Charged Up in China: Highlights from Our Autumn 2024 Exclusive Investor EV Trip
EV Innovations, Gourmet Delights, Five-Star Experiences and Industry Insights
At the end of October, we wrapped up the Autumn 2024 Tech Buzz China Exclusive Investor EV Trip—a whirlwind one-week journey across Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou. Over five intense days, we visited ten companies across three cities, which brought us face-to-face with industry leaders, cutting-edge technology, and the vibrant culture that fuels the China EV boom. From fast-paced urban test drives to exclusive factory tours, each city offered a unique glimpse into the dynamic growth and innovation of China’s EV sector. The schedule was demanding, but our hard-working group rose to the challenge, tackling it all with energy and dedication. I’m incredibly proud of their efforts and resilience, as they truly made this trip a success.
Xiaomi 小米
Tech Buzz China’s Electric Vehicle Trips seem to have a special connection with Xiaomi (XIACF, market cap 87.61B USD), or what the Chinese call "缘分 (yuán fèn)." During our Spring 2024 trip, our journey began with an unexpected delight: two enthusiastic owners of the Xiaomi SU7 arrived at our Shanghai hotel, giving us the chance to see and test-drive one of the hottest new EVs on the market.
Fast forward to the Autumn trip. Tech Buzz China founder Rui Ma sent a WeChat message to Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun, asking if our investor group could tour Xiaomi’s EV factory. He promptly responded at 7 AM Beijing time, welcoming our visit.
Our Autumn 2024 Tech Buzz China Investor Electric Vehicle Trip kicked off with a fascinating tour of Xiaomi’s EV factory. This time, the test drive was taken up a notch: a professional driver was behind the wheel of the SU7, giving us a taste of its 0-100 km/h acceleration in less than 3 seconds. The rapid speed left me feeling weightless within moments, while everyone in the car couldn’t help but gasp in excitement. The visit wrapped up with an insightful discussion with Anita, Xiaomi’s Head of Investor Relations, making it a memorable highlight of the trip.
UISEE 驭势科技
UISEE is a company specializing in intelligent driving. In Chinese, "驭势" (yùshì) in UISEE’s name translates to "ride trends," capturing the company’s philosophy. UISEE provides a variety of sensors, such as in-vehicle stereo cameras, millimeter-wave radar, LiDAR, and smart, reliable, cost-effective autonomous driving solutions.
CEO Mr. Wu personally took us on a test ride in their autonomous bus. What made the experience even more interesting was that the autonomous bus didn’t even have a steering wheel! The safety operator monitored everything from a laptop, making it feel as if we were riding in a futuristic “cyber bus.”
VanJee 万集科技
Founded in 1994, VanJee (SHE: 300552, market cap 7.56B RMB) develops and manufactures a diverse range of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) products, including automotive electronics, Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X), LiDAR, and Weigh-In-Motion solutions. The company operates R&D centers in Beijing and Wuhan, where we had the opportunity to visit their Beijing facility. VanJee also has a large production base and provides services both across China and internationally, solidifying its presence in the ITS industry.
Enpower Greetech 恩力动力
Enpower Greentech is a company specializing in semi-solid-state and solid-state battery technology, with research and manufacturing centers in China, the United States, and Japan. During our visit to its Beijing factory, it was clear that the company’s culture integrates aspects of Chinese, Japanese, and American influences. This mix reflects diverse backgrounds and a unique environment that balances international perspectives.
Enpower Greentech asserts its leading position in solid-state battery technology and commercialization. The company is planning a new pilot line in Chuzhou, Anhui, to produce batteries suitable for applications such as industrial drones, electric motorcycles, electric vehicles, power tools, robotics, and electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
SenseTime 商汤
SenseTime (HKG: 0020, market cap 53.416B HKD), an AI software company, offers an experience that feels straight out of a sci-fi movie. During our visit, we tested a range of their technologies and products, from a medical assistant in a smart vehicle cockpit to playing chess, chatting with AI, and taking photos by AI. The immersive experience showcased the potential of AI in everyday interactions, leaving a lasting impression on our trip.
ECARX 亿咖通
Co-founded in 2017 by prominent Chinese entrepreneurs Ziyu Shen and Eric Li, and listed on the Nasdaq in 2022, ECARX (NASDAQ: ECX, market cap 606.1M USD) focuses on developing a comprehensive automotive computing platform. The company provides software and hardware solutions for connected, autonomous, and electric mobility, including in-car infotainment systems, intelligent cockpits, automotive chip module solutions, core operating systems, and integrated software stacks. ECARX's products and services are currently used mainly in vehicle brands from Geely Group.
Zeekr 极氪
Our visit to Hangzhou brought an unexpected treat from Zeekr. The night before our scheduled visit, Zeekr held the launch event for its new model, the Zeekr Mix, and we were invited to attend. Known as the "live streaming capital," Hangzhou didn’t disappoint; numerous streamers were livecasting the launch event.
The Zeekr Mix, affectionately nicknamed the "Baby Bus," is designed for young families and truly captures the needs of Chinese consumers, with features for activities like fishing, sunbathing, and even hot pot dining. This cultural insight was eye-opening for our international investors and highlighted the intense competition in China’s EV market.
The following morning, we met with Zeekr’s CFO and IR team on the 52nd floor of their towering office and had the opportunity to experience the Baby Bus up close, along with other Zeekr models. We might be the first group of international investors in China to sit inside the Zeekr Mix—quite a moment, lol!
U Power 悠跑科技
U Power is an innovative EV company focused on building vehicles around the skateboard chassis concept tailored to specific use cases. Founder and CEO Paul Li personally hosted our visit, sharing his vision of starting the company with the skateboard chassis as a foundation. We also saw the application of the U Power skateboard chassis in their U Power Van.
ZDRIVE.AI 大卓智能
ZDRIVE.AI, an autonomous driving company under Chery, focuses on dual-track development of L2 ADAS and L4 advanced autonomous driving products. The company’s CEO, Dr. Gu, who previously held positions at Tesla and XPeng Motors, personally welcomed us. At Chery, she holds two roles: in addition to leading ZDRIVE.AI as CEO, she also oversees Chery’s entire intelligent driving team, helping to shape the group's strategy in smart driving.
Zhida/Zeeda 挚达科技
Founded in 2010, Zhida Technology began with a focus on home charging station products and installation services. Over the past decade, it has grown into a leading global provider of smart home charging solutions for electric vehicles and green energy technology. With long-term partnerships with over 70 automotive brands, Zhida now holds the top position worldwide in home charging station sales.
Beyond the agenda, we had the chance to explore a variety of coffee experiences. From Luckin, China’s supply chain efficiency leader, to Starbucks, whose shine has faded in the Chinese market, and specialty coffee spots like Manner, M Stand, and %Arabica. We nearly tried Cotti, a brand that aimed to rival Luckin but, due to supply chain issues, was out of cups at the time. 🤷♀️
We also invited EV industry insiders to join us for a range of Chinese cuisines, from classic Beijing duck and authentic Sichuan dishes to Yunnan-style hot pot, which is wildly popular in China right now. Tom van Dillen, managing partner of Greenkern Group, has lived in China for 26 years. He shared valuable insights on China’s unique culture and auto market, offering investors perspectives rarely covered in the news. Tina Zhou, CEO of Gasgoo, provided an in-depth look at China’s current automotive landscape and competitive dynamics. Dr. Chen Dafei, a respected macro analyst, along with local portfolio managers and securities analysts, shared insights on the national economy and business nuances in China.
Some investors stayed at Atour, a hotel brand that has performed surprisingly well despite the economic downturn. In addition, we enjoyed the convenience and punctuality of China’s high-speed rail, making travel between cities quick and efficient.
In a word? Epic. This trip was packed with insights, unforgettable moments, and a whole lot of fun—already counting down to next year! Don’t just take my word for it, though—check out our five-star reviews:
Thank you Tech buzz team. This was a very unique learning trip for me. Learnt a lot of nuances about Chinese EV market and got a very good understanding of the ecosystem in China. This will become a good foundation to learn further. The meetings were very well curated and Lei Xing provided valuable insights to connect the dots. Freya is a wonderful host who executed the trip logistics very well. I personally had a great time enjoying the local cuisine too. The accommodations were also very good. Overall a great learning experience and cultural immersion. Thank you 🙏🏽😊— Raunak, Mumbai.
Thank you to the Tech Buzz team for an incredible experience! Lei Xing’s curation of companies offered an excellent immersion into the EV / AV industry in China with clear takeaways. The executives of the companies we visited were eager and effective in presenting their companies and insights on the market. Freya’s organization of the entire trip was smooth with zero hassle - comfortable hotels, excellent (vegetarian) food, and long but productive drives. The group size was ideal and there was something to learn from every participating investor. Overall a highly recommended trip! — Vibhav, Mumbai.
Great trip, thanks to Freya, Lei and Techbuzz. Learned from everyone over the past 5 days. — Homiyar, Singapore.
Thank you to the Tech Buzz team & Lei! Another incredible trip with deep insights, incredible experiences & indeed a sneak peak into the future of mobility. Kudos to Rui & Freya’s meticulous planing and seamless execution! Lei’s deep roots & understanding in the domain were clearly visible and extremely helpful! Freya took extremely good care of us, and patiently handled our quest for vegetarian food :) Freya was our lifeline in China :) Already looking forward to next years’s trip! — Aditya, Mumbai.