Chinese technology companies have made a prominent comeback at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s premier tech show in Las Vegas. They are showcasing their latest achievements in cutting-edge technologies, ranging from artificial intelligence (AI), next-generation semiconductor displays, autonomous driving, robots and augmented reality. Highlighting that China is playing an increasingly vital role in bolstering technological innovation, experts said intelligent devices powered by generative AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) are expected to become a key growth driver for the global consumer electronics industry. According to the U.S. Consumer Technology Association, which organizes the event, more than 4,000 enterprises from across the globe are participating in the CES, which ran from January 9 till 12. Of these, 1,114 are from China and 1,201 are based in the U.S. There were more than double the number of Chinese companies compared to last year.
AI-powered terminal devices are attracting attention this year amid a worldwide frenzy over the ChatGPT chatbot. Chinese consumer electronics maker TCL demonstrated over 120 pieces of intelligent hardware covering quantum dot mini-LED TVs, AI processing chips, smartphones, intelligent AR goggles and vehicle-mounted display products. The company expanded its presence in North America by boosting production capacity at its Mexican factory, given that building global competitiveness has always been important for TCL. Hisense Group unveiled its latest ultra light-emitting diode (ULED) TV and laser display technology at the CES. David Gold, Vice President of Hisense International, said at a product launch event that display technology is widely applied in sports, education and medical fields, continuously pushing technological boundaries. Lenovo Group, the world’s largest personal computer maker, unveiled a full lineup of more than 40 new devices and solutions powered by AI. It said it believes this year will mark the advent of AI-based PCs. Xpeng AeroHT, an affiliate of China’s Xpeng Motors, showcased its pilotless flying car, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The latest technological breakthroughs made by Chinese companies in the fields of virtual reality and autonomous driving also reflect their strengths and innovative capabilities in crucial technologies, which will be conducive to industrial upgrades and boosting their own competitiveness on the global stage, Hong Yong, Researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation said. Chinese augmented reality company Xreal showcased its latest AR-enabled innovative products by partnering with companies such as Qualcomm and BMW. Chinese tech companies have shown the potential to lead the industry not only in mature categories such as smartphones, but also in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence of things, AR and VR, said Pan Helin, Co-director of the Digital Economy and Financial Innovation Research Center at Zhejiang University’s International Business School.
Chinese technology companies seeking to advance intelligent driving systems are showcasing their latest technologies at the CES. Hesai Technology unveiled its latest automotive lidar products that allow a smart car to better sense its surroundings, so as to better support advanced driver assistance systems, commonly known as ADAS. Hesai is the world’s top supplier of automotive lidar with a 47% share of the total global market revenue in 2022. The Nasdaq-listed company unveiled its new flagship AT512 ultra long-range lidar, which offers a maximum range of over 400 meters.
David Li, Co-founder and CEO of Hesai, said the new product represents a breakthrough in lidar technology and provides big performance improvements in all of the key areas, such as range, resolution, thermal, power consumption and form factor. Hesai also announced it has completed construction of a new 740,000 square foot state-of-the-art research and development center in Shanghai, which is expected to strengthen its manufacturing. The new facility includes the world’s most advanced lidar testing lab and will utilize many smart industrial robots, helping automate over 100 production processes, with the automation rate reaching 90%, Hesai said. Yole Intelligence, a market research provider, had forecast that Hesai would maintain its No 1 position in the automotive lidar market for 2023. Hesai recently surpassed the milestone of delivering 300,000 accumulative units of lidar, including a new high of 50,000 units in December alone.
To better support the development of smart cars, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a new guideline to draft a national automotive chip standard system. By 2025, more than 30 key standards for automotive chips will be established to outline foundational requirements such as environmental and reliability considerations, electromagnetic compatibility, functional safety and information security, the guideline said, as reported by the China Daily.
