Summary
- CATL plans to offer an off-the-shelf electric car platform with an integrated long-range battery
- The platform aims to reduce electric car development costs by a factor of ten, making it more affordable to bring new brands and models to market
- The new EV chassis, known as panshi, can withstand a 120 km/h frontal impact and has a range of about 1000 km
- Chinese EV brand Avatr will be the first to develop EV models based on the panshi chassis
- Radar, a division of Geely, has released a new battery electric pickup truck called the Radar King Kong in China at a lower price than its predecessor
Article
CATL, a leading battery manufacturer, plans to offer an electric car platform with an integrated long-range battery to reduce development costs and time. Known as panshi, this platform can withstand a 120 km/h frontal impact and offers a range of about 1000 km. Chinese EV brand Avatr, co-owned by CATL, Changan Auto, and Huawei, will be the first to develop models based on this platform. Other companies interested in the CATL platform include XPeng and Launch Design. The panshi project could make a niche EV firm profitable with just 10,000 cars a year, opening the industry to new players.
A new battery electric pickup truck, the Radar King Kong, is now available in China for a starting price of 99,800 yuan ($13,700). This model replaces the unpopular RD6 and offers a lower starting price. The Radar King Kong comes in various trim levels with options for single motor rear-wheel drive or dual motor all-wheel drive. It has a range of 310 to 605 km depending on the battery size and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.7 to 8.1 seconds. The King Kong offers significant cost savings compared to its predecessor, the RD6.
Legacy automakers are fearful of the rapid innovation and cost reduction seen in the Chinese auto industry. While it typically takes 3 to 5 years for legacy automakers to plan, test, and produce a new model, Chinese companies can do so in a fraction of that time. New models are constantly being announced with lower costs, keeping the competition on their toes. The CATL platform and the Radar King Kong are examples of the innovative and cost-effective products coming out of the Chinese auto industry.
CATL’s panshi platform aims to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry by reducing development costs and time, allowing new competitors to enter the market. Avatr, XPeng, and other companies are interested in developing EV models based on this platform. The Radar King Kong electric pickup truck from Radar, a division of Geely, offers a lower starting price and improved performance compared to previous models. Chinese automakers are pushing the boundaries of innovation and cost reduction, posing a challenge to legacy automakers around the world.
While legacy automakers typically take years to develop new models, Chinese companies are announcing new, cost-effective models at a rapid pace. The CATL panshi platform and the Radar King Kong electric pickup truck are examples of this trend. CATL’s platform could enable niche EV firms to be profitable with low production volumes, opening the industry to new players. The Chinese auto industry’s ability to innovate quickly and reduce costs poses a threat to traditional automakers who may struggle to keep up with the pace of change in the market.
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