Toyota Harnesses Huawei, Xiaomi Tech for New bZ7 Sedan to Remain Competitive in China

Toyota is not one of the top car manufacturers in China, but is hoping to gain an advantage with its new bZ7 flagship electric sedan by using local tech firms’ expertise and market knowledge. The iconic Japanese carmaker, which sells various models in China through  GAC Toyota, its local joint venture with Guangzhou Automobile Group Co, has just announced details of how its new strategy and new alliances with both Huawei and Xiaomi will play out. 

Interestingly, while Huawei and Xiaomi compete with each other in several markets including smartphones and increasingly the automobile market, GAC Toyota has chosen a combination of their strengths to try to woo buyers. The bZ7, part of its “beyond zero” range of emission-free electric cars, will use a motor developed by Huawei, capable of 277 bhp with a top speed of 180kmph. The bZ7 will also feature Huawei’s HarmonySpace digital cockpit and HarmonyOS infotainment architecture, powered by Huawei’s Kirin processors, delivering a much more localised and tech-forward experience for the China market. 

The car will also be designed around Xiaomi’s software and services ecosystem, called “Human X Car X Home”. This will allow for features such as smart home control and integration with various personal devices. It will feature an AI voice assistant, and vehicle settings can be automatically personalised to individual drivers.

The bZ7 is a luxury sedan measuring 5.1m long with a 3.02m wheelbase, promising class-leading rear legroom. In the recently released photos, the car can be seen to have a large, central infotainment screen, a wireless phone charger, and LED lighting accents in its otherwise minimalist cabin. Detailed specifications are expected to be released closer to the car’s official launch later this year.

Huawei is present in the automotive space through partnerships with multiple EV manufacturers including Aito, a joint venture with Seres; Luxeed, in partnership with Chery; and Maextro, with JAC Group. However, this will mark Xiaomi’s first collaboration, bringing its features to cars other than its own SU7 and YU7 models. A third Chinese firm, Momenta, will supply self-driving technology including its real-time environmental mapping models for hazard detection and touch-free gesture control. 

Toyota announced the partnerships in June this year, also at the time committing to let its Chinese joint venture make product development, engineering and production decisions independently rather than going through the Japan headquarters. The bZ7 is the first new model designed and manufactured under this new structure, which is a radical departure from Toyota’s previous strategy. GAC Toyota is targeting 80 percent of its sales coming from New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) by 2030, even as it has struggled to appeal to the newer generation of buyers.