One of the mic drop moments at the ongoing Guangzhou Auto Show was the reveal last Friday of the JIDU ROBO X, the world’s first intelligent AI hyper EV from JIDU Auto, the less-than-four-year-old joint venture between tech giant Baidu and auto manufacturer Geely.
And no, though it sounds and looks like a concept car, the two-seater “AI hyper car” is already accepting orders. Interested customers can already put down a deposit of RMB49,999 to reserve one, which is targeting start of production in 2027.
Not too many specs were announced at the show for the ROBO X, but here are the key ones that we do know so far:
· Drive: quad e-motors give it a 0–100 km/h acceleration time of just 1.9 seconds;
· Exterior dimensions: 4,650 mm long, 2,000 mm wide, 1,195 mm high with a wheelbase of 2,700 mm;
· Body: full carbon shell structure with 5052 aluminum alloy including 360-degree HALO driver protection sans the current F1 liveries gives the car a weight of only 1,850 kg;
· Battery: H-point pushed to the lowest position and a solid-state battery pack is placed at the center of the package to give the car a 50:50 weight distribution;
· EV Range: up to 650 km;
· Computing: Apollo SoC (high power density) with hydro liquid cooling system;
· Interior: two racing seats fully carbon hand-wrapped and stitched with Italian high-quality leather, and yoke race steering wheel with a digital speedometer that supports full track driving information.
But here’s the best part: the ROBO X can be driven manually or autonomously, racing between man and AI on the racetrack. The Simo intelligent voice interaction (providing strategic information such as motor torque, chassis dynamics and thermal management), adaptive lighting, and real-time feedback enhance that driving experience.
Imagine Simo as your personalized team of specialized experts, consisting of strategists and engineers who work on your race strategy. It is a blend of real-time data analysis and predictive simulations, crafted to optimize crucial factors and provide the kind of strategic feedback typically reserved for Formula 1 racing.
A secret team was assembled to design the ROBO X from the inside out and a groundbreaking design was created starting with the Intelligent Cockpit which integrates the most advanced Human AI driving technology with Simo.
In a nutshell, the ROBO X might resemble many of the super car beasts that have come before it, but when it comes to intelligence, AI and smart driving, it’s in a league of its own.
It’s the ultimate combination of extreme technology, performance and design, according to Frank Wu, Chief Design Officer of JIDU Auto. Following the JIDU 01 Intelligent Sports SUV and the JIDU 07 Intelligent Sports Sedan, the ROBO X is the third “baby” from Wu, an industry renowned Chinese American automotive designer.
Aside from being one of the youngest smart EV startups from China, JIDU Auto also prides itself on being the one that offers products with the most original and progressive design. In a sea of homogenous EVs that are roaming on the roads in China today, the 01 and 07 stand out for their attractive and futuristic exterior and interior styling. And one of the distinctive features of the cars is that they are the only smart EVs available on the market with intuitive voice interactive system, both inside and outside of the vehicle, and they are the only ones with intelligent automatic doors that require no physical handles.
What is the design philosophy of JIDU?
“We wanted to create this immersive, intelligent space where you no longer have to have so many traditional plastic buttons and only function as a hardware tool, where everything is powered by full AI, natural voice communication, natural learning and also the actual system itself continues to adapt and evolve,” Wu told me when I met at him at a JIDU Experience Center in Beijing last summer, before the 01 had launched. “Once you buy the car, it starts to learn about your own habits and command, what are the things you like, how do you talk, what are the movies that you like to watch, what are the music, the speed you like to drive, everything.”
When I caught up with him in Shanghai last month, he reiterated this commitment to original design and not being a follower in the industry, something that JIDU CEO Joe Xia has also repeatedly said in public as the company navigates the cutthroat smart EV competition in the Chinese market.
That commitment is paying off. The ROBO X has already won the 2024 Red Dot Design Award, the 9th Red Dot award Wu’s team has received so far, as well as two German Design Award. JIDU Design has won 21 coveted awards so far, including six IF awards and four Good Design awards covering vehicle, HMI, product and other categories of design. The company has been recognized with the most globally prestigious design awards representing China.
In fact, both the JIDU 01 and JIDU 07 have remarkably achieved three worldwide prestigious design awards: the Red Dot, iF and Good Design Awards, which made JIDU Auto the first Chinese auto brand to win the “Design Triple Crown” for mass produced vehicles.
“We weren’t satisfied with this recognition though. It just pushed us to work even harder,” said Wu. “At JIDU Auto, compelling design is a core value.”
At JIDU’s press conference at the Guangzhou Auto Show, Wu said he has always set a very high standard for design inspired by his father, who told him “to be the best you can be.” To find out more about how Wu’s artist dad influenced his decision to study transportation & industrial design which ultimately led him to attend College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit that kicked off his automotive design career in which led him from Ford, Honda, Mazda, to Cadillac, BAIC Group and finally JIDU. Listen to his conversation with me and my co-host Tu Le on the China EVs & More podcast (Part 1; Part 2).
By integrating Baidu’s advanced AI capabilities, Apollo’s Level 4 autonomous driving technologies and Geely’s SEA (Sustainable Experience Architecture) platform, JIDU Auto has pushed the boundaries of what is possible with status quo-busting design elements and tech features on its vehicles.
Now, JIDU Auto is getting ready to introduce its products beyond China as it is about to embark on its global mission shortly. It is wagering that its emphasis on original design combined with AI adaptation, leveraging the assets and resources of the well-established parent companies Baidu and Geely, will be the key to success both within China and internationally.
