Chinese automaker Chery is on the brink of taking a giant leap in automotive design: entrusting an artificial intelligence (AI) system with the entire process, from initial sketch to final engineering blueprint. While most car manufacturers are already utilizing AI for specific tasks like aerodynamic optimization or crash test simulations, Chery’s chief engineer David Lu envisions a future where AI takes the reins entirely.
“We have some proposals to see if we let AI design [a whole] vehicle,” Lu revealed in an exclusive interview with CarExpert at Chery’s headquarters in Wuhu. “Everybody wants to see that. It’s still at the concept level of thinking… If we just let it… just let the AI do it and see what happens.”
The idea is radical: feed the AI a comprehensive set of customer feedback, engineering requirements, and design parameters, then step back and observe what emerges.
“We have all the information from customer feedback, and if we put all the requirements there – the starting engineering requirements and ask for the outcome – we could use AI for the whole process,” Lu explained. “So, it’s an idea.”
Although not yet implemented, this experiment represents a bold push towards AI-driven innovation within the automotive industry. Chery isn’t simply dabbling in theory; they are actively leveraging AI to streamline component design and aerodynamic optimization in their current models.
“AI is definitely involved in our process now, but it’s not really replacing human design yet,” Lu clarified. “We are using AI as like an assistant to help us to improve the efficiency as well as the quality optimization process through computer aided engineering (CAE) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).”
He cites examples of AI’s application in areas like vehicle dynamics, digital design, and even suspension tuning, showcasing how it can provide valuable data-driven insights before physical prototypes are built.
However, Lu emphasizes that certain aspects of the process still demand human expertise. Fine-tuning chassis setups relies heavily on engineers’ experience and intuition, skills AI cannot yet fully replicate.
“Those are experience-based and knowledge-based things there, but AI can definitely help us give us a starting point and a direction.”
Chery’s AI ambitions extend beyond vehicle design. They are also developing a range of robots under their AiMOGA division, including a humanoid named Mornine, potentially capable of showcasing Chery vehicles in dealerships, and Argus, a robotic dog aimed at providing companionship to the elderly or isolated individuals.
While the prospect of an entirely AI-designed car may seem futuristic, Chery’s exploration into this domain hints at the transformative potential of artificial intelligence within the automotive industry – a future where machines collaborate with humans to reshape how we design and interact with vehicles.
