Several Chinese companies are debuting at IAA Transportation 2022 to showcase their latest innovations in developing new energy commercial vehicles.
Reporting from China Daily, Tuesday (20/9/2022) the IAA Transportation 2022 event held in the city of Hanover, Germany was attended by more than 1,400 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and regions, including about 70 from China.
Shanghai-based SAIC Maxus showcased five of its newest electric vehicles, including the MIFA 9, which the company claims is the world’s first luxury electric multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).
“As one of the most innovative and progressive electric commercial vehicle brands in Europe today, SAIC Maxus takes its leadership role in this sector seriously,” said Jack Zhu, SAIC general manager for Europe.
“We are committed to making Maxus the leading commercial EV brand in Europe and our strong presence at trade shows across Europe is testament to this ambition.”
Meanwhile, BYD is launching its innovative new eBus Blade Platform. These are two pure, zero-emission electric trucks, a 7 ton ETM6 urban delivery truck and a 19 ton ETH8 truck, designed for logistics and waste collection.
“We are pleased to introduce BYD’s latest technological innovations to European customers, including eTrucks and eBuses,” said Javier Contijoch, Vice President of eBus at BYD Europe Commercial Vehicles.
On the other hand, Dongfeng Automobile Co Ltd, another major automaker in China, showcased its four new light commercial vehicle models, including three battery-electric models EV30, EV35 and EV45.
“Two of them have won EU certification and the other is expected to be certified next year,” said Alex Ma, head of Dongfeng Automobile’s New Energy Resources Business Division.
Ma also said that Dongfeng has not yet started making electric vehicles in Europe, as China has a relatively complete supply chain, citing battery samples from Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL).
In addition, CATL, headquartered in Ningde, Fujian province, showcased its latest battery innovations for commercial vehicles.
CATL official Tong Xinqiao said that the exhibition covered current products, next-generation development and competitive technologies for the future, such as its sodium-ion battery.
He said CATL’s products and technologies have been applied not only in China, but also in Europe and other parts of the world.
“I wouldn’t say we are the most advanced, but we are definitely among the global leaders,” Tong said.
Last month CATL also invested 7.34 billion US dollars to build a battery factory in Debrecen, eastern Hungary.
It will be the company’s second battery factory outside of China. The first has been built in Thuringia, Germany and is expected to start production by the end of this year.
BYD debuted its bus chassis technology platform using Blade Battery
