Chongqing - "Electric will be based on ourselves, the strong electronic platform plus intelligence," said Leon He, Executive President of Seres Auto, in an exclusive interview with Bridging News on June 18. He emphasized that Seres Auto's strategy focuses on integrating electric power with intelligence.

In an era of rapid automotive evolution, Seres Auto leads innovation with a vision that merges electric power and intelligent technology. He emphasized the crucial role of AI in this integration, calling it the definitive trend for future vehicles.

He added that Seres is leveraging its current platform to swiftly create the future, incorporating new infrastructure and continuous, customer-centric software updates.

With over 20 years of supply chain experience and 37 years in tier-one manufacturing, Seres Auto has profound industry insights. He emphasized the importance of recognizing their strengths, weaknesses, and future industry trends. Their goal is to innovate and collaborate effectively, taking lessons from industry leaders like Huawei.

"We understand they (Huawei) have a very strong platform ecosystem and capability," He said. "We have strong platforms, electronic and manufacturing process services, and logistics."

Seres began collaborating with Huawei three years ago in the field of intelligence. This partnership marked the first implementation of the Harmony OS as the cockpit system, defining autonomous driving in China and integrating all consumer electronics within the vehicles.

He highlighted the importance of a unified platform strategy that combines electronic and intelligent systems. By using a consistent quality control process, they can promptly and effectively address customer issues. "Our belief in software-defined vehicles drives us to collaborate with strong partners, especially in the realm of intelligence," he said.

Seres Auto sets sights on global expansion

He said that Seres Auto has targeted international expansion for over 21 years, initially succeeding with combustion engine commercial vehicles. In the NEV sector, they began focusing on Europe and introduced EV products three years ago.

Seres Auto also targets the Middle East, Africa, and ASEAN regions, leveraging their geographic proximity and full manufacturing capabilities in Indonesia.

Seres Auto considers the Greater Southeast Asia market, which includes 14 countries such as the 11 Southeast Asian nations, Australia, New Zealand, and India, as a crucial region. This area represents 30% of the global population. 

By 2030, market sales in Greater Southeast Asia are projected to surpass 15 million units, with an additional 6 million units of growth potential, underscoring the significant opportunities in the new energy vehicle market.

He also mentioned that their IT center is in the USA, indicating numerous untapped markets. The company's global strategy is focused on long-term success. "We will go global. But for the short-term and mid-term, we need to select markets and countries carefully and ensure our current products match local needs," said He.

In the first quarter of this year,Seres Auto's new energy vehicle sales exceeded 95,000 units, marking a 375% year-on-year increase, making it the fourth most profitable new energy vehicle company globally.

Seres Auto's presence in Chongqing highlights the city's significance as a center for innovation and manufacturing in the new energy vehicle sector. The company's collaboration with local authorities and businesses in Chongqing has been instrumental in driving its growth and success in the automotive market.

Seres Liangjiang Intelligent Factory. (Photo/Seres)