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… https://console.kr-asia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GITEX-Asia-GITEX-Vietnam-Announcement-1536x1024.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-152688" class="wp-caption-text">Kaoun International CEO LohMirmand shook hands with Kim Ngoc Thanh Nga, deputy director of the Vietnam National Innovation Center, during a ceremony announcing GITEX Vietnam, scheduled for October 2026. Photo courtesy of Kaoun International and DWTC.</figcaption></figure>
With the completion of GITEX Asia, the event series will head to Berlin next for GITEX Europe, scheduled for May 21–23, with subsequent events in Nigeria and Thailand before concluding for the year with the next edition of GITEX Global back in Dubai.
KrASIA was a partner for <a href="https://gitexasia.com/">GITEX Asia 2025</a>, held in Singapore from April 23–25.

From Dubai to Singapore, GITEX Asia caps a strong start to its regional expansion

Singapore

Southeast Asia

Middle East

At this year’s Auto Shanghai event, Unity China introduced three key innovations designed to strengthen its position in the automotive sector: a digital twin factory platform, an "emotional" cockpit system, and an in-vehicle gaming ecosystem anchored around the emerging "fourth screen."
Three years into its automotive industry strategy, Unity China has formed partnerships with 35 global automakers, reportedly supporting 77 mass produced vehicle models and claiming approximately 85% of the domestic cockpit solution market.
As a subsidiary of Unity Technologies, Unity China has focused on localized R&amp;D to address the specific needs of the Chinese market. Its localized Unity Engine, an evolution of Unity 6, now serves as a core real-time 3D technology platform underpinning advances in China's smart automotive landscape.
The company’s first major announcement at Auto Shanghai was the launch of its digital twin factory project in collaboration with Nio. Utilizing the Unity Engine, the project enables comprehensive data collection and synchronization, real-time monitoring of automated guided vehicles (AGVs), robotic operation oversight, and virtual factory navigation. The digital twin framework mirrors and controls manufacturing processes in real-time, signaling Unity’s expansion beyond visualization to become a computation and data platform for the automotive value chain.
The second highlight was Unity HMI, an "emotional" cockpit solution that combines multimodal interaction, artificial intelligence, panoramic 3D visualization, and real-time physical rendering. Designed for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Unity HMI offers 12 features, including 3D map visualization, driver assistance displays, dynamic ambient environments, interactive 3D vehicle control, real-time weather monitoring, immersive lighting effects, AI-based meditation functions, and augmented reality-enhanced heads-up displays.
Unity China also outlined its ambitions for the "fourth screen," viewing vehicle interiors as the next frontier for user engagement alongside televisions, computers, and smartphones. The rise of smart cockpit technologies and advanced displays has created new opportunities for immersive entertainment within vehicles.
To capitalize on this trend, Unity China established an in-vehicle gaming center. The center showcases emerging gaming experiences, including multi-screen interactive formats, panoramic audio, in-cabin extended reality, and gesture-based control. The company plans to launch a dedicated in-vehicle gaming platform and a hardware software development kit (SDK) to cultivate an ecosystem of original, automotive-specific games.
Localization remains central to Unity China’s growth strategy. The company has partnered with domestic system-on-chip (SoC) manufacturers such as MediaTek, Rockchip, Unisoc, and SemiDrive to optimize performance for local hardware environments. In the mapping sector, it collaborates with Amap, Tencent, Baidu, and NavInfo to advance real-time 3D map capabilities. Additionally, Unity China provides efficient front-end 3D human-machine interface solutions for leading companies developing autonomous driving technologies.
Looking ahead, Unity China intends to deepen collaborations with local technology suppliers to further enhance the localization and efficiency of its products, supporting the ongoing evolution of China's smart automotive ecosystem.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3266640500609668">article</a> was written by Han Yongchang for 36Kr.

Unity China steps up automotive push with digital twins, smart cockpits, and in-car gaming

Transportation

Entertainment

Mobility

China

At the latest Auto Shanghai show, Sunwoda EVB showcased a series of innovations across multiple application areas, with a particular focus on advancements in vehicle electrification and low-altitude aviation.
In the hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) market, Sunwoda has surpassed 1.5 million battery installations. These batteries reportedly feature 60C fast-charging and 70C high-rate discharging capabilities, maintaining performance at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius.
For range-extended and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the company introduced the Xinyingyao and Xinyingchi series, which support charging rates between 2C and 6C and deliver more than 500 kilometers of pure electric range. Designed for cold climates, these batteries can start at minus 35 degrees Celsius and retain over 90% of their range at minus 20 degrees Celsius. Both series have passed six rigorous safety evaluations, including cell-level high-temperature nail penetration and 12-meter drop tests, and come with a warranty covering ten years or 300,000 km.
In the pure electric vehicle category, Sunwoda presented the third-generation "flash charging battery," capable of achieving a peak 6C charging rate, which is roughly equivalent to gaining approximately one kilometer of range per second. Featuring a low-temperature superconducting electrolyte and a 3D liquid cooling thermal management system, the battery maintains 90% charging efficiency even in environments as cold as minus 20 degrees Celsius.
Looking ahead, Sunwoda is preparing to launch next-generation ultrafast-charging batteries rated between 8C and 10C. These batteries are designed to reduce charging time from 10% to 80% state of charge (SOC) to just seven minutes, potentially making electric vehicle charging faster than conventional gasoline refueling.
To protect batteries during ultrafast charging, Sunwoda developed a lithium deposition boundary monitoring system. This system has been integrated into its high-energy-density lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries—which achieve 450 watt-hours per liter—as well as its ternary lithium variants that can support driving ranges up to 1,000 km.
The company’s two-pronged development strategy—pursuing advancements in both pure electric and hybrid technologies—has allowed it to accelerate R&amp;D cycles while advancing range-extended EV infrastructure toward ultrafast charging capabilities.
In the commercial vehicle segment, Sunwoda revealed a battery system capable of 1.4 megawatts of charging power. This system enables recharging within 15 minutes and is projected to improve transportation efficiency by up to 400%. Designed for endurance, the battery supports more than 5,000 charge cycles and operational lifespans of up to eight years or two million km.
Sunwoda’s modular cell-to-pack (CTP) platform is compatible with approximately 85% of commercial vehicle models. Safety enhancements include a three-dimensional directional pressure relief system to prevent thermal runaway at the cell level. Alongside a smart operational network in 32 cities and a carbon footprint tracking system using battery passports, Sunwoda is constructing a comprehensive lifecycle management ecosystem encompassing ultrafast charging, battery swapping, and second-life applications.
Expanding into aerospace, Sunwoda introduced semi-solid-state batteries that achieve over 400 Wh per kilogram in energy density. According to the company, these batteries have passed extreme heat chamber and puncture resistance tests. The company also presented large-format cylindrical cells capable of 4C fast-charging while maintaining structural integrity under high-altitude conditions, supported by a three-dimensional thermal runaway prevention design.
Sunwoda also exhibited a compound-wing drone system powered by its aviation battery technologies. Looking ahead, the company plans to collaborate with partners to develop an integrated network combining ultrafast-charging stations, energy storage, and smart airspace management, aiming to move electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and logistics drones toward commercial deployment.
Additionally, Sunwoda unveiled its second-generation intelligent cell technology, termed the 2.0 cell. Building on the Dianjing first-generation sensor, which introduced independent cell management and multidimensional data acquisition, the new 2.0 model incorporates advanced sensors that measure internal pressure, shell deformation, and electrochemical impedance alongside traditional battery management system (BMS) parameters such as current, voltage, and temperature.
In application, the 2.0 intelligent cell is expected to deliver four key benefits: enhanced predictive safety warnings, extended operational lifespan, improved health monitoring, and the introduction of a cell-level battery passport system. This "white-box" architecture enables real-time analysis of multidimensional safety parameters and ties them to Sunwoda’s proprietary BMS algorithms, enhancing transparency, control, and operational reliability across the entire battery lifecycle.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3266621580398976">article</a> was written by Han Yongchang for 36Kr.

Sunwoda’s latest batteries could drive new gains in EVs and urban air mobility

Electric Vehicles

eVTOLs

At this year's Auto Shanghai event, automotive technology firm Aptiv unveiled a range of new solutions designed specifically for the Chinese market. The company's latest portfolio includes the Wind River real-time operating system (RTOS), a driver assistance system, a cross-domain digital platform, an artificial intelligence-driven cockpit solution, and a 48-volt electrical architecture.
Yang Xiaoming, president of Aptiv for China and the Asia Pacific, said that the company has achieved full domestic sourcing of its core materials in China. This move helps shield Aptiv's operations from US tariff impacts and positions its China division to achieve global supply chain coverage by 2027. The goal is to help local clients expand internationally while supplying global markets from China.
Aptiv’s new technology offerings focus on two key areas: vehicle intelligence and electrification.
In the domain of intelligence, Aptiv introduced the domestically developed Wind River RTOS and Hypervisor platform. According to Tang Haiyi, general manager of Aptiv’s active safety and user experience division, the Wind River RTOS differs from operating systems launched by automakers such as Nio and Li Auto because it is a low-level OS closely integrated with vehicle hardware. Designed for real-time applications, it delivers microsecond-level latency—a performance standard proven in aerospace systems.
In practical terms, a domain controller running a single system-on-chip (SoC) can allocate critical functions such as driver assistance perception and control algorithms to the Wind River RTOS, while infotainment functions operate on Android and vehicle control modules run on a commercial Linux system.
Tang further noted that Aptiv offers comprehensive, full-stack solutions for software-defined vehicles (SDVs), covering everything from the core operating system to middleware, cloud deployment, and toolchain platforms. "Our partnership with automakers is more about empowerment," Tang said. “Aptiv’s system can be incorporated as a part of the automaker’s broader platform, enabling them to focus more on user experience software, algorithms, and operations, while we specialize in the foundational layers.”
Aptiv highlighted that its Wind River RTOS and Hypervisor products are fully localized—free from foreign ownership and export restrictions—with all engineering support based in China. Beyond automotive applications, the RTOS can also be adapted for low-altitude aviation and embodied robotics.
Aptiv revealed that its driver assistance platform—built with domestic SoCs and the Wind River RTOS—has secured contracts with major Chinese electric vehicle startups, although specific clients were not named.
The company also spotlighted its investment in Maxieye, a domestic smart driving enterprise. At Auto Shanghai, Aptiv displayed its latest radar-vision fusion system, capable of detecting multiple short-range targets and defining drivable areas with greater precision than traditional ultrasonic sensors. This advancement could enhance parking assist functions and low-speed surround-view capabilities.
Additionally, Aptiv is developing a full-stack smart driving solution that integrates radar and camera data to generate a bird’s eye view (BEV) perception system powered by deep learning models.
On the cockpit technology side, Aptiv introduced a next-generation AI-driven cockpit platform and a cross-domain integration solution based on domestically manufactured chips. This system unifies smart features, Level 2 (and above) autonomous driving assistance, automated parking, and vehicle body controls.
Turning to electrification, Aptiv launched its system-level 48V electrical platform. While most traditional vehicles rely on 12V systems, the increasing number of onboard electronic features demands higher power capacity. “A shift to higher voltage solutions has become necessary,” said Shen Guoliang, vice president of Aptiv’s connection systems division and general manager for the Asia Pacific region.
Aptiv’s 48V solution integrates wiring harnesses, connectors, and controllers to improve energy efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs for automakers.
Strengthening its manufacturing base, Aptiv announced that its new Wuhan connector plant will serve as its largest production facility for high-voltage connectors. Meanwhile, its Shanghai automation plant specializes in copper and aluminum busbar production for high-voltage distribution systems, reinforcing Aptiv's capabilities in vehicle electrification design and supply.
“Very little of our production in China is directly exported to the US, nor do we import much from the US,” Yang said. “If US tariffs have a large impact on a Chinese company’s business, it’s likely not just about tariffs, but about whether their domestic sourcing is robust enough.”
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3265445244686472">article</a> was written by Li Anqi for 36Kr.

Aptiv leans into China’s EV boom with localized smart driving tech

Autonomous Vehicles

On April 25, Yonghui Superstores released its financial report for fiscal year 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. The company reported revenue of RMB 67.6 billion (USD 9.5 billion) for 2024, alongside a net loss of RMB 1.465 billion (USD 205.1 million). For the first quarter of 2025, Yonghui posted revenue of RMB 17.48 billion (USD 2.4 billion) and a net profit of RMB 148 million (USD 20.7 million).
Yonghui attributed its full-year revenue decline to ongoing strategic and operational transformation initiatives. By the end of March, the company had completed upgrades at 47 stores. These remodeled locations experienced noticeable increases in customer traffic and sales. However, since the upgraded stores represented a small fraction of the overall network—and because 273 underperforming stores were closed compared to the previous year—total revenue for the first quarter showed a year-on-year decline.
The decrease in profitability was primarily due to a 1.35-percentage-point reduction in the gross profit margin compared to the same period last year. Yonghui noted that during the remodeling process, adjustments to its product mix and procurement practices temporarily compressed margins. Following the company's supplier conference at the end of March, Yonghui expects that changes in product selection and pricing strategies will support gross margin recovery and future growth.
In May 2024, under the leadership of Yu Donglai and his team, Yonghui initiated a nationwide store upgrade campaign based on two approaches: direct support from Pangdonglai and independent remodeling modeled after Pangdonglai’s format. Remodeled stores have reportedly seen improvements in brand reputation, product quality, customer traffic, and sales performance, reinforcing Yonghui’s commitment to a quality-driven retail model.
According to Yonghui, remodeled stores that reopened more than three months ago remained profitable in the first quarter of 2025. As of the end of March, 41 of these stores collectively achieved a single-month profit of RMB 14.7 million (USD 2.1 million) in March and a cumulative first-quarter profit of RMB 74.72 million (USD 10.5 million).
By the report’s release date, Yonghui had completed remodeling 61 stores based on the Pangdonglai model and aims to surpass 124 remodeled stores by the end of June. The company has set a target of completing 300 remodeled stores nationwide by the Lunar New Year in 2026. With a larger share of upgraded stores, the closure of underperforming locations, and continued supply chain reforms, Yonghui expects the next 12–18 months to be critical for realizing the benefits of these initiatives.
At the company's 2025 supplier conference on March 29, Ye Guofu—founder, chairman, and CEO of Miniso Group, as well as head of Yonghui’s reform leadership team—outlined the company’s updated supply chain strategy. This approach prioritizes partnerships with core suppliers and core products, emphasizing long-term relationships while discouraging supplier changes tied to staff turnover.
As of April 22, Yonghui had entered procurement negotiations with more than 300 leading supply chain companies, including Chinese manufacturers that also supply international retailers such as Sam’s Club and Costco.
The financial report also detailed the performance of Yonghui’s online business, which generated RMB 3.15 billion (USD 441 million) in revenue during the first quarter—representing 18.02% of total revenue. The Yonghui Life app supported 670 stores, achieving RMB 1.75 billion (USD 245 million) in sales, averaging 231,000 orders per day, and maintaining a monthly repurchase rate of 47.6%. Third-party delivery platforms also served 670 stores, delivering RMB 1.4 billion (USD 196 million) in sales with an average of 153,000 orders per day.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3265539172979072">article</a> was written by Li Xiaoxia for 36Kr.

Yonghui’s store revamp shows early gains, but a full recovery will take time

Retail

Consumer Economy

At the Qiankun Intelligent Technology Conference on April 22, <a href="/company/huawei">Huawei</a> unveiled a series of smart automotive solutions, with the centerpiece being the latest edition of the Qiankun autonomous driving system (ADS), version 4.0. This modular platform comes in four versions, with the "Ultra" model reportedly reaching Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities on highways.
Transitioning from Level 2 to Level 3 autonomy required Huawei to significantly upgrade its hardware, system architecture, and chassis integration. As part of the launch, the company introduced three new types of radar:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">A compact, high-precision solid-state LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensor, offering three-centimeter accuracy to enhance detection of objects behind the vehicle.</li>
<li aria-level="1">An in-cabin laser vision sensor that improves the system's ability to spot small and distant objects, enabling emergency braking at speeds up to 100 kilometers per hour even in low-light conditions.</li>
<li aria-level="1">A distributed millimeter-wave radar that strengthens detection reliability in adverse weather such as rain, fog, and dust.</li>
</ul>
Data collected by these sensors are processed by Huawei's WEWA architecture, running on the MDC 1000 platform powered by the Ascend 910B chip. With computational performance reaching 1,000 TOPS (tera operations per second), the system handles vast streams of sensor data in real time. Integrated with Huawei’s XMC digital chassis engine, the platform reportedly reduces end-to-end latency by 50%, improves traffic efficiency by 20%, and cuts emergency braking incidents by 30%.
WEWA is built around two key components: a cloud-based "world engine" that generates complex virtual driving scenarios, and an in-vehicle "world behavior" model trained to navigate these scenarios. This structure addresses the challenge of edge cases—rare or unpredictable events that traditional autonomous systems often struggle with.
Events such as a pedestrian suddenly crossing the road or malfunctioning traffic lights are hard to capture in real-world datasets. While Huawei's earlier ADS 3.0 platform used an end-to-end learning model, it was limited by a shortage of edge case data. The updated WEWA framework overcomes this by generating synthetic edge cases in virtual simulations, allowing the system to pre-train for unusual real-world conditions.
Supporting these perception improvements, Huawei’s XMC digital chassis engine integrates driving intelligence and vehicle control into a unified system. By centralizing control processes, XMC is said to improve system responsiveness by a factor of ten and increase the number of coordinated components fivefold compared to traditional designs.
Together, these advancements strengthen the case for deploying Qiankun ADS 4.0 Ultra in real-world Level 3 autonomous driving scenarios. However, industry experts note that no simulation can account for every possible real-world anomaly, and caution remains around the limits of virtual training.
Huawei also revealed HarmonySpace 5, its next-generation smart cockpit platform. The system improves voice interaction success rates to 85% and uses the Yunque artificial intelligence model to diagnose vehicle issues with professional-level precision. For audio, Huawei Sound supports up to 43 speakers, creating a 7.5.10 surround sound experience. A new 16.1-inch display, combined with an image enhancement engine, boosts video resolution from 720p to 1440p.
Additionally, HarmonySpace 5 synchronizes ambient lighting, wallpapers, and screen savers to create an immersive in-cabin atmosphere.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3263908157784196">article</a> was written by Fan Shuqi for 36Kr.

Huawei’s Qiankun 4.0 targets Level 3 driving autonomy with radar and AI upgrades

East Asia

… Asia</a>. It has been republished here as part of 36Kr’s ongoing partnership with <a href="https://www.kr-asia.com/nikkei-teams-up-with-36kr-in-asia-tech-news-coverage/">Nikkei</a>.

US delisting risk for Chinese shares resurfaces: 5 things to know

Venture Capital

… institutions?</h3>
VL: There are far more opportunities than challenges when working with financial institutions. Banks are embracing digitalization and welcome innovation, and we have seen a lot of fintech innovation in Hong Kong over the years.
For AlipayHK, we have partnered with many banks in the city. Take Standard Chartered, for example—we collaborated to offer the “A. Point Card,” which is a credit card that gives users rewards points for both local and cross-border spending, as well as no handling fees on transfers done via AlipayHK.
Additionally, we have teamed up with various insurance companies such as Prudential and YAS to offer health protection and other insurance products to AlipayHK's millions of users.
For wealth management, through collaborating with Ant Bank (Hong Kong), we have created a marketplace within the Ant Bank mini app on AlipayHK where users can access low-threshold fund investments starting from as little as HKD 1 (USD 0.13).
Ultimately, we strive to provide a platform that can help financial institutions digitalize, while providing users access to wealth management services from our various banking and insurance partners via AlipayHK.
<h3>KrASIA: AlipayHK covers nearly the full range of transport modes in Hong Kong. What were the critical unlocks to achieving this coverage?</h3>
VL: To date, AlipayHK can be used to pay for over 90% of public transport services in Hong Kong. A key factor in achieving this level of coverage and cooperation with transportation providers is EasyGo, our QR code transportation solution that enables fare payments to be processed in less than a second.
What’s great about EasyGo is that even if the user’s phone or the terminal—say, on a bus—are offline or have a weak network connection, the transaction will still be recorded and processed when the system is back online. This ensures that transportation providers do not have to worry about missed payments, positioning AlipayHK as a reliable platform that providers are happy to integrate into their systems.
Due to the stability of our EasyGo technology and our extensive transport coverage, AlipayHK has become the first e-wallet in Hong Kong to be incorporated into the government’s Public Transport Fare Subsidy Scheme (PTFSS) since the beginning of this year.
We are also the first and only e-wallet to partner with Uber in Hong Kong, allowing rides to be paid via AlipayHK.
Beyond local transport, users can also easily access cross-border travel options, such as high-speed train tickets and ride-hailing services on the Chinese mainland via AlipayHK.
<h3>KrASIA: AlipayHK launched an AI smart assistant this year. What prompted its introduction and how will it change the user experience?</h3>
VL: As a platform that aims to connect technology with daily life, we want to enhance users’ experience by integrating AI into AlipayHK. With the AI assistant, users can ask for advice on how to use Alipay services or receive dining and travel recommendations, then book those services within AlipayHK’s ecosystem.
AI also drives improvements in efficiency, safety, and user experience. Since last year, we have incorporated AI for account security measures like automated fraud detection and for handling customer enquiries.
In a way, we aspire to become Hong Kong’s superapp, where users can access a wide variety of services they need daily via AlipayHK. Eventually, we hope to become an AI-driven superapp that’s tailored for Hong Kong users and the wider Greater Bay Area, delivering more AI-powered fintech solutions along the way.
Within this year, we will further integrate AI into various fields such as financial planning and travel services, allowing people in Hong Kong to personally experience the advent of the “'AI-as-a-service” era.
<h3>KrASIA: Hong Kong consumers are known to be both tech-savvy and privacy-conscious. How do you design for that balance?</h3>
VL: AlipayHK was among the first batch of e-wallets to receive a stored value facilities (SVF) license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA). Like banks and other e-wallets, we are regulated by the HKMA and subject to Hong Kong’s data privacy laws. Trust and safety are paramount to us.
We have implemented multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect accounts. Our proprietary risk management system, powered by big data and AI, runs round-the-clock to assess the risk of every transaction. Suspicious transactions are automatically blocked and require user authentication before proceeding.
Additionally, we empower customers with the ability to customize security parameters like maximum transaction limits and time-based restrictions to enhance account protection.
<h3>KrASIA: Hong Kong is often known as a society where “cash is king.” How does AlipayHK encourage adoption in small businesses and merchants?</h3>
VL: Many Hong Kong merchants traditionally preferred dealing in cash, but much of this changed during the Covid-19 pandemic, when both consumers and businesses shifted toward contactless payment methods. That was a major push factor encouraging both users and merchants to adopt digital payments.
We provide various solutions for merchants that are easy to integrate into their current payment systems, reducing friction. Some options, such as offering merchants a QR code that customers can scan to make payments, come with no handling fees while enabling acceptance of digital payments.
Merchants hoping to attract tourists are also motivated to adopt digital payments, potentially increasing their customer base. Chinese mainland tourists, as well as travelers from nine other countries and regions including the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, can pay with their local wallets partnered with the Alipay+ payments ecosystem. So far, we have partnered with 14 e-wallet providers for cross-border payments.
In a sense, AlipayHK is not just a payment solution for merchants but also a tool to grow their customer base and market their businesses through our platform.
<h3>KrASIA: What’s the vision for AlipayHK?</h3>
VL: AlipayHK is on its way to becoming a superapp for Hong Kongers. We want users to be able to access services for nearly every aspect of their lives—whether it’s food, entertainment, travel, payments, or wealth management—via AlipayHK, while ensuring that mobile payments remain seamless and borderless when users travel abroad.
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“We aspire to become Hong Kong’s superapp,” says AlipayHK CEO Venetia Lee

Ant Group

Alipay

Travel

Payments

Insurance

Hong Kong

Q&amp;A

The chemistry of a lithium battery leaves little room for error. In a crash, an electric vehicle becomes more than just twisted metal and broken glass. Power can vanish in a heartbeat. Fires can ignite. Sometimes, things blow up.
China’s national EV safety standards try to build in a buffer: battery packs must hold off on bursting into flames or blowing up for at least five minutes after a single cell overheats—a phenomenon known as thermal runaway. But those rules are calibrated to specific crash tests: frontal collisions at 50 kilometers per hour and side impacts at just 32 km/h. Real accidents, of course, often happen faster and hit harder. That five-minute window? It might shrink to seconds. And in that tight span, whether a door unlocks could spell the line between escape and catastrophe.
Which is why, deep inside the electronics of every EV, the door-locking system quietly plays the role of unsung hero.
<h3>First line of defense</h3>
Most cars on the market today use electronic locking. The setup makes remote unlocking and smartphone control easy. Once the car hits around 20–30 km/h, wheel speed sensors kick in and lock the doors by default.
Behind the scenes, it’s all run by the in-vehicle controller area network—a nervous system of sorts, where the battery acts as the heart. Thick, high-voltage wires (called hardwiring) carry power to the main controller. Secondary components, including door locks, communicate through finer CAN (controller area network) wires.
Some systems add redundancies—extra wiring, backup power sources—to make sure critical parts don’t fail if something goes wrong. But most of it still hinges on one thing: an intact battery.
In EVs, batteries are usually tucked behind the rear seats, away from typical crash zones. That placement, sandwiched between the B- and C-pillars, helps. But damage doesn’t always come through the front.
If the battery stays intact yet power still cuts off, odds are the wiring took the hit.
“Wiring practices are fairly mature in the industry,” one automotive R&amp;D staffer told 36Kr. “We design them away from sharp metal, use rubber sleeves, that sort of thing. But materials make all the difference.”
There’s an entire ecosystem around wire protection: tape, heat-shrink tubing, corrugated tubes, spiral wraps. Prices run from tens to thousands of RMB, depending on durability and resistance to corrosion or vibration.
“Everyone uses protective layers. The question is what kind,” another engineer said. “Some companies are scaling back—cheaper materials, thinner wraps—just to save a few RMB.”
High-end international brands tend to err on the side of caution. Some local automakers? Not always.
And when the wires fail, so do the locks. They’re powered devices. No electricity means no function—unless they’ve been designed to unlock right before the power vanishes.
<h3>Second line of defense</h3>
This is a race against time—something the industry is familiar with. Look at airbags: crash sensors react in minute fractions of a second, triggering deployment just 20–30 milliseconds after impact.
But that kind of speed? It’s not standard for door locks.
Airbag systems often cost RMB 3,000–10,000 (USD 420–1,400), with premium sensors and fast processors baked in. Door-lock systems, by comparison, usually rely on slower, cheaper hardware.
“Even expensive cars might not have high-end safety features,” a supplier said. “Between different models—even within the same brand—there’s huge variation. Some look great, but cut corners where it really matters.”
Same wiring layout, but cheaper insulation. Emergency door systems that react slower. In today’s fierce price wars, saving pennies on components can cost lives when things go south.
Still, there’s movement. Some global brands are considering faster, premium sensors for door-unlock systems too, according to supply chain insiders.
And what about those polarizing hidden door handles? They have taken flak, but they are mostly cosmetic. Handles are just the interface. The real work happens at the latch, which is a time-tested mechanical mechanism.
As long as the lock disengages, the latch opens. The door swings out. Done.
<h3>Final line of defense</h3>
But what if power dies, locks stay shut, and doors jam?
“Mechanical systems are the last resort,” one functional safety engineer said. “Every car has to have a purely mechanical way out.”
US regulations spell this out: mechanical door-release systems are mandatory. China doesn’t explicitly require mechanical handles, but it does say doors must work in case of power failure.
“Automakers may vary in how they treat the other doors, but the driver’s side always has a mechanical handle,” the engineer added.
The problem is, those handles aren’t always where you’d expect. On some EVs, they are nestled next to the window buttons or hidden near the door pocket. “Why hide something that could save your life?” a veteran safety manager asked.
And this all assumes the door hasn’t warped from the crash. If it has, only cutting tools or rescue crews will get people out.
China is racing ahead on smart driving and active safety systems for EVs—measures meant to prevent crashes altogether. But when collisions do happen, battery fires can ignite and spread with alarming speed.
That’s where passive safety—like mechanical escapes and power-failure failsafes—becomes vital. Global joint-venture brands usually lead the charge here.
“At Mercedes-Benz, most passive safety testing is done through simulation,” one engineer said. “You can’t crash thousands of cars. But with years of data, we know exactly where to focus.”
Others in the supply chain echoed that view. “You can’t have it all. If you want top-tier safety and performance, the cost goes up,” one expert said. “Top brands build for safety first, then aesthetics or price. Some local makers don’t even know how to evaluate products holistically. They are too focused on flashy specs,” another added.
At the end of the day, there’s a brutal clarity to EV safety: when things go wrong, every millisecond counts. And sometimes, all it takes is a working door handle to tip the scales.
KrASIA Connection features translated and adapted content that was originally published by 36Kr. This <a href="https://36kr.com/p/3233218483486337">article</a> was written by Xu Caiyu for 36Kr.

What happens when an EV crashes? Door locks might decide your fate