial ring roads, highways, and airport stations, accumulating more than 32 million kilometers in total distance traveled, placing it among the leaders in the country.
