Chinese automakers are sustaining their strong momentum in 2025, unveiling cutting-edge technologies to propel industry-wide advancements and maintain their competitive edge in the global market.
NIO announced on Tuesday that it has entered into a strategic partnership with CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, to establish the most extensive and advanced battery-swapping network for passenger vehicles. The collaboration will also focus on standardizing industry technologies and expanding joint efforts in capital and business operations.
At the Nvidia GPU Technology Conference (GTC) 2025 in California, Li Auto’s head of intelligent driving technology, Jia Peng, introduced progress on the company’s next-generation MindVLA system. He stated that the technology aims to transform vehicles into human-like ‘drivers’ capable of listening, seeing, and navigating with enhanced precision.
Meanwhile, BYD has unveiled its ‘megawatt fast-charging’ technology, capable of delivering peak charging speeds of 1,000 kilowatts. This advancement is set to be the fastest mass-production charging solution globally, allowing a five-minute charge to provide a range of 400 kilometers.
The rapid advancement of domestic large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) models is accelerating progress in smart driving technology, pushing the industry closer to full automation. Major brands, including Geely’s high-end Galaxy series, Leapmotor, and the Huawei-backed Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance, have recently introduced new intelligent models.
According to Zhang Xiang, director of the Digital Automotive International Cooperation Research Center of the World Digital Economy Forum, computing power, large-scale AI model integration, urban and highway Navigate on Autopilot advancements are becoming key indicators of an automaker’s technological strength and market competitiveness. Companies excelling in these areas are expected to secure a stronger foothold in the evolving automotive landscape.
The ongoing integration of intelligent technologies is reshaping the automotive market, positioning 2025 as a year of significant upgrades for China’s auto industry. Analysts at China Securities anticipate growing investment opportunities and market momentum as the sector continues to evolve.
China’s Government Work Report has pledged strong support for the application of large-scale AI models and the development of next-generation intelligent terminals, including smart-connected new-energy vehicles (NEVs), AI-powered devices, and intelligent robotics. The government views intelligent connected NEVs as the future of mobility, shifting vehicles from conventional transportation tools to interconnected smart platforms.
Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the China Passenger Car Association, highlighted the role of domestic chips, cloud computing, and a collaborative supply chain in transforming vehicles into intelligent terminals that seamlessly connect people, cars, and infrastructure. This shift aligns with China’s goal of achieving a 50% NEV penetration rate by 2030 and contributing to a 1 trillion yuan ($138 billion) data-driven economy.
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