The 2026 Automotive New Quality Productive Force Development Forum brought automotive manufacturers, technology suppliers and intelligent-driving companies together in Chongqing on August 19–20 to discuss the industry’s shift from production-led expansion towards quality-focused growth.
Held in Jiulongpo District under the theme “Collaborative Innovation, Intelligent Driving Forward,” the two-day event was organized by the China Economic Information Service and China Certification & Inspection Group, with the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute as a co-organizer.
The programme included a closed-door think-tank meeting, the main forum, an automotive and motorcycle supply-chain forum, and a session covering intelligent connected commercial vehicles and hydrogen energy. Discussions addressed vehicle safety, supply-chain development, intelligent-driving technology and the overseas expansion of Chinese automotive companies.
Intelligent-driving safety leads the Chongqing forum agenda
Safety and consumer confidence emerged as central themes during the main forum.
He Gang, vice-president of Changan Automobile, discussed the gap between the growing availability of intelligent-driving functions and comparatively low levels of user trust. He said manufacturers must improve how safe drivers and passengers feel when using these systems.
Changan presented work involving its all-weather dark-room laboratory and world models for intelligent driving. According to the company, these technologies are being used to improve driving stability under extreme conditions and detect hazardous obstacles earlier.
He Liyang, president of Seres, also identified safety and performance as core product-development principles. He described safety as “the utmost luxury worth pursuing.”
For international distributors and companies evaluating Chinese smart vehicles, safety testing under varied road, weather and operating conditions is becoming as important as the number of available driver-assistance functions.
Leapmotor presents vertically integrated manufacturing model
The forum also examined how Chinese automakers can differentiate their products as competition intensifies across similar vehicle categories.
Cao Li, senior vice-president of Leapmotor, presented the company’s approach to independent research, component development and manufacturing. He argued that maintaining in-house capabilities across multiple technical areas could help automotive companies manage industry cycles more effectively.
More than 65% of Leapmotor’s core components are developed and manufactured internally, according to Cao. The company also operates 18 “super factories” and has established what it describes as a closed-loop industrial cluster.
Leapmotor said this structure gives it greater control over product quality, costs and development speed. The model illustrates how some Chinese vehicle manufacturers are bringing research, component production and vehicle assembly into a more closely integrated system.
GAC outlines multiple powertrain technology routes
Powertrain development was another major topic at the Chongqing automotive forum.
Wu Jian, a member of GAC Group’s strategy committee, said conventional overseas powertrain technologies can face limitations when adapted to intelligent vehicle systems. He argued that Chinese companies need powertrains designed for local operating conditions and integrated more closely with smart-vehicle functions.
After 20 years of independent research and development, GAC has established three powertrain technology series covering range-extended electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and hybrid electric vehicles, according to Wu.
The presentation indicated that Chinese manufacturers continue to invest in several powertrain options rather than relying exclusively on battery-electric vehicles. These different technologies could serve export markets with varying charging infrastructure, driving patterns and consumer requirements.
Overseas compliance enters the automotive event programme
The global expansion of Chinese automotive companies formed another part of the forum agenda.
Wu Yongqiao, president of Bosch’s intelligent driving and control systems division in China, said Bosch Mobility combines local innovation with development aligned to overseas laws and regulations. The company aims to help Chinese automakers introduce intelligent-driving technologies in international markets.
Regulatory compatibility can determine whether vehicle functions developed for China can be deployed abroad without substantial changes. Requirements involving driver-assistance systems, data handling and vehicle safety differ between export destinations.
The forum also featured Chongqing technology companies working on specialised intelligent-driving applications.
Tang Guomei, deputy president of Sevnce Robotics, discussed the company’s work on safety challenges in specialised operating scenarios.
Yang Mu, chief technology officer of Chongqing Afari Technology, addressed limitations in scene generalisation and causal reasoning within current intelligent-driving systems. The company is developing a native intelligent-driving foundation model combining large language models with driving models, with the stated aim of improving scene understanding, logical reasoning and risk prediction.
By bringing automakers, component suppliers, inspection organizations and intelligent-driving developers into the same programme, the Chongqing forum provided an industry-level view of the technologies and business priorities shaping China’s next phase of automotive development.
Source: Xinhua Silk Road report distributed by PRNewswire. Additional event details were verified through Xinhua and China Certification & Inspection Group.
