March Auto Buzz: Tech Debates, Brand Clashes, and Industry Soul-Searching

March saw a flurry of statements from China's auto industry. SAIC Volkswagen’s mass-produced EA211 range extender drew criticism from Li Xiang’s “Hard Brother” for being technologically outdated, to which Fu Qiang responded that it contributes to industry advancement. Lotus unveiled a concealed LiDAR system, emphasizing the balance between design and technology. A BMW sales livestream disparaged Xiaomi as “fast-grown chicken,” prompting Pan Jiutang to politely retort. Skyworth claimed its flash-charging technology leads BYD by three years. Changan’s Yang Dayong highlighted the persistent challenge of EV range in extreme cold conditions in northern China and called for entering a “new fuel-powered era.” Cui Dongshu warned that automakers’ profits are being squeezed by battery costs, while Wei Jianjun criticized the “sales-volume-at-all-costs” mindset for damaging the industry ecosystem. Chery’s Yin Tongyue announced plans to enter the field of controllable nuclear fusion. Lei Jun apologized for his controversial “60+60=120” remark. Horizon Robotics’ Yu Kai clarified that his social media post criticizing intelligent driving systems did not represent the company’s official stance.