Can Smartphone Brands Compete with Tesla and Others in making Autonomous/Electric Cars?

Several smartphone brands have expressed their interest or made their entry into the automotive industry, aiming to leverage their expertise in software, hardware, and user experience. 

Big Smartphone Brands Participation

Apple 

The tech giant has been rumoured to be working on a self-driving car project, codenamed Project Titan, for several years. Although Apple has not officially confirmed its plans, it has acquired several start-ups and hired experts in the field of autonomous driving, battery technology, and vehicle design. 

Apple is also known for its CarPlay system, which integrates the iPhone and a car’s dashboard, and is supported by over 80% of new cars sold globally. Apple’s success with CarPlay shows its potential to create a seamless and intuitive interface for drivers and passengers.

Xiaomi 

The Chinese smartphone maker announced its entry into the smart electric vehicle (EV) business in March 2021, with an initial investment of $1.5 billion and a total commitment of $10 billion over the next decade. 

Xiaomi said it will establish a wholly-owned subsidiary to operate the smart EV business, and its founder and CEO Lei Jun will also serve as the CEO of the subsidiary. 

Xiaomi aims to offer “quality smart electric vehicles” to let everyone in the world enjoy smart living anytime, anywhere.

Sony 

The Japanese electronics giant surprised the world when it unveiled a prototype of its electric car, called the Vision-S, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2020. The Vision-S is a sleek sedan that features advanced sensors, cameras, and displays, as well as Sony’s entertainment and audio systems.

Sony said the Vision-S is a testbed for its mobility technologies and a platform to explore the future of transportation. In March 2021, Sony announced a strategic alliance with Honda Motors for development of high-value EVs that are likely to hit the roads by 2025.

Huawei

The Chinese telecom giant has been developing its automotive capabilities as part of its diversification strategy amid the US sanctions that have affected its core businesses. Huawei has launched its own operating system, called HarmonyOS, for connected vehicles, as well as its own chipset, called Kirin, for powering smart cars. 

Huawei has also partnered with several car makers, such as BAIC, Changan, and GAC, to provide its technology and solutions for their vehicles. Huawei focuses only on giving support to automakers. Huawei also offers partner’s cars in its flagship stores and equipping them with its Huawei Inside (HI) software, including autonomous driving components and cockpit infotainment.

Foxconn

The Taiwanese electronics contract manufacturer, known for producing Apple iPhones, has been rapidly expanding its presence in the automotive industry, with a series of significant investments and ventures. Foxconn is venturing into the development of a standardised electric vehicle platform, called Mobility in Harmony (MIH), which aims to produce small battery-operated cars. Foxconn is eyeing India, among other locations, as a potential site for producing these cars. 

Foxconn also has car projects running with the Yulon Group in Taiwan, with Fisker Inc. and Lordstown Motors in the US, and with state oil company PTT in Thailand, among others. It will also team up with the Saudi Public Investment Fund to create a new EV brand called Ceer. Foxconn’s new strategy is to build cars for EV startups and 10% market share by 2025.

Google

The tech giant has been developing its Android operating system for cars, which aims to provide a seamless and intuitive interface for drivers and passengers. Google has also partnered with several car makers, such as Ford, Nissan, and Volvo, to integrate its services and features into their vehicles. Google has also experimented with self-driving cars, but has not confirmed any plans to produce its own cars. Google’s Android for cars offers new capabilities for electric vehicles, such as sharing real-time battery information and planning road trips.

Oppo

The Chinese smartphone maker has been exploring the possibility of making its own electric cars, according to some reports. Oppo has been patenting various technologies related to autonomous driving, camera systems, and other car components. Oppo’s CEO Tony Chen has said he would like to focus on areas where the company can perform well and improve the traditional cars. Oppo may either choose to make its own car or provide software support for other car makers, similar to Huawei’s strategy.

Can Smartphone Brands Compete with Tesla in Autonomous Vehicle?

Smartphone brands have shown interest in entering the automotive industry, especially in the field of electric and smart vehicles. Some of the examples are Xiaomi, Sony, Huawei, and Oppo. However, competing with Tesla in autonomous vehicles is not an easy task, as Tesla has a strong lead in this area with its comprehensive features, groundbreaking autonomous driving, and impressive electric range.

One of Tesla’s main rivals in autonomous driving is not another smartphone brand, but Intel’s Mobileye, a company that supplies advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) to many car makers. Mobileye is developing its own self-driving technology, using lidar sensors and high-definition maps, which it claims will give it an edge over Tesla’s camera-based approach.

Another potential competitor for Tesla is Google’s Waymo, which has been testing its self-driving cars for over a decade. Waymo uses a combination of lidar, radar, and cameras to create a detailed 3D map of its surroundings, and has accumulated more than 20 million miles of real-world driving data. Waymo has also launched a commercial self-driving taxi service in Phoenix, Arizona, and plans to expand to other cities in the future.

Therefore, smartphone brands may face some challenges in competing with Tesla and other established players in autonomous vehicles. They will need to invest heavily in research and development, acquire relevant patents and licences, and form strategic partnerships with car makers and suppliers. 

They will also need to overcome regulatory and safety hurdles, as well as consumer trust and acceptance issues. However, smartphone brands may also have some advantages, such as their expertise in software, hardware, and user experience, their access to large amounts of data, and their loyal customer base. It will be interesting to see how these brands will shape the future of mobility and transform the automobile industry.

Upcoming and recently launched cars from smartphone brands include

Xiaomi SU7 

This is Xiaomi’s first electric vehicle, which was unveiled in December 2023. It is a four-door electric sedan with a range of up to 800 kilometres and a top speed of 265 kmph. It features Xiaomi’s own operating system, HyperOS, and a 16.1-inch 3K centre screen. 

Sony Vision-S 

This is Sony’s prototype electric car, which was revealed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2020. It is a sleek sedan that features advanced sensors, cameras, and displays, as well as Sony’s entertainment and audio systems. Sony said the Vision-S is a testbed for its mobility technologies and a platform to explore the future of transportation. In March 2021, Sony announced a strategic alliance with Honda Motors for development of high-value EVs.

Nio ET7 

This is Nio’s flagship electric sedan, which was launched in January 2021. It is a luxury car that boasts a range of over 1,000 kilometres and a 0-100 kmph acceleration of 3.9 seconds. It features Nio’s own operating system, Nio OS, and a 12.8-inch AMOLED centre screen. It also supports Nio’s battery swap service, which allows users to swap their depleted batteries for fully charged ones in minutes.

Conclusion

These are just some of the smartphone brands that are interested in entering into the automotive industry, and there may be more to come in the future. The convergence of smartphones and cars will create new opportunities and challenges for both industries, as well as new choices and experiences for consumers. It will be exciting to see how these brands will shape the future of mobility and transform the automobile industry.