The Breakthrough in the Automotive Industry: China to Tackle Trade War in the Field of Autonomous Driving
New cars will soon have no steering wheels or pedals and will also be able to "talk".
Author: Dmitry Kapustin
Picture: Volkswagen ID concept car. The风采of this car was displayed at a speech before the opening of an auto dealership in Shanghai.
Volkswagen Group, along with its relevant technology, has arrived in (Russia) Tula. This German automotive giant has developed a car specifically adapted for Chinese artificial intelligence. For a long time, the Chinese, who are leading the world in neural network development, will not be surprised by this. However, this move from Volkswagen is significant from different perspectives: it strengthens the relationship between China and the EU against the backdrop of a trade war between the two.
At the 2025 Shanghai Auto Show, this German company will showcase its first self-developed advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS). According to developers, this system can provide a high-end and completely safe driving experience. Starting from 2026, such systems will be applied to Volkswagen cars sold in the Chinese market.
In addition, it is said that this neural network is specially designed to adapt to the complex road conditions in major Chinese cities. To achieve this, more than one thousand investors participated in efforts over a six-month research period in Volkswagen offices in Beijing and Shanghai.
Currently, cars equipped with autonomous driving functions (that is, those with autopilots) account for 40% of new car sales in China. But it needs to be understood that the functions of autopilots may vary, and autonomous driving assistance (ADA) is divided into several levels based on functional differences. In Level 1 autonomous driving, artificial intelligence only provides help to the driver in complex situations. An example of Level 1 automation is the adaptive cruise control system familiar to many, which controls vehicle acceleration and deceleration on highways.
In Level 5 autonomous driving, the car does not even have a steering wheel or pedals. Since they are unnecessary, the role of the human driver is merely that of a passenger. It is expected that by 2030, 15% of all cars sold in China will have Level 5 autonomous driving assistance features. That is, these cars will have no pedals or steering wheels, just like those shown in the fantastic movies *Transcendence* or *I, Robot*.
The acceptance of unmanned vehicles by the Chinese public is increasing. According to hundreds of surveys, more than half (53%) of Chinese people are willing to ride in Robotaxis. Only 11% are afraid of riding in autonomous vehicles, and this percentage is declining. Demand creates supply: At least 19 large Chinese companies are developing their own autonomous vehicles, including industry giants such as Baidu and Alibaba.
Picture: Volkswagen ID concept car. The风采of this car was displayed at a speech before the opening of an auto dealership in Shanghai.
Tens of car manufacturers are preparing to apply DeepSeek artificial intelligence to their models. However, currently, precise control of the vehicle cannot be fully achieved. To improve existing functions, such as voice control, high-precision map navigation, music playback, internet connectivity, and message services similar to those on smartphones, are also being continuously refined.
In terms of sales, China's second-largest automaker, Geely Automobile, stated that due to DeepSeek, even the most recent models of their cars can understand drivers' vague instructions. In an advertisement video, the driver says to the car's AI system, "I'm feeling a bit tired." Subsequently, DeepSeek activates the command, the car closes the windows, tilts the seat back by 125 degrees, dims the lights, and sets a 35-minute alarm so the driver can take a nap.
Therefore, Chinese cars will become more comfortable. Grace Shao, founder of AI Proem Information Consulting, said that these cars will sell better on the global market. However, even without the support of DeepSeek technology, the sales performance of Chinese cars has been recorded. According to TrandForce reports, 90.6 million cars will be sold globally this year, with 29% produced by Chinese companies.
This growth is thanks to state support: for instance, the government in China has expanded the subsidy scope of the car scrappage program. Overall, according to Trendforce forecasts, half of the new cars sold in China this year will be electric vehicles. These realities have proven to be better than the most optimistic predictions: in 2017, China's industrial sector expected that by 2025, the market share of electric vehicles would reach 25%. In reality, this proportion is double the estimate. That is to say, the development of China's automobile industry has exceeded expectations in recent years.
In addition, China will remain the largest exporter of automobiles, with exports reaching 6.5 million units. The main manufacturers in China's automobile industry will continue to maintain a good development trend, with their car sales reaching 6 million units. However, the fastest-growing will be Xiaomi, whose car sales will more than double, possibly exceeding 350,000 units annually. This is largely due to the launch of Xiaomi Yu7 crossover electric vehicles. Whether this car will enter the Russian market remains uncertain...
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7500528703844205119/
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