[250121] #IM Motors #BYD #Seyond

1. IM Motors gets L4 autonomous driving road test license

• IM Motors has officially received an L4 driverless road test license, according to Wang Kang, director of smart driving programs.
• The achievement completes the company’s 2024 annual target for its L4 product line.
• In December 2023, IM Motors, a division of SAIC Motor Corp, was approved to conduct L3 autonomous vehicle testing in Shanghai.
• The company aims to accelerate higher-level smart driving development through designated L3 road tests.
• In July 2024, Yu Qiankun, chief engineer for L4 autonomous driving, announced progress on a third-generation robotaxi solution with Saike Intelligence.
• Saike’s robotaxi is set to achieve L4 smart driving capabilities in major Chinese cities by 2025 with the launch of its stage 4.0 technology.

  

2. Beijing Plans to Boost Driverless Vehicle Adoption in the Capital

• Beijing passed new regulations on December 31 to promote autonomous driving, aiming to introduce driverless public buses and taxis, effective April 1.
• The regulations support autonomous private cars, urban buses, trams, and taxis, alongside intelligent road infrastructure development.
• The initiative aligns with China’s goal to become a global leader in autonomous mobility.
• Wuhan also introduced regulations for intelligent connected vehicles, joining a national trend with at least 19 cities testing robotaxis and robobuses.
• Baidu plans to deploy 1,000 robotaxis in Wuhan by the end of 2024, while Pony.ai aims to expand its fleet to over 1,000 vehicles by 2026.
• Companies like WeRide, AutoX, and SAIC Motor are also leveraging opportunities in China’s growing autonomous vehicle market.

China accelerates its autonomous vehicle revolution as Beijing and Wuhan unveil regulations to advance driverless technology and infrastructure.

3. BYD sales 1.76 million EVs last year… closing gap with Tesla

• China’s BYD set a monthly sales record in December 2023, selling approximately 510,000 electric vehicles, and achieved an annual sales total of 1.76 million EVs, narrowing the gap with Tesla to just 40,000 units.
• Including hybrids and EVs, BYD sold a total of 4.25 million vehicles, with annual revenue expected to surpass $100 billion for the first time.
• Government subsidies in China significantly boosted BYD’s domestic sales, although additional tariffs have slowed sales in Europe and other global markets.
• In 2024, global electric vehicle usage is projected to reach 85 million units, with China accounting for 58% of the market share.
• Due to an oversupply of lithium and declining battery demand, the average battery price is expected to drop to half of its 2023 level by the end of 2026.
• Goldman Sachs predicts that the price of lithium, a key battery material, will continue to fall, reducing the average battery cost from $149 per kWh in 2023 to $82 per kWh by 2025.

4. Seyond to Exhibit High Fidelity LiDAR Solutions at CES 2025

5. Ann Arbor’s May Mobility Launches AV Service with Toyota in Japan

• May Mobility has launched a corporate autonomous vehicle (AV) service with Toyota, utilizing the e-Palette electric vehicle at the Toyota Motor Kyushu Co.’s Miyata factory in Japan.
• The e-Palette, equipped with May Mobility’s autonomous driving kit and Multi-Policy Decision Making technology, serves as a transit option with six stops at the factory during business hours.
• The project, started in 2022, aims to test and refine the technology for potential deployment at other locations across Japan.
• Currently, the vehicles require an operator to supervise the autonomous driving functions.
• May Mobility’s partnership with Toyota supports its vision of enhancing transportation accessibility across Japan.
• Additional projects in Japan are planned for 2025, with May Mobility collaborating with MONET Technologies and investor NTT for future service rollouts.