Is a Hongqi Phone Coming? FAW Partners with Meizu to Build its First Smartphone

Is a Hongqi Phone Coming? FAW Partners with Meizu to Build its First SmartphoneRecently, an image of a phone with the Hongqi logo has been circulating online, sparking discussion among netizens: "Does Hongqi also make phones?" Meanwhile, according to the official FAW bidding and procurement platform, on August 27th, a new listing was added for "Hongqi phone development technology direct procurement candidate announcement." The supplier was identified as Hubei Xingji Meizu Group Co

Is a Hongqi Phone Coming? FAW Partners with Meizu to Build its First Smartphone

Recently, an image of a phone with the Hongqi logo has been circulating online, sparking discussion among netizens: "Does Hongqi also make phones?" Meanwhile, according to the official FAW bidding and procurement platform, on August 27th, a new listing was added for "Hongqi phone development technology direct procurement candidate announcement." The supplier was identified as Hubei Xingji Meizu Group Co., Ltd. The announcement stated that this procurement tender included a package named "Hongqi phone development technology procurement," with the ID PA-20240826-0017-1. Combining this information with the circulating image, it is speculated that the design of Hongqi's first smartphone will closely resemble the Meizu 21 Pro, with only the Meizu logo replaced by the Hongqi one. Related speculations suggest that the configuration and specifications of this Hongqi phone will likely mirror the Meizu 21 Pro.

Earlier this year, in April, at the FAW's 5th Science and Technology Conference, FAW and EcarX Technology signed a strategic cooperation agreement for smart cockpits. Notably, the chairman and CEO of EcarX Technology, Shen Ziyu, is also currently the chairman and CEO of Xingji Meizu. This suggests that Xingji Meizu's selection could potentially lead the design and production of Hongqi's first phone. As of now, FAW has not released any details regarding this tender or the related phone.

As a reference point, the Meizu 21 Pro was officially launched in late February this year, touted as "Meizu's first open AI terminal," with a starting price of 4999 yuan. The Meizu 21 Pro comes in four color options: Starry Black, Glacier Blue, Laurel Green, and a "Meizu Fan Commemorative Appearance Edition" with a white front panel. It features a 6.79-inch 2K+ straight screen by BOE, supporting a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate, 2160Hz PWM high-frequency dimming, and wide-area ultrasonic fingerprint recognition. It is equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen3 processor, supporting up to 16GB+1TB storage, a 5050mAh battery, 80W wired charging, and 50W wireless charging.

The highlight of the Meizu 21 Pro phone is its FlymeLink integration, which promises seamless interconnectivity between the phone, car, and VR smart glasses. It supports features like boundless desktop, application relay, three-finger task switching, and address transfer to the car.

Beyond Hongqi, at the Lynk & Co communication meeting in August, Chen Xiaofei, deputy general manager of Lynk & Co Automotive Sales Company, revealed plans to collaborate with Meizu to customize a Lynk & Co phone, slated to be unveiled at a September launch event. While the specific positioning of this phone remains unclear, the recently launched Lynk & Co 03 announced support for FlymeLink phone interconnection. This suggests that the first Lynk & Co phone will likely be customized based on Meizu's existing flagship models, integrating certain interconnectivity features with Lynk & Co vehicles.

In essence, FAW's motivation behind creating a Hongqi brand phone likely mirrors that of other automotive manufacturers like Geely: not to make money through phone sales but to improve the smart ecosystem within their vehicles. It remains to be seen what kind of synergy this partnership with Meizu will spark.

Specific configurations, pricing, release dates, and other related information about the Hongqi phone are yet to be announced. Let's wait and see.

In the era of intelligent vehicles, the close integration of cars and phones has become an irreversible trend. Automakers are launching their own smartphones, aiming to bridge car and phone systems, creating more comprehensive and convenient intelligent travel experiences. For example, Geely Automobile launched the "Geely phone," and BYD Automobile launched the "DiLink phone," both striving to provide users with a more integrated intelligent experience.

FAW's partnership with Meizu is also a bid to build a more complete smart cockpit ecosystem. With Meizu's expertise and technology in the smartphone arena, combined with Hongqi's brand influence in the automotive industry, this Hongqi phone has the potential to become a significant product in the intelligent car era.

However, some questions arise regarding the future development of the Hongqi phone:

• What is the positioning of the Hongqi phone? Currently, the Hongqi phone seems to be targeting the high-end market, aligning closely with the Meizu 21 Pro in terms of configuration and pricing. But whether Hongqi can establish itself in the high-end market like Meizu remains to be seen.

• How will the Hongqi phone integrate with the Hongqi car's smart cockpit system? Previously, Hongqi Automobile has collaborated with EcarX Technology to launch its smart cockpit system. Whether the Hongqi phone can seamlessly integrate with this system, providing a smoother cross-screen experience, is a point worth noting.

• Can the Hongqi phone achieve success like other carmaker phones? Currently, the market has seen many smartphones launched by automakers, but few have truly achieved resounding success. Whether the Hongqi phone can break this trend requires time to test.

Overall, FAW's foray into the smartphone market is a bold move, reflecting the automotive industry's emphasis on the future development of intelligent vehicles. We hope that the Hongqi phone can deliver a more comprehensive intelligent travel experience for users and that Hongqi Automobile can achieve greater breakthroughs in the intelligent car arena.

Beyond Hongqi, other carmakers are also actively entering the smart phone field, undoubtedly accelerating the convergence of cars and phones, bringing more intelligent products and services to users.

Here are some thoughts on carmaker phones:

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of carmaker phones? Advantages include a strong user base, the ability to integrate car systems, creating a more unified experience. Disadvantages include intense competition in the smartphone market, carmakers lacking phone design and manufacturing experience, making it challenging to compete with professional phone manufacturers.

• How can carmaker phones achieve success? Carmaker phones need to identify their strengths and collaborate with smartphone manufacturers, leveraging each other's strengths. They should focus on product innovation and user experience to secure a foothold in the competitive market.

How will carmaker phones evolve in the future? We believe that carmaker phones will move towards deeper car system integration, connecting with smart homes, smart wearables, and other devices, creating a more intelligent and convenient travel lifestyle.

Finally, we believe that cross-industry collaborations between the automotive and smartphone industries will bring richer products and services to users. We look forward to the emergence of more innovative products and the impact technology will have on our lives.