China Auto Daily丨GAC-Huawei 'Huawang' Brand Targets RMB 300k Premium EV Segment

GAC-Huawei "Huawang" Brand Targets RMB 300k Segment, Huawei Leads Product Definition

March 29 — GAC Group Chairman Feng Xingya confirmed Huawei will spearhead product strategy for their joint Huawang brand, targeting the RMB 300,000 (USD 46,154) premium EV segment. “Huawei defines the tech stack and user experience; we handle R&D and manufacturing,” Feng stated during GAC’s investor briefing, signaling Huawei’s deepening role in intelligent vehicle development.  

Xiaomi’s Lei Jun Pledges 2025 R&D Spend Over RMB 30B  

March 29 — Xiaomi Founder Lei Jun vowed to invest RMB 30 billion (USD 4.62 billion) in R&D this year, exceeding the firm’s RMB 105 billion outlay over the past five years. “Only massive, sustained investment can crack core tech barriers,” Lei asserted at the China EV100 Forum, underscoring Xiaomi’s EV ambitions.  

Wan Gang Urges Accelerated Rollout of L3 Autonomous Vehicles  

March 29 — At the China EV100 Forum (2025), Wan Gang, Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, called for integrating smart-connected infrastructure into urban planning, including 5G networks, roadside perception systems, and high-definition maps. He stressed the need for updated safety regulations and function-specific L3 autonomous vehicle certification standards to enable mass adoption. “Scalable L3 deployment requires both cutting-edge tech and ironclad legal frameworks,” he emphasized.  

State Researcher Wang Qing Predicts 17M NEV Sales in 2025, 3-4% Market Growth

March 30 — Wang Qing, Deputy Director of the State Council’s Development Research Center, forecasted 17 million NEV sales in 2025 (58% passenger car penetration), driven by a 98% substitution effect over ICE vehicles. China’s total auto sales are projected to grow 3-4%, with scrappage/upgrade policies potentially adding 2 million units from lower-tier and central/western markets. Wang noted 50,000–100,000 units of pent-up demand remain from pandemic-era disruptions.  

*Exchange rate: RMB 6.5 = USD 1 (as of March 30, 2025).*