China unveils latest achievements at CES 2024

WeRide’s “robobus” [Photo by Joint Press Corps]

As mobility competition intensifies in East Asia, China is doubling down on its efforts for global dominance in the sector and is ready to showcase advanced future technologies in Las Vegas.

On Saturday, three days before the opening of Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology (IT) exhibition, Chinese autonomous driving company WeRide Corp. was seen test-driving its autonomous vehicles on the roads around the event venue. WeRide, the operator of the autonomous “robobus” in 19 cities primarily in China, is eyeing an entry into the U.S. market.

Fellow Chinese company XPENG AEROHT was also busy setting up a booth for its exhibit at CES 2024. The company, which is an affiliate of Chinese smart electric vehicle company XPeng Inc., plans to unveil its flying car in Las Vegas. Aeroht’s flying car travels on the ground like a regular vehicle and transforms into an aircraft capable of vertical takeoff by using its unfolding propellers.

Chinese electric motorcycle company, Horwin is showcasing its future concept motorcycles at the CES exhibition. Horwin also aims to enter the U.S. market with its affordable motorcycles designed in Austria.

While there are no Chinese EV companies directly participating in CES’s 2024 edition, many EV-related Chinese companies opted for an exhibit, including light detection and ranging (LiDAR) company Hesai Technology Co.

China has recovered to its past participation levels after a four-year hiatus. The number of exhibition companies has more than doubled, increasing to 1,114 in 2024 from the previous year’s 502. The number of participants in the exhibition started to decrease in 2019 when U.S.-China tensions began and drastically dropped to around 100 during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 to 2022, until it rebounded to over 1,000 participants after four years.

To counter China’s strong presence, major subsidiaries from South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, including Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Corp., and Hyundai Mobis Co., will also showcase their latest developments. The Group’s U.S.-based subsidiary, Supernal, is also set to unveil a new urban air mobility (UAM) at this year’s CES.

Japanese Sony Honda Mobility Inc. is expected to showcase its EV, Afeela, scheduled for mass production in 2025.