Automakers Congratulating IPOs: Don't Confuse Hype with Deliveries

I compared Weibo congratulatory posts from multiple automakers and Xiaomi's Pengcheng launch page, actually going through the process myself. On September 6th, brands like BYD, Li Auto, Deepal, Changan, Cadillac, and BAIC were all posting congratulations, creating a lively scene. Xiaomi Pengcheng N90/N70's launch time is marked for early September, with pre-sale prices already announced. Looking at these messages, it's easy to get the illusion that the industry is applauding ahead of time before cars are even delivered.

I opened the Xiaomi Auto official website on my phone and looked for Pengcheng-related entries. The page isn't complex; new car lists, configuration pages, and test drive bookings are all there. I clicked on book a test drive; the form has roughly five types of information: name, city, store, mobile number, and intended model. After submission, it prompts waiting for contact. Here's a surprise: the process is short, and novices won't get lost. But the key information people really want to see isn't fully disclosed. Delivery cycles, option prices, and smart driving benefits—things that most affect decisions—are currently only visible as frameworks. So-called smart driving benefits refer to how assisted driving functions are activated, charged, and upgraded later; this opacity means you can't rely solely on promotional pages before placing an order.

I also used public pages for mature family SUVs like the BYD Sealion 08 as a reference, mainly looking at information density. Mature products usually break down range, version differences, delivery rhythm, and after-sales policies in more detail; newly launched models look more like pre-sales, raising heat first and deferring details. This direction is overheated; it's another round of hype. Automakers congratulating each other certainly involves business etiquette and Xiaomi's traffic spillover, but quality endorsement and delivery promises are a different matter.

These days I've been testing FSD (Tesla's assisted driving suite) and built a car-machine Q&A system using voice interfaces. I increasingly feel that in automotive intelligence, being able to talk and move is easily hyped, but boundaries are the hardest part. Car Agent refers to letting voice assistants operate continuously like intelligent agents.

It sounds new, but actual implementation is still early. Mistakes in booking restaurants are just awkward; involving assisted driving, parking, and collision warnings, responsibility is hard to cover with marketing copy. Demo videos do not equal trusting it with the steering wheel.

Depends on the situation. For those waiting for real feedback from initial owners, don't let congratulatory floods push you to order now. For those rushing to choose a family SUV, don't just look at volume; there are many seasoned players in the market. Wait for the complete configuration sheet, go to stores to sit in the back seat, ask clearly about delivery cycles and smart driving benefits, and during test drives, don't just test acceleration—go to basements, narrow roads, and rainy sections. Don't mistake industry applause for product maturity.