It is an interesting issue whether China will be able to become a new leader or remain at a limited stage in the auto industry in the future. With regard to the issue, new changes are recently emerging in China. The emergence of smart cars and the proliferation of shared economies are converging with the development of electric vehicles. For example, BYD has been rapidly accumulating technologies related to smart driving in cooperation with IT companies such as Baidu, LeTV, and ZTE in the areas of artificial intelligence and communication technologies. With regard to the shared economy, a surge in the use of electric vehicles in the form of rental or vehicle sharing has led consumers to reduce the cost of using electric vehicles, accumulate experience, and eventually increase demand for electric vehicles.
The great development of the Chinese automobile industry is likely to come from a new ecosystem that combines automobiles, IT and the shared economy. In the end, how well Chinese local companies make use of this new environment will ultimately determine whether the Chinese auto industry can lead the global auto industry in the future.