A man uses autonomous driving mode while on his way from Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province, to Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province. (Photo/China Daily)
Changes in cars in next years will exceed those of past five decades
Insiders called on Chinese carmakers to emphasize workable, fundamental research and development on advanced intelligent innovations. At the same time, the leading global companies are trying to localize their connected technologies for China.[Special coverage]
The consensus of automotive authorities is that every carmaker needs to transform itself into a smart mobility solutions provider since the industry is changing rapidly thanks to the introduction of disruptive technologies.
"An immense evolution is coming, we should accelerate developing the technology and transform the industry from big to strong," said She Weizhen, director of the equipment industry division at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Wang Ruixiang, president of the China Machinery Industry Federation, agreed with the future direction of intelligence and digitalization, but pointed out that the Chinese automotive industry "is weak in independent innovation."
However, the automotive intelligence competence of China lags behind the world's auto powers in terms of development level, professional expertise and other related criteria.
German firm Roland Berger Strategy Consultants' Automated Vehicles Index Q3 2016 indicated that China and Italy ranked the lowest in research expertise in autonomous driving, among nine countries including Germany, the United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan and France.
Germany and United States are way ahead in the state of automated driving development, according to the Roland Berger index. Many international carmakers have been working on autonomous driving, including Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW. Volvo Cars tested autonomous driving on highways in 2015 and Nissan did so in January.
Zheng Yun, principal at Roland Berger Greater China, said: "It is important that this growth be driven by Chinese OEMs in coordination with a whole system that includes automotive suppliers.
"The government should take on a supportive role in guiding the industry's development. Once established, a sound legal framework and greater acceptance of the technology by consumers will rapidly accelerate the growth of China's automated-vehicle industry."
An enclosed environment for intelligent connected vehicles' non-highway tests in the National Intelligent Connected Vehicle Testing Demonstration Base in Shanghai opened in June. China's first national-level demonstration base is expected to facilitate R&D and help formulate standards and policy, in addition to testing the technology itself.
