GAC Toyota Motor, an automobile manufacturing company headquartered in Guangzhou, China and a joint-venture between GAC Group and Toyota Motor Company, has officially launched its first independently developed model on Thursday, with executives touting the vehicle's ability to emulate human driving through advanced technology.
The company's new bZ3X, a battery-electric compact crossover SUV, possesses innovative smart driving features, including advanced algorithms and acute perception.
"Now, the 'human-like driving' function in our self-driving system can provide even more accurate predictions than a human," Peng Baolin, deputy general manager of GAC Toyota, told attendees at the vehicle's launch event in east China's Hangzhou City.
Although the model has several configurations, they all share the same smart driving experience. Even with these features, the vehicle's price is standard for an entry-level SUV, ranging from 109,800 yuan to 159,800 yuan (about 15,000 U.S. dollars to 22,000 U.S. dollars).
"GAC Toyota has been actively embracing the wave of smart driving. We have taken the lead in realizing smart driving in the entire series, which will open an inclusive era for advanced smart driving," said Wen Dali, executive deputy general manager of GAC Toyota.
In terms of safety, the SUV is not only equipped with the high-quality features associated with Toyota, but was also developed in line with the latest standards of C-NCAP, a Chinese car safety assessment program, and CIASI, the China Insurance Automotive Safety Index.
It also boasts better performance in space arrangement than its peers, with as many as 30 compartments and areas for storage.
GAC Toyota launches smart-driving electric SUV as first independently developed model
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
