The 2026 China Auto Forum opened in Shanghai with the theme "New Beginning, New Opportunities, New Journey." You Zheng, VP of Dongfeng Motor Group, delivered a keynote speech highlighting China's 17 consecutive years of leading global vehicle production and 11 years of NEV leadership. He identified intelligence, decarbonization, convergence, and globalization as the four major trends reshaping the industry.
Historic Leap: From Catching Up to Taking the Lead
On July 22, the 2026 China Auto Forum opened in Shanghai under the theme "New Beginning, New Opportunities, New Journey." You Zheng, vice president and Standing Committee member of the Party Committee at Dongfeng Motor Group, attended and delivered a keynote speech sharing insights on China's historic automotive leap and Dongfeng's own transformation.
You Zheng noted that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China's automotive industry achieved a historic shift from playing catch-up to taking the lead:
- China has secured the top spot globally in vehicle production and sales for 17 consecutive years
- China has led the world in new-energy vehicle output for 11 years running
- In 2025, NEV sales hit 16.49 million units
- Vehicle exports reached 7.1 million units
Three Core Advantages:
- Autonomous control over core technologies
- A complete and resilient supply chain
- The ascent of domestic brands into the premium segment
Four Major Trends: Redefining the Automotive Industry
Looking ahead, You Zheng identified four major trends reshaping China's automotive industry:
Intelligence — Redefining the very nature of the car. The battleground has shifted from screen count to platform strength. Smart cockpits, assisted driving, and connected vehicle technologies are reshaping user experience and business models.
Decarbonization — Expanding beyond factory-floor emissions reduction to systemic carbon management across the entire supply chain. From raw material sourcing to manufacturing, logistics, and recycling, full-lifecycle carbon footprint management has become a new competitive dimension.
Convergence — Cars are shifting from feature stacking to ecosystem integration. The boundaries between hardware, software, and services are blurring, with vehicles becoming mobile intelligent terminals and living spaces.
Globalization — Chinese auto brands are accelerating their overseas expansion, yet facing escalating challenges around trade barriers, localization, and brand recognition.
| Trend | Core Meaning | Current Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | From screen competition to platform competition | Rapid Evolution |
| Decarbonization | Full supply chain carbon management | Accelerating Deployment |
| Convergence | Hardware + Software + Services ecosystem | Deep Integration |
| Globalization | From product export to brand global expansion | Strategic Offensive |
Dongfeng's Practice: A Transformation Template for Traditional OEMs
As one of China's "Big Three" automakers, Dongfeng Motor's transformation path provides important reference for the industry. Dongfeng has been continuously increasing investments in NEV and intelligent technologies, while leveraging its joint venture experience with overseas brands to accumulate unique advantages in export strategy.
You Zheng emphasized that the success of China's automotive industry is no accident. Decades of technology accumulation, the support of a complete industrial chain, and the nurturing effect of the ultra-large domestic market together constitute the solid foundation for China's automotive industry to go global.
For overseas buyers and distributors, the rise of Chinese auto brands means more high-value choices. Whether Dongfeng, BYD, or Geely, Chinese automakers are redefining the competitive landscape of the global automotive market with faster iteration speeds and richer product portfolios. EX1000.COM provides one-stop information and service support for Chinese automotive exports.
