Chinese cars, are they as bad as everyone thinks?

BYD's first smartwatch can replace your car key

BYD becomes yet another company to wade into the smartphone accessory market. While Xiaomi went into making cars, Huawei went into supplying carmakers with its technology and Nio is making its first smartphone, BYD decided that the best idea is to start small - with a smartphone accessory.

Enter the BYD smartwatch. A car key that is impossible to misplace, that is always with you and that doesn’t get in the way of everyday life. With a smartwatch replacing the car key, we end up having one less device to carry around. Sure, it’s not always an issue to have car keys in your pocket, but what about a morning run? What about going for a quick swim? What about all those situations where we wish we didn’t need to put the keys safely away?

BYD's solution comes in the shape of a traditionally circular smartwatch. It doesn’t just lock and unlock the car, though, it comes with all the traditional smartwatch bangs and whistles - activity tracking, notifications, and Bluetooth call handling.

When it comes to car control, the smartwatch offers keyless entry and smart locking, meaning the car recognizes you, and there’s no button to press - simply get close to the car and get in.

If the vehicle isn’t electric, the smartwatch offers remote start - bad for the environment but an excellent feature in cold weather. Windows can be closed and opened remotely, and the trunk can be controlled from the smartwatch as well.

BYD claims the watch is compatible with most Android smartphones, but it also supports Apple devices. The watch runs an undisclosed operating system, and its 200 mA battery it 30-day standby time or 5 to 7 days of continuous use. That clearly means it's not a proper OS it's running, but rather some custom UI.


Watch.jpeg
 
China's EV revolution shows grim future for Japan car titans

In the world of petrol-powered cars, Japan's carmakers are king. Toyota has held the title of the world's No. 1 car company for the past three years, while Honda and Nissan remain global best sellers.

But as the transition to electric vehicles accelerates, the Japanese giants are facing stiffer competition from EV upstarts like Tesla and BYD. Nowhere is the threat more apparent than in China - the world's largest automotive market and where one in four cars sold last year was electric. EV sales are forecast to climb to 9 million in 2023, reaching market penetration of 35%.

Honda and Nissan sales in China have been falling for at least two years, while Toyota's sales last year declined for the first time in a decade. Although chip shortages, Covid lockdowns and the related supply chain snarls played their part, a growing issue is the lack of attractive electric-car offerings from the trio.

China is providing a window into a future where these Japanese titans - which did more to bring cars to the masses than any other carmakers - fall from their pedestal, potentially upending the global auto-making landscape for good.

Tesla is the world's top EV maker by vehicles sold, followed by companies including China's BYD and Volkswagen, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. No Japanese carmaker makes the top 20, leaving them on the sidelines of the motor industry's fastest-growing sector.

 
Anyways, I was just wondering, if anyone has any hands-on experience with Chinese cars, just out of interests sake, are they really THAT bad?
Pretty much. Almost blinded by a brand new Haval Jolion last night - left light was pointing way up, right one was at the correct level. If they can't even get that right in the factory, what else are they skimping on?
 
Pretty much. Almost blinded by a brand new Haval Jolion last night - left light was pointing way up, right one was at the correct level. If they can't even get that right in the factory, what else are they skimping on?
Odd review and conclusion.

If it was at night and you were almost blinded how could you see the Jolion was new? Maybe an accident damaged car not yet fully sorted?
 
Pretty much. Almost blinded by a brand new Haval Jolion last night - left light was pointing way up, right one was at the correct level. If they can't even get that right in the factory, what else are they skimping on?
Chris’ comment was from April 2015 lol
 
Pretty much. Almost blinded by a brand new Haval Jolion last night - left light was pointing way up, right one was at the correct level. If they can't even get that right in the factory, what else are they skimping on?
I really see tons of new Haval's on the road though, not sure if Jolion's or non-jolions.
 
Err at this stage of the game if you live in SA & actually leave the house you will see tons & tons of 'em. Chery's as well.
I agree. I used to think it is only larneys in midrand but recently travelled to pretoria and west rand and it seems Haval's and Chery's are everywhere. Quite astonishing turnaround from Chinese manufacturers.
 
I agree. I used to think it is only larneys in midrand but recently travelled to pretoria and west rand and it seems Haval's and Chery's are everywhere. Quite astonishing turnaround from Chinese manufacturers.
100% & the legacy guys are hard hit.

Think Honda & Opel in particular. Well known & respected brands for decades with practically zero numbers on the board (sales wise).
 
It's going to be overs for legacy guys when the Chinese EV's arrive and ICE are kicked out.
The Chinese ICE engines are still pretty poor but the Chinese know electronics. They will outperform and undercut the legacy manufacturers. Bring on the Ora.
 
Went to look at a chery the other day, looks fancy inside, but the first one I sat in smelled like glue on the inside, the other did not. Strong smell, never had that in a car ever. Both brand new.

The salesmen were also very distracted, like they didn't really feel like spending time on clients, this in an empty showroom. Not very promising for a new brand.
 
I agree. I used to think it is only larneys in midrand but recently travelled to pretoria and west rand and it seems Haval's and Chery's are everywhere. Quite astonishing turnaround from Chinese manufacturers.
Some people are still very much in denial and still preaching the doomsday prophecies on Chinese cars, no idea when it will dawn on them that things have changed.

I am just not sure what is the plan from established manufacturers because by now they should realise that the Chinese are not going to disappear, our market is just not enough to accommodate everyone, as soon as the Chinese muscle in onto the lower end of hatchbacks and entry SUVs it's game over for many.
 
Went to look at a chery the other day, looks fancy inside, but the first one I sat in smelled like glue on the inside, the other did not. Strong smell, never had that in a car ever. Both brand new.

The salesmen were also very distracted, like they didn't really feel like spending time on clients, this in an empty showroom. Not very promising for a new brand.
The sales shows that the salespeople in other parts of the country are very much committed, no idea why yours could be sleeping on the job.

Hopefully they catch a wakeup soon.
 
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