Audi opens Shanghai R&D centre for its new China brand Audi is bringing more vehicle development to Shanghai with SAIC. Around 300 employees will focus on AI, driver assistance and the next Advanced Digitized Platform as the company targets faster development cycles and products tailored more closely to local Chinese customers. Benjamin Müller
Volkswagen starts Level 3 road testing in China VW has begun Level 3 road testing in China under a new permit for Hefei. The programme combines real-world data collection with an in-house AI stack, virtual validation and new computing hardware as the group targets customer-ready Level 3 functions in China from 2027. Benjamin Müller
Chinese carmakers set the benchmark for the AI era Connected-car innovation is no longer just about adding new functions. The 2026 CCI study argues that the decisive advantage now lies in scaling software, AI and digital ecosystems quickly – and its new readiness ranking places young Chinese carmakers firmly at the top globally. Yannick Tiedemann
TU Graz develops autonomous on-demand shuttle Public transport is becoming more flexible as autonomous vehicles move beyond fixed timetables. TU Graz and Chinese partners are testing a 15-seat battery-electric shuttle that can be summoned on demand and uses both onboard sensors and 5G-linked infrastructure to navigate traffic. Benjamin Müller
How Geely plans to share road safety data in Europe Geely is joining Europe’s Data for Road Safety ecosystem as the first Chinese carmaker in the initiative. The move will allow anonymised hazard data to be shared in real time with infrastructure, emergency services and connected vehicles, while supporting European connected-safety functions. Benjamin Müller
Volkswagen uses Horizon AI to accelerate Level 3 driving Volkswagen Group China is expanding its partnership with Horizon Robotics and gaining white-box access to an AI foundation model. The aim is to speed up an in-house stack for Level 3 functions from 2027 and prepare future Level 4 applications for passenger cars and robotaxis. Ronja Schmiedchen
EU tariffs are bringing electric car production to Europe EU tariffs are helping shift electric car production towards Europe and reduce the share of China-built vehicles. The measures are also creating fresh opportunities to expand local battery manufacturing, strengthen supply chains and retain more industrial value in the region. Benjamin Müller
AEK 2026: Why execution now matters more than strategy The automotive industry has defined its technological direction. Now comes the harder part: delivering at scale. AEK 2026 showed why SDVs, AI, chiplets and China-Speed are turning execution into the decisive competitive factor. Dr. Martin Large
“The Chinese SDV model tends to favour in-house AI development” As SDVs and AI become central to automotive competition, manufacturers face growing pressure to industrialise both at scale. Dr Liu Qiang, Vice President of Li Auto and General Manager of Li Auto Germany R&D Center, explains how AI, SDVs and embodied intelligence are reshaping vehicle architecture. Benjamin Müller
Volvo secures exemption for connected vehicles Volvo Cars has received special approval from US authorities to continue importing and selling connected vehicles in the USA. The exemption comes under new security rules restricting the use of certain Chinese and Russian hardware and software in connected cars. Benjamin Müller
Geely Unveils Purpose-Built Eva Cab Robotaxi Geely is positioning the Eva Cab as a purpose-built robotaxi for driverless fleet operations, with Level 4 technology, ride-hailing expertise and a target of up to 100,000 vehicles by 2030. Benjamin Müller
Audi and SAIC Step Up China EV Development Audi and SAIC are expanding their China partnership with four new models and a Shanghai tech centre focused on electrification, connectivity and autonomous driving. Ronja Schmiedchen
China tightens rules for autonomous driving China is tightening legal requirements for automated driving systems. New standards will oblige Level 3 systems to act more independently, including performing a defined safety manoeuvre. Benjamin Müller
China bans hidden car door handles China is drawing a line: for safety reasons, the country will ban hidden and deployable door handles from 2027. Vehicle doors must be mechanically operable from both inside and outside. Manufacturers will be required to retrofit affected models by 2029. Benjamin Müller
Transformation at China Speed In September 2025, Continental’s automotive division was spun off and listed on the stock exchange under the new name Aumovio. We spoke with Nino Romano, CTO at Aumovio, about the reasons behind the spin-off, the new opportunities it creates, China Speed, SDVs, autonomous driving, and much more. ADT editorial team
Pony.ai and BAIC BJEV are scaling autonomous taxi fleets Pony.ai and BAIC BJEV are intensifying their cooperation to accelerate the rollout of Level-4 robotaxis. At the centre of the strategy is the Arcfox Alpha T5, designed for large-scale deployment in China and selected international markets. ADT editorial team
“A new mobility system will emerge” In connected-car innovation, Chinese OEMs are increasingly setting the pace – and the traditional automotive world has much to learn. CAM-Expert Stefan Bratzel explains why autonomous driving is becoming the decisive success factor. ADT editorial team
Bolt and Pony.ai join forces to launch robotaxis Chinese robotaxi companies are turning their attention to Europe. Pony.ai has now partnered with Estonian mobility platform Bolt to prepare a driverless ride service, combining autonomous vehicle technology with Bolt’s established ecosystem. ADT editorial team
VW gains full end-to-end development capability in China Volkswagen has expanded its Hefei operations into a full development hub, enabling the German company to design, test and validate the next generation of connected vehicles entirely within China — and at the speed the local market demands. ADT editorial team
Sponsored “Engineering and IT need to communicate effectively to successfully manage the shift” In this interview, Richard Rovner and Udo Gohier explain how MathWorks supports automakers and suppliers in successfully navigating the cultural and technological transformation toward the Software-Defined Vehicle. Yannick Tiedemann
“Chiplet-based designs enable scalability and performance” As SDV development accelerates worldwide, regional strategies diverge sharply. Hanno Wolff from Synopsys explains how global ecosystems, semiconductor innovation, and early co-design shape the next generation of automotive computing. Benjamin Müller
Siemens and Saicec accelerate SDV chip validation Siemens and Saicec plan to speed up the validation of automotive chips by applying advanced digital-twin technology. Their joint approach targets faster certification cycles and more reliable system-level testing. ADT editorial team
Chinese brands force Europe to rethink its strategy Chinese manufacturers now set the pace in connected-car innovation, yet German OEMs still hold important advantages. The decisive question will be how quickly they can convert these strengths into competitive progress. ADT editorial team
SAE Level 3 assistance system with ZF expertise goes into production in 2026 ZF and the Chinese company Horizon Robotics announce the production launch of a driver assistance system (ADAS) that supports SAE Level 3 and the Chinese Urban Navigate on Autopilot (Urban NOA). Götz Fuchslocher
Pony.ai launches affordable Gen-7 robotaxis Pony.ai has commenced operations of its Gen-7 robotaxis in China. According to the company, the autonomous driving kit of this generation is 70 percent cheaper than before - a step intended to advance the scaling of driverless mobility. Martin Large
Mercedes and Momenta launch AI-based driving assistance system Mercedes-Benz and Momenta have announced the launch of a jointly developed intelligent driving assistance system based on Momenta's Flywheel Big Model. The system is set to be used for the first time this autumn in the all-electric CLA. Benjamin Müller
Autonomy in the Midst of Chaos Despite stricter rules following a fatal Xiaomi accident, urban assistance remains in demand in China. Therefore, Mercedes is focusing on the next big step towards autopilot with the new CLA. Thomas Geiger
China Speed in the Automotive Industry – How Can We Keep Up? China is redefining the pace of development in the automotive industry. AEK 2025 shows the structures, technologies, and strategies Chinese manufacturers are using to set standards in SDV and the implications for Europe. Sabine Synkule
This is why BMW relies on Momenta in China BMW is collaborating with the Chinese ADAS specialist Momenta to develop driver assistance systems for the Chinese market - tailored to local conditions, complemented by global collaborations. Timo Gilgen
AEK 2025: SDV, AI & Mega-Alliances in Focus The AUTOMOBIL-ELEKTRONIK Kongress 2025 has highlighted key challenges and future topics of the automotive industry – from AI to SDV to new partnerships. Here are five topics that shaped the event. Dr. Martin Large
Firefly relies on map data and services from Here Nio's more affordable sub-brand Firefly will soon be supplied by Here with map data and location-based services for electric vehicles and driver assistance systems. Here aims to strengthen its presence in China, while Nio aims to strengthen its presence in Europe. Benjamin Müller
“God’s Eye” by BYD in Practical Test BYD aims to revolutionise autonomous driving with its God’s Eye technology. Three performance levels, AI-supported scenario recognition, and impressive driving performance in the test show: The Chinese system is convincing - but when will it be available in Europe? Wolfgang Gomoll
What China's GB 38031-2025 Means for EV Batteries With GB 38031-2025, China aims to usher in a new era of battery safety: "no fire, no explosion" is the motto. What initially sounds like a technical detail could fundamentally change the global EV market. Dr. Martin Large
Live Ticker for the Automobil-Elektronik Kongress 2025 (AEK) On 24th and 25th June, the Automobil-Elektronik Kongress 2025 took place in Ludwigsburg. Industry decision-makers discussed developments in automotive electronics, SDV, and AI. Here you’ll find a chronological overview of what happened. ADT editorial team
Volkswagen Unveils China-Exclusive Electric Models At Auto Shanghai 2025, Volkswagen debuts AI-enhanced vehicles designed for the Chinese market, aiming to boost sales with NEVs. Benjamin Müller
3 Questions for… Dr Axel Sprenger, Managing Director, USCALE In the run-up to the 5th International Conference ChargeTec, we asked Dr Axel Sprenger, Managing Director, USCALE, 3 questions. The conference will take place on 27 and 28 May 2025 in Munich, and Dr Sprenger is one of the speakers. Benjamin Müller
“Many SDV programmes fail due to old structures” High-tech alone is not enough. The transition to a software-defined vehicle exposes decades-old misconceptions. Joachim Langenwalter reveals why European manufacturers are operating blindly - and what China has long been doing better, with painful insights. Dr. Martin Large
BMW and Alibaba Deepen Strategic Partnership in China BMW and Alibaba announced an expanded partnership in China, accelerating the integration of Alibaba’s Qwen large language model into BMW’s Neue Klasse models. This collaboration is part of BMW’s strategy of increasing cooperation with Chinese tech companies. Benjamin Müller
Trends in Software-Defined Vehicles: Experts weigh in The automotive industry is set to undergo profound changes with the rise of software-defined vehicles. Expert discussions highlight technological, cultural, and strategic developments - but the biggest transformation may still be ahead. Dr. Martin Large
Are Connected Vehicles from China a Threat? The United States has introduced new regulations prohibiting the use of Chinese software and hardware components, a move that has major global implications for the automotive industry. In Europe, this drastic measure has sparked criticism. Ulrich Hottelet
How AI is penetrating the automotive industry Alongside the software-defined vehicle and autonomous driving, AI is one of the key trend topics in the automotive industry. Experts from MHP and ZF, among others, will discuss where the technology can help accelerate the industry at the automotiveIT car.summit. Werner Beutnagel
