Chinas EV players are starting to compete on driver assist tech
Summary
Li Auto announced plans to roll out driver-assist tech to customers in 100 cities in China by the end of the year — a feature the company claimed would be "free for life." The tech claims to require drivers to do little more than keeping their hands on the wheel, while the vehicle travels to a destination in the city on its own, including stopping at traffic lights. The companys latest driver-assist software — used together with cameras and other hardware — is set to reach consumers this year, through passenger cars from "an established automotive brand," the four-year-old startup announced in late March, without sharing a name. Elon Musks car company has focused on using cameras and artificial intelligence to steer the vehicle, without heavy reliance on HD maps. Xpeng, considered one of the most advanced technologically, saw deliveries plunge in the first quarter ahead of a more widespread rollout of its assisted driving tech.