Mr. Shangkong | Chinese carmakers get smart about the future
CES Asia highlights the stakes for Chinese manufacturers in the race to develop smart cars
When Google began research on smart cars a few years ago many people felt it was more like a hobby for Google engineers who had time to spare But now everybody takes the idea of future cars seriously.
One of the two main CES exhibition halls was dominated by big-name global carmakers, including Audi, Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, as well as homegrown internet firms such as LeTV. They were all showcasing their latest technology and related services for smart cars.
Carmakers must compete to master the technology for the next generation of cars, in particular in a fast-growing market like China where wealthy car buyers are less sensitive about price but more concerned about cutting-edge technology.
Some analysts believe China will soon see a wave of second or third cars for family use after many middle-class families in the world's No2 economy have already bought their first car. When consumers go for their second or third car, it means it is no longer just a basic means of transport, but will become something that could have a significant impact on their way of life.
For carmakers, the concept of the smart car - no matter how differently each manufacturer sees it - has already been proven as a key part of the Internet of Things, which was another buzzword widely talked about during CES Asia last week.
