From October 17 to 19, the 2024 World Intelligent Connected Vehicle Conference took place in Beijing, attracting government officials, industry experts, and representatives from over ten countries and regions. The focus of the conference was to explore how intelligent connected vehicles can rapidly advance towards a higher level of “intelligence,” fostering innovation and collaboration on a global scale.
As a new industry model resulting from the deep integration of automotive, electronics, information communication, and transportation sectors, intelligent connected vehicles are becoming a focal point in the global automotive industry. Sun Yonghong, the president of the Highway Science Research Institute of the Ministry of Transport of China, emphasized that competition in this field is intensifying. Countries worldwide, particularly in the developed world, are taking steps to accelerate the development of intelligent connected vehicles, with Germany and the UK leading the way in technological research and legislation to support autonomous driving advancements, while the U.S. maintains a competitive edge in technology and industry.
China has made significant progress in the intelligent connected vehicle sector over the years. Jin Zhuanglong, the Minister of Industry and Information Technology, noted that a robust industrial system has been established in China, covering essential components such as chips, sensors, computing platforms, chassis control, and cloud connectivity. He highlighted that China is at the forefront of technologies like human-computer interaction and is rapidly making breakthroughs in steer-by-wire and active suspension technologies.
With the rise of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, 5G, and big data, the iteration and deployment of intelligent connected vehicle products are accelerating. Zhou Hua, Deputy General Manager of the China Automotive Technology Research Center, expressed optimism about the widespread application of advanced autonomous driving technologies, noting that several intelligent connected vehicle models equipped with these capabilities are now ready for deployment in various scenarios.
However, the complexity of integrating multiple innovative technologies has made extensive road testing and pilot applications essential for the promotion of intelligent connected vehicles. Jin Zhuanglong mentioned that over 50 cities across the country are conducting road testing and demonstrations for these vehicles, with 32,000 kilometers of test roads open and nearly 10,000 kilometers of roads having undergone intelligent upgrades, alongside the installation of over 8,700 roadside units.
While the intelligent connected vehicle industry is thriving, it also faces challenges, including technological innovation, data security, and the need for improved regulatory standards. François Ghisalberti, Secretary of the UN World Forum for Vehicle Regulation’s Working Group on Automated and Connected Vehicles, pointed out that significant technical hurdles remain even as these vehicles become more widespread. He expressed a desire for regulators and automobile manufacturers to collaborate on a comprehensive regulatory framework and industry standards that could aid global industrial development.
Michael Howard Brioche, Head of Innovative Mobility at the UK’s Department for Transport, noted that many countries, including the UK, share similar challenges in the autonomous driving sector, such as ensuring safety and accessibility of the technology, building public trust, and establishing practical industry standards. He looks forward to engaging in discussions and exchanges with other nations to find effective solutions and create unified global standards and regulations.
Wang Weiming, Director of the Equipment Industry Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated that the development prospects for intelligent connected vehicles are promising, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the automotive industry’s transformation and upgrading. He indicated plans for extensive international collaboration, including hosting forums like the World Intelligent Connected Vehicle Conference to facilitate communication and cooperation among industry stakeholders and support pragmatic collaborations that optimize the global business environment, advancing intelligent connected vehicles to the next stage of large-scale deployment.
