Shanghai's Jiading district hosted a forum on building global capabilities for the AI-driven digital transformation of the automotive industry on Dec 6.
The event brought together global industry leaders and experts to discuss how AI is reshaping products, transforming organizations, and fostering ecosystem synergy.
During the forum, Jiading and the CEIBS Alumni Auto Industry Association (CAAA) announced a co-creation plan, and Jiading Science and Technology Investment Group signed a partnership with an automotive AI project.
Bao Pengjie, deputy general manager of Jiading Science and Technology Investment Group, emphasized that the plan aims to strengthen collaboration within Jiading's automotive industry by utilizing alumni, technical, and industrial resources to promote innovation.
Keynote speakers from various industries discussed leading practices in AI and how it is transforming automotive products. Experts observed that as electrification progresses, Chinese car manufacturers are overcoming hardware obstacles and gaining an advantage in software-defined vehicles (SDVs). They expect increased collaboration between German automakers and Chinese tech companies to leverage their combined strengths.
To tackle industry challenges, experts also examined solutions for the low-carbon and smart transformation of commercial vehicles. Discussions covered the entire process from vehicle manufacturing to smart logistics.
In 2024, Jiading's automotive industry achieved an output of 305.41 billion yuan ($43 billion), accounting for 64.9 percent of the district's industrial output, with more than 4,500 automotive-related companies.
Jiading has introduced several policies to promote innovation and draw in international resources. In July, the district unveiled a plan to establish an intelligent connected new energy vehicle industry cluster, targeting a sector worth more than 350 billion yuan by 2030.
"Jiading's strong automotive foundation and forward-thinking policies make it a key connecting point between domestic and global resources," said Lou Zhouwen, president of the CAAA. He expressed hope for cross-border innovation projects to be incubated in Jiading.