The automotive industry is rapidly undergoing a paradigm shift, with major automakers adopting 800V high-voltage architectures and autonomous driving technology and SDV implementation emerging as key factors in product differentiation.

According to the special issue of industry analysis titled “Current State of the Chinese Automobile Industry as Seen from the Shanghai Motor Show” published by the Korea Automobile Research Institute on the 7th, the 2025 International Motor Show held in Shanghai, China was an event that clearly demonstrated that the paradigm of the global automobile industry is shifting beyond a simple technology exhibition.

The event, which attracted more than a million people, proved that China is no longer an 'early market' but has emerged as a frontrunner in the high-tech race.

The exhibition scale reached 360,000 square meters, the largest ever, and over 1,000 global and Chinese manufacturers showcased their latest technologies and strategic models.

In particular, five key trends emerged from this motor show: advancements in electrification, autonomous driving and SDV competition, diversification of product strategies in vehicle models, price ranges, and powertrains, shift in the industrial focus of ICT technology companies, and customized localization strategies for China by global manufacturers.

CATL, BYD, Geely, etc. Leading Chinese battery companies have announced plans to mass-produce next-generation batteries, including sodium, solid-state, and advanced LFP.

In particular, CATL's Shenxing LFP garnered industry expectations with its claim that it can travel 520 km on a 5-minute charge, while BYD highlighted the feasibility of the technology by unveiling the Sealion 7, which is equipped with an all-solid-state battery.

The 800V high-voltage architecture and MW-class ultra-fast chargers are also spreading to mid- and low-priced models along with the popularization trend, and Huawei and Zeekr are leading the way in charging infrastructure and spurring the construction of an ecosystem.

The center of gravity in automotive competition is shifting from electrification performance to autonomous driving and software-defined vehicle (SDV) technology.

Huawei announced its ADS 4.0 system, aiming to commercialize L3 autonomous driving on highways by 2025, while Pony.ai is seeking to expand urban operations with its L4 robotaxi solution.

Additionally, vehicle interfaces are evolving around user experience, including digital cockpits, AR HUDs, and voice-based AI agents.

Through this, electronic control systems such as 'by-Wire' technology, which is the basic technology for implementing SDV, emerged as a major exhibition theme.

BYD, Geely, Chery, GWM, etc. are strengthening their export strategies by expanding their lineup from premium to entry-level.

In particular, MPVs and pickup trucks are attracting attention as suitable vehicle types for entering the Asian and Central and South American markets, while EREVs and alternative fuel-based vehicles are also attracting attention.

Internal combustion engine technology is not being abandoned either, and advancements such as the application of horizontally opposed engines and V8 engines to compact vehicles and hybrids have been confirmed.

Chinese ICTs such as Huawei, Horizon Robotics, and SemiDrive Companies are blurring the lines between themselves and traditional automakers with autonomous driving, automotive semiconductors, and smart cockpit technologies.

The 'Huawei Inside' ecosystem is representative, and their influence is expected to expand further as software-centric structures become the main battlefield in the automobile industry.

VW, Toyota, Honda and others are transferring development rights for China-only models to their Chinese subsidiaries or strengthening cooperation with local technology companies.

By choosing a dual strategy of actively utilizing Chinese technology for models for the Chinese market and applying headquarters-led technology for models for the global market, they seek optimization in each market.

An official from the Korea Automobile Research Institute said, “We believe that partnerships with Chinese technology companies will have a significant impact on global manufacturers’ strategies going forward,” adding, “China is further enhancing its status as a test bed for electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and SDV.”