Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On December 15, Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) maker NETA Auto inked a strategic cooperation agreement with L.K. Technology, one of the largest turnkey service providers for plastic injection molding machine & die casting machine in the world, according to a post on NETA Auto's WeChat account.
Under the agreement, the collaboration aims to jointly develop the world's largest casting equipment exceeding 20,000 tonnes. This innovation will surpass the 12,000-tonne die-casting machine used by XPeng, the 9,000-tonne machine utilized by Tesla and AITO, and even the 7,200-tonne machine adopted by ZEEKR. The focus lies on achieving integrated casting for larger components, particularly in the manufacturing of B-segment vehicle chassis.
In addition, NETA Auto will procure multiple units of advanced intelligent die-casting equipment from L.K. Technology. Furthermore, the two entities plan to establish a joint venture, constructing a casting demonstration manufacturing base in Anhui province. This initiative aims to create the world's largest research institute that integrates production, research, and education of die-casting technology, promising users lighter, longer-range, and higher-performance new energy vehicles.
In recent years, integrated casting has emerged as a battleground for NEV manufacturers, representing a revolutionary manufacturing technique crucial for skateboard chassis production. Major players in the industry, including Tesla, AITO, NIO, XPeng, Li Auto, and Mercedes-Benz, have been actively deploying integrated casting technology. Noteworthy is that the prevailing casting machines in use by new energy vehicle manufacturers range from 6,000 to 9,000 tonnes. The groundbreaking 20,000+ tonne casting equipment under development by NETA Auto is poised to elevate the technological landscape of vehicle body manufacturing to an unprecedented height, said the company.
Integrated casting, facilitated by these colossal tonnage casting machines, integrates dispersed components into a unified structure. Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, integrated casting significantly reduces the number of vehicle parts, cutting manufacturing costs. Moreover, the production time for the vehicle chassis is dramatically reduced from the previous 1-2 hours to an impressive 1-2 minutes, concurrently reducing vehicle weight and enhancing comfort. Tesla's Model Y, for instance, achieved a 40% cost reduction and over 10% weight decrease in the car body through integrated casting technology. The AITO M9, utilizing a 9,000-tonne casting machine, consolidated 222 components into 10 integrated parts, substantially improving body torsional resistance and stiffness.
With the strategic cooperation agreement in place, the jointly developed 20,000+ tonne mega-casting equipment is poised to set new records in the speed and quality of NETA Auto's chassis production, said the carmaker. The company added anticipated manufacturing times of 1-2 minutes per skateboard chassis will further optimize efficiency, providing fresh impetus towards achieving its goal of selling one million new energy vehicles globally by 2026.
Founded in 1979, L.K. Technology has been a witness to and driver of the growth and development of China's casting industry. In recent years, the group pioneered the groundbreaking integration of large-scale casting for new energy vehicle chassis and continues to lead the industry toward greater tonnage, precision, and intelligence.
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