HOZON Auto, who owns the EV brand NETA, delivered 152,073 new vehicles through 2022, outselling its four major rivals, namely, Li Auto, NIO, XPeng, and Leapmotor.

The startup also vigorously pushed ahead with its roll-out of new products, overseas business deployment, as well as the external cooperation last year. Let's review the noteworthy stories for HOZON Auto's 2022.

HOZON Auto sees 100,000th vehicle roll off assembly line

HOZON Auto, the Chinese startup owning the EV brand NETA, on Jan. 8 celebrated the birth of its 100,000th mass-produced vehicle, according to a post on the company's WeChat account. It took only 42 months for HOZON Auto to achieve the milestone.

The company said the output of the 100,000th vehicle indicates that HOZON Auto had made substantial progress in such capabilities as design and R&D, technique development, manufacturing, quality control, procurement synergy, as well as operation and management.

HOZON Auto announces price rise due to raw materials price growth, supply crunch

HOZON Auto announced on March 18 it had lifted prices of several models by 3,000 yuan to 5,000 yuan due to multiple factors like the increase in prices of raw materials and supply constraints.

To be specific, the price of the NETA V and NETA V Pro's entire lineups, and the NETA U Pro 400 Changxing was up 3,000 yuan, while the NETA U Pro 400 Xunhang, the NETA U Pro 500 Huanqiu, the NETA U Pro 500 Dengyue, and the NETA U Pro 610 Tanhuo all logged a price rise of 5,000 yuan.

HOZON Auto sees first model armed with Horizon Robotics' chips go on sale

On April 6, HOZON Auto put the 2022 version of two main models, namely, the NETA U·Zhi and the NETA V·Chao, onto the market, expecting to maintain its blooming sales growth with an updated product matrix.

Notably, the NETA U·Zhi is the first model developed under the cooperation between HOZON Auto and Horizon Robotics. The two companies forged a strategic partnership in September 2021, under which the technology startup would offer the automaker its high-performance automotive-grade chips and relevant technical supports.

HOZON Auto begins presale of NETA S Yaoshi edition

HOZON Auto, the Chinese startup owning the new energy vehicle brand NETA, announced on June 6 that “Yaoshi”, a special edition of the NETA S, has become available for presale with a limited supply of 999 units. Presale price of the model stands at 338,800 yuan.

With an exterior styling greatly resembling the normal version of the NETA S, the Yaoshi can immediately grab viewers’ attention with its scissor doors. The dot-matrix design between the sealed-off grille and the front bumper improves the elegance for the car. The slender daytime running lights serve as a pretty eye-catching part of the split-type headlight cluster.

360 Security intends to transfer part of stake in HOZON Auto

360 Security Technology Inc. (“360 Security”) announced on June 27 its wholly-owned subsidiary, 360 (Beijing) Private Equity Management Co., Ltd. (“360 Private Equity”) intended to transfer the registered capital of around 79.994 million yuan it holds in HOZON Auto, equivalent to 3.532% stake in the NEV startup.

According to 360 Security's announcement, 360 Private Equity has not actually paid for the aforesaid registered capital.

Desay SV, HOZON Auto initiate comprehensive partnership for intelligent vehicle development

On July 4th, HOZON Auto reached comprehensive strategic cooperation with major supplier Desay SV for automotive intelligence advancement.  

Leveraging each's technology and resources, the two parties would conduct profound cooperation in all aspects including smart cockpit, intelligent driving, vehicle body, software, and services. Their first cooperative model, the NETA S, can be expected for delivery within the year. Besides, the NETA S Yaoshi edition has already kicked off presale on June 6th.

HOZON Auto, Infineon Technologies team up on integrated BMS solution

HOZON Auto and the global chip supplier Infineon Technologies announced in July their cooperation on an integrated BMS (battery management system) solution.

According to a press release from the NEV maker, the system-level BMS solution co-developed by the two companies is composed of HOZON Auto’s in-house-developed “Tiangong” batteries, as well as Infineon Technologies' AURIX™ microcontrollers, 12-channel AFE, power supply management chips, and other products. It complies with the ASIL D functional safety requirements.

HOZON Auto closes D3 funding round

HOZON Auto announced on July 21 it had closed its D3 funding round, which raised for the automaker over 3 billion yuan.

The fresh financing round attracted a host of investment entities, including Dayone Capital, Shenzhen Capital Group, Qianhai FOF, Hongtai Aplus, Insight Capital, and Dianshi Zichan. Of them, Dayone Capital announced earlier this week it poured hundreds of millions of yuan into HOZON Auto's D3 round.

HOZON Auto to use BlackBerry QNX system on NETA S

HOZON Auto announced on Aug. 1 the cooperation with the Canadian tech company BlackBerry to promote the applications of intelligent technologies in vehicle driving, automotive cockpit, and other scenarios.

Through the partnership, HOZON Auto has selected BlackBerry QNX technology to power its futuristic sports sedan, the NETA S. The deployment will ensure the functional safety, cybersecurity, and reliability of the vehicle’s critical systems while providing users with an engaging, immersive, and digital-first driving experience.

HOZON Auto, BOE Varitronix deepen cooperation in intelligent cockpit field

HOZON Auto and BOE Varitronix Limited ("BOEVx") on August 1 entered into an agreement to carry out strategic cooperation in the intelligent automotive cockpit field and co-develop relevant solutions.

According to HOZON Auto's press release, the NETA S, the production vehicle model featuring both parties' cooperative efforts, hit the market on July 31. The interior of the model features a stunning advanced intelligent cockpit with a 17.6-inch 2.5K central touchscreen, allowing the driver to receive important information via the minimalist display located behind the steering wheel or from the AR head-up display. Notably, the massive screen is co-developed by HOZON Auto and BOE.

HOZON Auto obtains 6 billion yuan worth of credit line from Huaxia Bank's Shanghai branch

HOZON Auto announced in mid-Aug it had signed an agreement with Huaxia Bank's Shanghai branch to conduct all-around strategic cooperation in such fields as conventional financing, supply chain finance, investment bank investment business, cross-border business, bond investment, digital finance business, and automobile consumption finance.

Through the partnership, Huaxia Bank's Shanghai branch will grant HOZON Auto a credit line of 6 billion yuan to support the automaker in business operation, production, and construction of sales and service system.

HOZON Auto puts right-hand drive NETA V onto Thai market

HOZON Auto announced via its WeChat account that the right-hand drive NETA V officially hit the Thai market on August 24, making it the first Chinese NEV startup to enter the country.

The NETA V's right-hand drive version measures 4,070mm long, 1,690mm wide, and 1,540mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,420mm. Its streamlined body design indicates a pretty low air resistance. As for the interior, the touch-sensitive control layout and the 14.6-inch intelligent main screen will draw the attention of many tech-savvy consumers.

HOZON Auto, China Merchants Bank form strategic partnership

HOZON Auto announced on Aug. 26 it had signed an agreement with China Merchants Bank's Shanghai branch as both parties will conduct strategic cooperation on such businesses as comprehensive credit line, cash management of domestic and foreign currencies, and automobile consumption finance.

Moreover, the duo would also team up on investment bank-related business, international business, and personal banking services.

HOZON Auto starts delivering NETA Vs in Nepal

HOZON Auto had delivered the first batch of the right-hand-drive NETA Vs to Nepalese users, marking its entry into the South Asian markets, according to a press release the Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) startup issued in mid-Sept.

HOZON Auto's offensive into Nepal is part of the results from the cooperation with CG Motors, an NEV-dedicated venture of the Nepalese multinational conglomerate CG Corp Global. Both parties forged the partnership in April 2022.

HOZON Auto's NETA enters Israeli market via cooperation with Blilious Group

HOZON Auto announced on September 28 its recent cooperation with leading Israeli car dealer, Blilious Group, marking NETA's foray into the Israeli market.

The cooperation signified that aside from the automaker's recent moves in Thailand and Nepal, its global strategy has led the NETA U and NETA V vehicle models into the Middle East.

HOZON Auto announces foray into Myanmar's NEV market

HOZON Auto on Oct. 10 signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Grand Sirius Company Limited ("GSE") for its foray into Myanmar's electric vehicle market.

Per the agreement, HOZON Auto would join hands with the Myanmar-based company to introduce the international version of the NETA U and the NETA V, and relevant services into the local auto market.

HOZON Auto launches 'Haozhi' global technology brand

HOZON Auto launched a significant global technology brand, dubbed "Haozhi" in Chinese, on Nov. 21, indicating the company has ushered in a new competition era where technology systems are highlighted.

The Haozhi brand has three sub-brands pivoting around intelligent super computing platform, electric drive system, and range extender system, respectively, with a slew of cutting-edge technical products launched at one go.