Chinese OEMs put focus on connected and autonomous technology

Chinese brands are migrating away from competing purely on the strength of their battery propositions and are now focusing on developing advantages around their connected and autonomous technology.

Speaking on the Fleet News/Auto Trader Quarterly Market Insight, Auto Trader UK commercial director Ian Plummer described his experiences during a recent trip to China: “We did autonomous driving, which is highly impressive. The likes of Baidu, the Google equivalent, are behind that particular vehicle, by a brand called Jidu.

“The tech is amazing, but you're not paying extra to have self-driving capability. EVs that have got good range and are affordable is, like, 'of course it does'. So you need your car to stand out for other reasons. They're beyond where we are, which is just trying to prove that the car has good range and is going to get more affordable.”

Video: Fleet News editor Stephen Briers talks to Auto Trader's Ian Plummer and Rachael Jones

Speed of development is extremely quick for the Chinese brands, but there will be learnings for those looking to enter the UK market.

Plummer said: “How things work in China, the role of finance in selling cars, is quite different and strong over here compared to how it is in China. Those are new things that they need to learn, get used to and adapt.

“But because they're so quick at learning, they will have hurdles, but I expect them to overcome those hurdles and play to their strengths - affordability, quality.”