Chery's AI Night Event Promises Smart Agents and Ultra-Fast Charging Amid Ambitious Claims

Chery Automobile will host its flagship 'Technology with AI' event on January 17, 2026, in Wuhu, China, presenting what the company describes as a comprehensive AI-driven mobility ecosystem. The showcase includes three primary components: an AI agent system called 'Xiao Qi,' autonomous driving demonstrations claiming L4 capabilities, and an ultra-fast charging technology requiring validation.

The centerpiece announcement involves Xiao Qi, presented as a multi-functional AI agent integrated across Chery's vehicle lineup. Unlike conventional voice assistants, Chery claims Xiao Qi enables contextual interactions between vehicles, home environments, and energy systems. However, the company provided no technical details about the agent's architecture, training methodology, or latency benchmarks, leaving questions about implementation specifics unanswered.

Autonomous driving demonstrations will include urban navigation assistance and an L4 Robotaxi service. These claim to handle complex scenarios like obstructed parking spaces and dead-end layouts. While L4 classification implies high automation, Chery hasn't disclosed testing mileage, operational domain restrictions, or sensor configurations. Industry standards require thousands of validated real-world test miles for L4 validation, which Chery hasn't substantiated.

The most ambitious claim is 'Xunlong ultra-fast seconds-level charging' technology. Current industry standards like 800V architectures achieve 10-80% charges in approximately 15 minutes. 'Seconds-level' charging implies orders-of-magnitude faster replenishment, which would require unprecedented electrical current (potentially exceeding 2,000A) and novel battery chemistry. Chery provided no data on heat dissipation, grid compatibility, or battery degradation rates—critical factors for real-world viability.

Additional technologies include Lingxi Smart Cabin 3.0 (an infotainment upgrade), Falcon autonomous driving processors, Flying Fish Digital Chassis control systems, and quantum encryption for vehicle security. The multi-role MoJia robot suggests cross-domain functionality but lacks use-case specificity.

Simultaneously, Chery opened pre-orders for the Fulwin T9L SUV featuring the Falcon 700+ driving system and Horizon Journey 6P AI chip. This positions against competitors like Li Auto's L-series, though comparative performance data remains unavailable.

Historically, automaker technology showcases often reveal production timelines years later. Chery's charging claims particularly warrant skepticism until third-party validation occurs, as thermal management and infrastructure constraints make sub-minute charging currently impractical for mass-market vehicles. The event may indicate R&D directions rather than immediate production realities.