# drive-by-wire

China’s EV Makers Escalate the Flagship SUV Wars — Bigger, Smarter and More Expensive

This week’s announcements from Xpeng, Li Auto, Avita and Leapmotor underline a shift in China’s EV industry toward high‑end SUVs that sell on software, chassis electronics and compute as much as battery range. Manufacturers are betting that steer‑by‑wire, 800V electrification and lidar‑led autonomy will justify premium pricing, though execution, safety certification and clear consumer benefits remain the decisive hurdles.