Chinese electric-vehicle makers are increasingly looking beyond car sales for revenue, with Xpeng reportedly planning to license its technology to more overseas automakers and Li Auto opening up its in-house developed components to external customers.
According to Gasgoo, a Chinese automotive news outlet, two people familiar with the matter said Xpeng is in discussions with potential partners, including overseas automakers, software developers and auto parts suppliers, to provide its electronic and electrical architecture, cockpit systems, Turing AI chips and advanced driver assistance software. The move is aimed at generating new revenue streams beyond its existing partnership with Volkswagen Group, one of the sources said.
Xpeng chairman He Xiaopeng said the company is in talks with several automakers and non-automakers on cooperation covering technology and chips, and may announce some results around the Paris Motor Show, according to Cailianshe. The company recently launched the G9L in China, with production at its Guangzhou plant and at a factory in Graz, Austria, ahead of a global debut in Paris on Oct. 12.
Li Auto has also begun supplying several core technologies externally this year, according to IThome, citing multiple industry sources. These include its self-developed Mahe chip, silicon carbide modules from its subsidiary Sike Semiconductor, and its range-extender system. The Mahe chip and silicon carbide module businesses have been set up as independent entities to seek outside customers, and Sike Semiconductor is preparing to bring in external investment. Li Auto's self-developed battery, however, is not planned for external supply because of its high customization, the sources said.
Seres reaffirms Huawei ties; Tesla robot audit reported
Seres Group director and vice president Kang Bo responded to questions about the "Huawei content" in its Aito brand, saying Aito is jointly designed and built by Huawei and Seres, and remains a core member of the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance, according to Jiemian News. Seres holds a 10% stake in Yinwang, a company that aggregates Huawei's intelligent vehicle technologies.
Separately, Tesla is reported to have started a new round of factory audits for its Optimus humanoid robot business, with a team arriving in Ningbo on Sept. 16 and beginning audits the next day, according to Yicai. The audits are expected to lead to orders for suppliers. Top Group, a supplier based in Ningbo, said it had not received notice of the audit but confirmed cooperation with Tesla on linear and rotary actuators and dexterous hand actuators. Sanhua and Joyson declined to comment, citing confidentiality.
CATL casts doubt on solid-state timeline
CATL chief manufacturing officer Ni Jun said at a company event that all-solid-state batteries are unlikely to mature in the short term, with most industry claims still at the concept stage and at least five years needed for large-scale deployment, according to Kuaikeji. Ni said the solid-solid interface issue remains unresolved. CATL prefers sodium-ion and condensed-matter batteries, which are compatible with existing lithium battery production lines, and will reserve compatibility in new production lines next year.
