DongFeng Peugeot Citroën made a bold decision by turning to Chinese equipment supplier Ecarx for equipment its future next generation vehicles with smart cab technology. The decision marks a significant development in China’s automotive landscape, where technological innovation continues to permeate every aspect of the industry along with electric vehicles.

The DongFeng Peugeot Citroën Group (part of Stellantis), operating as DPCA, has chosen the Ecarx E02 intelligent module for several of its flagship models. This strategic decision has been implemented on cars already sold in China, such as the Citroën Tianyi (also known as the C5 Aircross), the Peugeot 4008 SUV and the long-wheelbase version of the Peugeot 508. These models, which entered production in August 2023, are now equipped with Ecarx technologies.

Stellantis (almost) cooperates with Geely

Founded in 2017 by Zia Chen and Li Shufu, the auto magnate behind China’s Geely Group, Ecarx has quickly made its mark in the auto parts industry. Geely, which owns several well-known car brands in China and has stakes in automakers including Volvo, Polestar, Lynk & Co, Smart and Lotus, has played essential role in the development and rise of Ecarx.

Ecarx’s expertise spans many technology areas, from 4G-related SoC (System on a Chip) to advanced electronic control. These various technological solutions include navigation, telematics, facial recognition and voice assistants. Currently, more than 5.2 million vehicles in circulation worldwide use solutions developed by Ecarx.

Are Chinese equipment manufacturers conquering Europe?

By choosing Ecarx to equip its future models, DongFeng Peugeot Citroën is positioning itself as a pioneer in the introduction of advanced automotive technology in China. The collaboration also underscores the evolution of China’s industrial landscape, where hardware manufacturers now feature prominently alongside traditional battery manufacturers and suppliers.

As China’s automotive market continues to grow rapidly, observers are turning their attention to new players such as Ecarx. Advances like these hold promise for the future of mobility both in China and around the world, and are certainly something to watch closely in the automotive industry. It remains to be seen whether these technologies will appear in European Stellantis models.

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