From knock-off old-man's electric vehicles to industrial giant

Will they win in Chapter 215?
"Strictly speaking, it's a stripped-down version of the Magic Carpet suspension, and it's quite different from the one in the Mercedes-Benz MBC and BMW 7 Series."

Cheng Li explained.

"We obtain a parallax map by scanning the road surface with a binocular camera, use a digital elevation model to calculate the height change trend of the road surface that the wheel is about to pass over, predict the wheel rolling trajectory, and then inform the suspension system of the undulations and fluctuations of the road surface ahead."

Besides refining the algorithm model,

A complete magic carpet suspension should have a set of front and rear electronic anti-roll bars, and faster-responding hydraulic or electromagnetic damping, in order to respond to the frequency of the road surface in real time.

The inflation and deflation speed of air suspension with variable damping is relatively slow. Although it can actively adjust, the delay is quite large, and it can only cope with some road bumps...

He explained the function from a technical perspective.

Even though it's a stripped-down version, you can still see the pride on his face.

The key to achieving this effect lies in whether the entire chassis, from the air suspension and vibration damping to the binocular cameras, can work together.

If the suspension system purchased from mainland China is a complete "black box" and cannot be adjusted, then this function cannot be achieved.

But now their air suspension is developed from scratch, with the underlying code completely open, which gives the chassis engineering team the opportunity to explore the limits.

“The process of going from zero to one is the most difficult. If you can make it, it’s worth talking about.” Xu Yi nodded.

True "magic carpet suspension" has extremely high hardware requirements, and also requires a great deal of experience and R&D capabilities from automakers. To this day, only a very small number of automakers have symbolically equipped it on the top-of-the-line models of their flagship vehicles.

Even if it's a "crippled version," it's still the first domestically produced set.

It is the accumulation of chassis data algorithms and self-developed air suspension that illuminates the foundation before the branches can be extended.

If this were applied to car assembly companies, even after five more years, they might not be able to produce a "downgraded version".

Several prototype vehicles were covered with black and white striped car covers, making it impossible to see the entire model, body details, or even the lights, except for the lights and some windows.

This all involves going out to conduct road tests and collecting data in various regions.

This is what the industry commonly refers to as a "camouflaged vehicle".

Currently, only Xingchen has "star ring headlights" on the market. If the lights are not properly covered and the whole car is obscured, people can still guess which car company's product it is.

"We have also contacted the European agency for the E-NCAP test and have already sent people and vehicles there. We expect to get the results soon."

The upgrades to the Starry Sky L7 are not only reflected in its configuration and chassis, but also in its safety features.

Therefore, two pre-market safety tests were selected internally.

One is the domestic "C-NCAP", and the other is the European "E-NCAP".

They prioritize the European "E-NCAP" test.

This isn't because some foreign monk knows how to chant scriptures.

Rather, the European "E-NCAP" standard is more stringent in terms of its rules and intensity, and has a higher level of industry recognition.

They are also confident that they can pass the test and even get a perfect score.

Because car safety testing is an "open-book exam".

The rules and testing conditions are all there.

Will I pass? Will I get a perfect score?

It depends on whether car manufacturers are willing to invest in high-quality materials.

The amount of materials used by Xingchen Automotive this time is truly impressive, and they have made comprehensive enhancements based on industry-wide safety tests and their own understanding of safety.

When the results are released, they will be quite authoritative and convincing to both the media and the public.

"Safety as a safety net, competitive features, and winning positioning... Our biggest advantage is our positioning. There are cars that are mainly for families, but none have such high features and such a unique positioning as ours."

The market will not let down those who put their heart into building cars.

Xu Yi didn't dwell on the past. The car was about to be launched, and there were still many things to arrange. The suppliers still needed to fully cooperate on production issues.

While it wouldn't be accurate to say they were walking on thin ice, they did bear the expectations of over a hundred suppliers, large and small, totaling more than ten thousand people.

Many companies, like Kong Hui, are deeply integrated with Xingchen, jointly developing products in conjunction with their new cars.

One glory and one glory.

The burden on my shoulders suddenly became much heavier.

……

... This is not an isolated case.

"Our biggest advantage is our positioning. Cars designed with a family mindset are very rare in today's domestic market... In today's new energy vehicle market, no other company has such a keen product definition. Therefore, we have a lot of room for future development and we are sure to be a successful car that will lead a new trend in the high-end new energy vehicle market."

Kyoto.

CHJ Automotive headquarters.

Li Xiang stood on the stage and delivered a passionate speech expressing his opinions.

The audience consisted of the company's co-founders, investors from various funding sources, and co-investors.

Looking at the "passionate" speeches on stage, each person's eyes gleamed with scrutiny and contemplation.

As an entrepreneur born in the 80s, he went from PCPOP.com to Autohome, and then a few years ago he sold Autohome as a package and resolutely entered the car manufacturing industry to start his own business.

Li Xiang's abilities and internet thinking are beyond doubt. Through his previous accumulation, he has successfully attracted the attention of many investors and friends.

However, the SEV project, which had just suffered a crushing defeat and was then completely abandoned, focused on low-speed electric vehicles and cheap sharing, and was strictly speaking similar to the new generation of elderly people's electric vehicles. As a result, the market and policies changed halfway through construction.

First, Xingchen Auto suddenly appeared, not only seizing the top sales in the entire old man's car market, but also pioneering the new concept of the new energy MINI. From last year to this year, it has become the hottest new energy microcar.

It is expected to continue to be popular.

When CHJ Automotive's SEV was displayed at the auto show, it shattered instantly when placed alongside the Star Mini!
To this day, the project has cost hundreds of millions of yuan, causing CHJ Automotive to face a cash crunch with only a few hundred million yuan in cash on hand, forcing them to start the next round of financing.

"Mr. Li, you mentioned creating an SUV project to solve the problem of long-distance family travel. So, may I ask, what are the advantages? In terms of technology, you're not choosing either plug-in hybrids or pure electric vehicles. Going for a range extender seems far too inefficient?"

One investor raised a question.

Li Xiang confidently replied, "This is precisely our advantage. The key to an excellent product lies in the experience, not in the level of technology. Plug-in hybrids are indeed more technologically advanced and theoretically more efficient than range-extended hybrids. However, I have also tested both types of vehicles, and frankly speaking, the fuel consumption and experience are not that different."

However, the research and development costs for developing plug-in hybrid systems are several times higher than those for range extenders.

If that's the case, why should we spend ten dollars to do something that can be done with three dollars?

Lowering one's profit margin while increasing difficulty and development cycle is an inefficient and unprofitable strategy.

The investors present fell silent for a moment after hearing this.

...

"Mr. Li, what do you think will be the core competitiveness of the next car?"

Another investor couldn't help but ask a question.

“Because we have no direct competitors, there is only one mid-to-large-sized extended-range electric SUV on the market, and no one understands the needs of users in this price range and family travel better than me,” Li Xiang added.

The investors present pondered the reason, which was simple and straightforward.

But no one questioned it, after all, Li Xiang is the founder of Autohome, and he does have unique insights into product understanding and definition.

The failure of SEV can only be attributed to timing and fate; the policies changed too quickly, and it also ran into the freakish Xingchen Automotive.

After several discussions, the investors ultimately made their own choices to co-invest.

……

"Mr. Li, this round of financing is enough for us to build the next car. We can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

As soon as the financing statistics were finished, the company president, Shen Yanan, walked over and casually said something.

"Well, with the current funds, we only have one chance to play our cards. We need to be careful this time. Given the current market, our chances of success are very high, as long as you trust my understanding of the product."

Thinking of the setback he suffered with the previous car purchase, Li Xiang sighed, but a determined light shone in his eyes!
He is a genius.

He never questioned this point.

No one in this market understands demand better than him.

"Yes, we believe it."

Shen Yanan nodded, but a sense of unease lingered in her heart, her eyes hesitant.

"Will you win?"

The two looked at each other.

“We will win!!!”

(End of this chapter)