Tag: changan automobile

  • Mazda Adds Hesai LiDAR to Updated EZ-60 in China Starting at 113,900 Yuan

    Mazda Adds Hesai LiDAR to Updated EZ-60 in China Starting at 113,900 Yuan

    Changan Mazda launched its updated 2027 EZ-60 electric SUV in China on Saturday. Pricing starts at 113,900 yuan ($16,880) across four new LiDAR-equipped variants.

    The roof-mounted sensor package sits on upper trims, lifting the top of the nine-model range to 172,900 yuan before a promotional 6,000 yuan discount across all configurations. The baseline official guide price holds steady at 119,900 yuan. That matches the entry level from the model’s debut.

    Buyers pay a 12,000 yuan premium for the LiDAR options. The extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) Pro LiDAR variant costs 151,900 yuan, while the battery electric (BEV) Max LiDAR edition tops the lineup at 172,900 yuan. Dimensions stay unchanged. The SUV measures 4,850 mm long, 1,935 mm wide, and 1,620 mm tall on a 2,902 mm wheelbase.

    Sensor Package and Driver Assistance Architecture

    A single Hesai ATX LiDAR mounted on the roof line drives the driver assistance suite. The optical unit delivers a detection range of 200 meters. It works alongside three millimeter-wave radars, 11 high-definition cameras, and 12 ultrasonic sensors to scan forward past 250 meters.

    Software runs on an end-to-end architecture that handles highway navigation assistance between 0 and 130 km/h. Urban navigation assist operates between 0 and 80 km/h. Automated parking supports more than 300 bay geometries. Features like memory parking will arrive via over-the-air updates alongside 25 active safety functions.

    Powertrain Options and Battery Capacities

    Powertrains carry over unchanged. EREV trims pair a 70 kW 1.5-liter range extender with a rear electric drive motor producing 190 kW (255 hp) and 290 Nm of torque. A 31.73-kWh battery pack provides 200 kilometers of pure electric driving range under the CLTC cycle.

    Pure electric trims use a 77.94-kWh lithium iron phosphate pack with the same 190 kW rear-wheel-drive motor. That setup delivers a CLTC driving range of 600 kilometers per charge.

    Joint-Venture Rivalry in China’s Electric Market

    Legacy joint ventures face intense pricing pressure in China as domestic automakers make semi-autonomous driving standard in mass-market brackets. International brands have largely avoided putting LiDAR on mid-tier models to protect profit margins. That left their products exposed against high-specification Chinese rivals.

    Putting Hesai LiDAR and end-to-end software below 180,000 yuan takes direct aim at rivals like the Buick Electra E7 and the Nissan NX8. Japanese and American joint ventures need this equipment bundling to protect showroom share in China’s tier-two and tier-three cities.

    Global Export Track and Deployment Plans

    The EZ-60 anchors Mazda’s electrification export program developed with Changan Automobile. It serves as the production base for the CX-6e, which debuted at the Brussels Motor Show in January. Retail shipments to European distributors are already underway.

    Changan Mazda launched the original EZ-60 on September 26, 2025, bringing this refresh 12 months into the lifecycle. Other Japanese carmakers are also expanding electrified lineups in China. Nissan recently updated its N7 sedan, and Toyota plans to introduce localized extended-range models in April 2027.

    Deliveries of the LiDAR-equipped EZ-60 trims begin at dealerships across China next month. The 6,000 yuan launch subsidy will run through the initial intake window.

  • China Proposes Automakers Take Blame for Autonomous Driving Violations

    China Proposes Automakers Take Blame for Autonomous Driving Violations

    China wants automakers and importers to take legal blame for traffic violations committed by fully autonomous vehicles. The policy shifts legal exposure directly onto manufacturers.

    A draft revision to the Road Traffic Safety Law went before the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for an initial review on Tuesday.

    Spanning nine chapters and 170 articles, the legislation adds a dedicated section for autonomous vehicles. It establishes operating rules for public roads, insurance terms, and infraction processing. The rule applies strictly to fully automated mode. It does not automatically transfer liability for collision compensation to the manufacturer.

    Drawing the Line at Assisted Driving

    Standard traffic laws still apply when autonomous systems are off, and across all assisted-driving models. Drivers using Level 2 assistance remain personally responsible for any violations.

    Enforcement hinges on telematics data. Regulators have not detailed how authorities will pull telemetry or resolve disputes over whether autonomous systems were active during an incident.

    Adoption is surging across Chinese cities. Level 2 driver assistance penetration reached 70.5 per cent this year, while navigation on autopilot hit 34.2 per cent. China granted its first Level 3 passenger vehicle approvals in December 2025 to BAIC Group’s Arcfox and Changan Automobile’s Deepal brand. By targeting only fully autonomous mode, the proposal shields mass-market carmakers from immediate liability while setting rules for commercial scale.

    Safety Deadlines and Stricter Driver Rules

    Ministry of Industry and Information Technology baselines will guide the rollout. Systems must match the safety of an attentive human driver, with mandatory technical standards taking effect on July 1, 2027.

    Conventional motorists face tighter restrictions under the broader bill. Drivers cannot use handheld phones or watch video screens behind the wheel.

    Lawmakers will continue reviewing the text ahead of a final vote by the Standing Committee.