Chinese EV makers steer global auto innovation

"By 2030, cars will evolve into 'super intelligence' with emotional awareness, proactive service and continuous evolution," Li said. "G-ASD and Full-Domain AI 2.0 are not distant concepts—they are tangible innovations that integrate with cockpits and chassis to deliver highly humanlike, user-friendly experiences."

Geely's global footprint underpins its technological ambitions. Since acquiring Volvo Cars in 2010, the company has maintained significant research and development and design operations in Europe, alongside manufacturing facilities around the world. This globalized structure, executives say, is both a strength and an ongoing challenge.

"The biggest mission for us now is to do better coordination among those facilities, to better leverage local resources and local talents to build better products and services for consumers all over the world," said Gu Yang, head of branding and communications at Geely Auto Group.

China's strength in electric and intelligent vehicles is underpinned by its broader industrial ecosystem. The country remains the world's largest EV market, with battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounting for more than half of new car sales, driven by dedicated EV platforms, rapid iteration cycles and a deeply integrated supply chain.

That technological leadership has not gone unnoticed by international industry players. Mahesh Kodumudi, from Hyundai Mobis and chief procurement officer at Scout Motors, said he was particularly impressed by Chinese battery technology showcased at the Geely booth.

"I know China is the leader when it comes to BEV battery tech, especially LFP," Kodumudi told China Daily, referring to lithium iron phosphate batteries, which now account for roughly 80 percent of battery-electric vehicles in China.

"The technology is increasingly used in the US, and we hope to bring Geely's technology to the US," he said.

Kodumudi added that Chinese companies' advantages extend well beyond batteries. "Technology, manufacturing, innovation they are the best in the world," he said. "The speed and scale of product evolution in China is something the rest of the world should learn from."

Similar sentiments were echoed by Manoj Aggarwal from Maruti Suzuki, who expressed interest in the camera-based sensing solutions used in Geely's G-ASD system. For emerging markets such as India, cost-effective alternatives to radar-heavy systems are particularly attractive.