Chery Holding launches Yaoguang 2025 strategy, to pour over 100 billion yuan in R&D in five years

Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chery Holding showcased its GENE electric concept car and its new technological development strategy, Yaoguang 2025, at the Yaoguang 2025 Chery Technology Day on September 16. 

On the automaker’s 25th anniversary, Chery Holding introduced and put in motion its innovative technology development strategy, which consists of four core targeted fields. 

Photo credit: Chery Holding

Specifically, the Mars Architecture, which included two main technologies, the platform architecture and the EEA electronic and electrical architecture. Among them, the platform architecture is based on the insides of the mass production generation, development generation, and pre-development generation, covering vehicle models from A- to C-segments. At present, Chery Holding’s mass-produced architectures include the T2X platform, the hybrid platform. Besides, the E0X platform and high-end intelligent electric platform are currently under development. The Skateboard electric and multifunctional interchangeable body platforms are in pre-development. 

The electronic and electrical architectures that have been mass-produced include the EEA 4.0 and regional centralized control, while the EEA 5.0 architecture and computer + regional controller are under development, and the EEA 6.0 architecture and complete-vehicle computer will also be put into pre-research.

The second core technology is the Kunpeng Power, which covers a variety of power technology routes, including hybrid engine, hybrid box, electric drive, battery, and hydrogen power. Among them, the fifth-generation hybrid engine consumes 4.5L fuel and 12kWh power per 100km under feeding condition. Its combined hybrid range reaches over 1,300km, with a pure-electric range of more than 700km. Under the hybrid mode, the engine can perform 0-100km/h acceleration in 4.9s, while the pure-electric performance is reduced to the 3-second level. The maximum thermal efficiency of the engine is over 44%. In addition, the hydrogen fuel cell system has a maximum effective power conversion efficiency of over 60%.

The third targeted technology, Lion Intelligence, covers two major areas, smart cockpit and intelligent driving. In terms of smart cockpit, Chery aims to create a cockpit that focuses on the design, intelligence, emotion, and humanized features. In terms of intelligent driving, the company will build on its Chery Pliot' R&D concept to create a user-centered autonomous driving technology system, which will provide users with a hassle-free, labor-saving, time-saving, user-friendly, and continuous experience.

Last but not least, Chery Holding plans to reinforce its Galaxy ecosystem with a “1+3+N” approach. To specify, each one car model should consist of three technology supports, including intelligent cloud platform, smart data, and upgrade, as well as numerous partners within the ecosystem. 

At the event, Chery Holding inititated its "Yaoguang Laboratory" at the same time to develop and tackle relevant technologies and create a new automobile ecosystem.

In order to achieve the above goals, in the next five years, Chery Holding plans to invest more than 100 billion yuan in R&D, cultivate more than 20,000 R&D talents, establish 300 Yaoguang laboratories, and support the interdisciplinary science and crossover technology research. 

In addition, Chery will also synchronously deploy six R&D centers in Wuhu, Shanghai, North America, South America, Europe, and Central Asia, fully supporting the realization of the group’s Yaoguang 2025 plan with global integrated management.

During the event, Chery Holding also showcased its various achievements in the new energy and intelligent technology field, including a smart flying cockpit. The cockpit is developed by Chery based on the analysis and prediction of multi-dimensional upgrade of cockpit function requirements of new generation users in the next few years. 

Photo credit: Chery Holding

The interior of the cockpit adopts Chery's original embracing two-seater layout with a variable wheelbase. When the cockpit is at the maximum wheelbase, the driver will be level with the rear seat, and can interact with the rear seat occupants, giving users an advanced driving experience. The cockpit also adopts the super large OLED screen technology with a thickness of only 7mm, bringing users a more interesting intelligent driving experience.

Moreover, Chery Holding put its avant-guard and futuristic GENE concept car on display for the first time to meet the public. 

Photo credit: Chery Holding

The GENE demonstrated the original design power of Chinese independent auto brands in multiple dimensions such as design, experience, and the ecosystem. In particular, with the support from Chery’s proprietary Galaxy ecosystem and many advanced technologies, the Gene successfully conceptualized the connection between the metaverse and the future automobile.

In addition, the automaker disclosed that the Chery EXEED will launch its first premium battery-electric mid-sized sedan, the E03, in the fourth quarter of 2023. The model is built on top of the BEV platform with smart cockpit from Huawei. 

Powered by CATL’s latest Qilin batteries, the E03 offers a pure-electric range of over 700km. The new model supports quick charge function, which allows its to charge for 200km of range in a 10-minute charging session. Intelligence-wise, the E03 will feature highway and urban NOP capabilities.