According to sources familiar with the matter within Xiaomi, as cited by Chinese media outlet Jiemian News, the Xiaomi electric vehicle that has been spotted multiple times on the roads has finalized its battery supplier list. Both selected suppliers are Chinese companies. The primary battery supplier is set to be CALB, while the secondary supplier is the well-known CATL.

Reports indicate that Xiaomi initially planned to have CATL as the primary supplier, but there was a change of plan. This change could be attributed to the conclusion of patent disputes between CATL and CALB regarding lithium-ion batteries, cathode electrode sheets, and battery-related patents. The National Intellectual Property Administration invalidated the two aforementioned patents held by CATL, allowing CALB to re-enter the market with competitive pricing against CATL.

The report mentions that Xiaomi’s initial electric vehicle production volume is relatively low, which limits its bargaining power. The cost per battery pack starts at 80,000 RMB, accounting for approximately half of the overall cost. The proportion of supplies from the primary and secondary suppliers will reportedly be adjusted based on Xiaomi electric vehicle’s actual sales after its launch. The report also highlights the possibility of Xiaomi introducing additional battery suppliers like BYD through an open bidding process to lower battery costs and enhance bargaining capabilities in the future.

(Photo credit: Xiaomi FB)

At an online investor meeting, Foxconn Group’s Chairman Young Liu shared insights on the company’s current endeavors. He disclosed that the group is in discussions with over 10 clients on 20 electric vehicle (EV) collaboration projects. Out of these, two projects are already in production, and five more are likely to result in contracts. Additionally, Foxconn’s electric vehicle platform, Model C, is on track for mass production in Taiwan in the fourth quarter. Analyzing the information released during the meeting, TrendForce offers the following insights:

• Foxconn’s Electric Vehicle Platform Outsourcing Model Builds a Self-Sufficient Ecosystem

Electrified vehicle platform manufacturing enables various components to be categorized into several platform types based on vehicle segments, avoiding the chaotic scenario of each car having unique specifications. This modular approach enhances the utilization of interior space and promotes advancements in battery life and future advanced driving control designs. Consequently, various automakers are introducing new energy vehicle platforms.

However, initial investments in platform development can be burdensome for automakers. Moreover, integrating new EV technologies into platforms poses potential risks. Foxconn’s EV platform, by adopting an ‘outsourced’ manufacturing concept, reduces initial resource expenditures for automakers and accelerates market entry for EV models.

Foxconn also presents the concept of MIH, a membership-based industry cluster, which gathers around 2,400 suppliers spanning battery, motor, and control systems, building a comprehensive EV platform ecosystem.

• Correct Market Approach Yet Missing a Vital Catalyst

Foxconn, not opting for a fully proprietary brand, draws lessons from Taiwan’s automotive brand history. Building on years of contract manufacturing, the company ventures into the EV market, positioning itself ahead of the curve.

However, with the rapid global development of electric vehicles, the early advantages Foxconn established face challenges. The Volkswagen MEB platform successfully produced the Ford Explorer, hinting at potential collaborations through platform sharing. Audi is reportedly considering direct acquisition of a Chinese new energy vehicle platform. The common theme here is that traditional automakers seem inclined to collaborate with proven counterparts, showcasing the cautious approach toward platforms. At this stage, while Foxconn’s promising achievements might attract certain startups, their stability and market scale might not fully align with Foxconn’s EV market expectations.

Foxconn is well-prepared but awaits a catalyst. The company currently lacks the support of established automakers like GM, BMW, and Stellantis. If the projects mentioned during the investor meeting involve collaborations with such established players and secure manufacturing contracts, Foxconn’s model will foster a more diversified evolution in future EV platform collaborations.

(Photo credit: Foxconn)

The global automotive landscape is undergoing a decisive shift toward new energy vehicles (NEVs). TrendForce reports that in 1H23, NEV sales—which encompass battery electricity vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)—soared to an impressive 5.462 million units, reflecting a growth of 33.6% YoY. Specifically, Q2 sales reached 3.03 million units, a 42.8% YoY surge, constituting 14.4% of total car sales for the period, and playing a pivotal role in 1H23 growth.

In Q2, BEVs alone posted sales of 2.151 million units, marking 39.3% growth YoY. While Tesla maintains the lead with a market share of 21.7%, BYD trails closely behind with a boosted share of 16.2%. Moreover, GAC Aion, a brand that has been making waves primarily in the Chinese market with its high value-for-money proposition, clinched the third spot with a 6% market share. Recently, the company has launched high-end models priced above CNY 220,000, aiming to diversify its product range. The top 10 BEV brands in Q2 remained fairly consistent with Q1, with only a minor shuffling in ranks. However, compared to the same period in 2022, fewer Chinese brands made the list, likely due to the growing number of EV models from traditional automakers and fierce competition among Chinese brands.

PHEVs weren’t left behind, registering sales of 876,000 units in Q2—a striking 52.9% YoY increase. Astonishingly, about 66% these sales hailed from the Chinese market. In this segment, BYD continued its lead with a whopping 36.5% market share. Its high-end subsidiary Denza, recorded increasing sales, escalating its market share to 3.4% and climbing to seventh place. Another brand to watch, Li Auto, set a new Q2 record with 87,000 units sold, keeping its second-place position firm with 10% market share. Among international competitors, both Volvo and Jeep noted growth over the previous year, with Jeep crossing 30,000 units, an achievement that’s brought them into the top five for the first time.

While major markets including China, Western Europe, and the US continue to dominate NEV sales, emerging players like Thailand and Australia have made significant strides in 2023. Both nations exceeded 35,000 units in sales in 1H23, with Thailand quadrupling its 2022 figures and Australia experiencing a fivefold increase.

Although these figures are modest in comparison to global sales, they highlight the vast potential of these markets. Recognizing this growth trajectory, many major automobile brands are strategically planning their expansions into these burgeoning regions.

Apple has unveiled its long-awaited MR device, “Vision Pro,” which provides a clearer perspective on the potential and applications of AR devices. Despite not being as bulky as VR devices, Vision Pro still has a way to go before reaching the ideal form of AR glasses.

Apple’s Vision Pro utilizes Micro OLED technology and can display facial expressions on the outer screen. The industry anticipates that as AR technology evolves, a transition from Micro OLED to the equally next-gen Micro LED could make AR devices lightweight and more like glasses.

However, the question remains: what advantages does Micro LED bring to AR technology? Why did Apple opt for Micro OLED initially? And are there other display technologies suitable for AR applications?

AR devices: Striking a Balance between Ideal and Reality

In reality, achieving the truly ideal AR product might be premature given current technology. Most AR functional products strictly employ video see-through (VST) technology, where cameras capture real-world scenes, and computational and computer graphic techniques combine to display them on opaque screens.

The ideal is optical see-through (OST) technology, where users perceive the real world through a semi-transparent optical combiner in front of their eyes, coupled with projections onto the user’s eyes, merging the real and virtual worlds.

TrendForce discloses that ideal see-through smart glasses must meet three criteria: firstly, the display light engine must be compact, around 1 inch or smaller, to minimize the glasses’ wearing burden. Secondly, in terms of content recognition requirements, the display brightness specifications should reach at least 4,000 nits to ensure resistance to external factors like weather and environment. Lastly, the resolution must be at least 3,000 PPI for clear projected images.

Industry experts note that see-through AR glasses’ main scenarios are outdoors and on the move. These scenarios require consideration of outdoor weather and brightness, particularly as current waveguide lens efficiency is low, around 0.1-1%, causing substantial light loss. Generally, AR display brightness must exceed 1 million, even 10 million nits.

AR Glasses Development: Which Display Technology Holds the Edge?

Mainstream display technologies for AR glasses include PM(Passive Matrix) micro-display technology, AM(Active Matrix) micro-display technology, and scanning display technology.

PM micro-display technology encompasses LCD, LCOS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon), and DLP (Digital Light Processing) technologies, requiring RGB LED or RGB laser light sources. While mature, they tend to have larger light engines compared to other technologies.

AM micro-display technology includes Micro OLED and Micro LED. Micro OLED features self-emission properties but struggles with brightness. Micro LED outperforms Micro OLED in contrast, lifespan, and power efficiency, but integrating RGB remains challenging.

Scanning display technology (LBS) employs RGB lasers and MEMS for scanning imaging but might lead to speckle.

Analysis of Micro OLED, Micro LED, LCOS, and LBS Technologies

• Micro OLED: Suited for VR/MR devices, but brightness is a limitation

Apple’s Vision Pro uses Micro OLED technology, but its organic light-emitting characteristics result in lower brightness compared to Micro LED, LBS, LCOS, and DLP.

Despite efforts to enhance brightness through different layers, pattern adjustments, and phosphorescent materials, increasing brightness shortens organic material lifespan. Sony remains a key Micro OLED provider, but but recent reports indicate that LGD (LG Display) has joined Apple’s Vision Pro Micro OLED supply chain, potentially boosting production and reducing costs.

• Micro LED: Strongest contender for AR applications but faces technological challenges

Micro LED excels in PPI, brightness, contrast, and light engine size. However, its technological maturity is a major concern. Micro LED AR glasses predominantly display monochrome images due to colorization barriers. Achieving high resolution requires chip scaling, with Micro LED sizes shrinking to 5um. Challenges include uniform wavelength distribution and external quantum efficiency for red LEDs.

• LCOS: Mature but high power consumption and low contrast limit development

LCOS is a common AR device display technology with low cost and broad color gamut. Its reflective nature achieves high brightness, up to 40% light utilization, and increased resolution as semiconductor processes refine. However, it suffers from low contrast and requires a polarizing beam splitter (PBS), hindering downsizing.

• LBS: Small light engine rivaling Micro LED, but technology remains nascent

LBS employs RGB lasers as light sources, via optical element calibration and MEMS image scanning. Light then couples into waveguides. LBS offers high brightness, low power consumption, pure color, and high contrast. However, laser-induced speckle is possible. Ams OSRAM developed an RGB integrated laser with MEMS, shrinking the light engine to under 1cc.

Key Hurdle in AR Glasses Technology: Light Engine Size

Light engine size is pivotal for lightweight AR glasses. To achieve a near-normal glasses form factor, the light engine must be around 1cc or smaller, becoming an industry consensus.

For full-color light engines to reach this target, only LBS, Micro OLED, and Micro LED have opportunities. Micro LED’s pixel size, light efficiency, and brightness outperform Micro OLED, making it the preferred choice for light engines.

However, TrendForce states that while Micro LED’s technology maturity is evolving, challenges remain with red LED external quantum efficiency, micro display size, and FOV issues. Additionally, long-term wear and sensor integration for data transmission and processing pose further challenges.

(Photo credit: Apple)

According to the news from Mydrivers.com, BYD has reached a groundbreaking milestone, producing its 5 millionth new energy vehicle. The company asserts that China now possesses critical new energy vehicle technology and a robust industry chain.

BYD contends that a globally recognized brand stands as a vital hallmark of an automotive powerhouse. Throughout the annals of automotive industrial history, every automotive giant has harbored a world-renowned brand. For instance, the United States boasts General Motors, Ford, and Tesla; Germany takes pride in Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and BMW; Japan and South Korea have cultivated their own globally esteemed brands. Presently, China lacks a universally acknowledged world-class automotive brand.

Yet, recent reports from Mydrivers.com highlight that China has already ascended to the status of a new energy vehicle juggernaut, wielding pivotal core technology and a comprehensive industrial framework, thereby freeing the automotive industry from constraints. Objectively, China possesses the foundation and capability to forge a world-class brand. Subjectively, the emotional desire to establish such a global automotive brand exists.

BYD also anticipates that by 2025, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles in the Chinese market will surpass 60%. In 2022, Chinese brands forayed into over 50% of the market for the first time, with projections indicating that within 3 years, their market share will escalate to 70%. In a recent development, data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) indicates that in the first half of this year, China’s complete vehicle exports surged by 76.9% YoY, surpassing Japan and claiming the global lead for the first time.

(Source: https://news.mydrivers.com/1/928/928676.htm)