China’s auto industry accelerates with AI-powered supply chains

China’s auto industry is making big technological strides as big data and AI redefine operations across manufacturing and supply, shortening development time and creating new growth drivers.

At the ongoing 2025 Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, industry insiders said the shift goes beyond engineering, it's reshaping how cars are conceived, built, and experienced. "A car is not just a transportation tool. It can be seen as an evolving 'mobile intelligent body.' In response to this trend, we are integrating new AI technologies throughout the entire process of research, production, supply, sales, and service," said Kang Bo, Vice President of Seres Group.

In Shanghai, a trusted data space built by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) is serving as a "super data market" for the auto industry, breaking down data silos across the supply chain. It brings together automakers, parts suppliers, research institutes, and insurers under one digital roof.

"Everyone can access and use the data based on the requirement of a comprehensive data privacy protection framework," said Wang Yao, assistant chief engineer of the CAAM.

At the wind tunnel center of the China Automotive Engineering Research Institute (CAERI) in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, experts have integrated a substantial amount of real wind tunnel test data with computer-simulated numerical data. Through systematic organization and standardized storage, they have created a high-quality dataset that AI can directly "understand and utilize." The core data supports the digital research and development efforts of automotive companies by streamlining critical processes, which effectively reduces the new car development cycle by nearly 20 percent.

"Our wind tunnel dataset has accumulated over 17,000 entries. The data on wind drag and wind noise covers all-dimensional indicators such as force on the vehicle body, airflow distribution, and interior noise. It is currently the largest dataset in the industry for the vertical field of aerodynamics, helping AI to more accurately calculate automotive wind drag and wind noise, thereby enhancing the development efficiency of automotive companies," said Wang Qingyang, deputy director of the wind tunnel center.

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with the European Parliament's delegation for relations with China led by chair Engin Eroglu in Beijing on Wednesday.

Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China is willing to work with the European Union (EU) to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, and pursue mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

He said China stands ready to join hands with the EU to address global challenges, promote exchanges and cooperation among legislative bodies, effectively utilize communication mechanisms, and advance the sound and stable development of China-EU relations.

Eroglu said the EU stands ready to work with China to contribute to the development of EU-China relations.