Smart driving is new front in China car wars despite deaths

Intelligent driving features are the new battleground in China's cut-throat car market, with competition spurring brands to world-leading advances, but a recent fatal crash has seen the government intervene to put the brakes on runaway enthusiasm.

- REBECCA BAILEY TAIMAZ SZIRNIKS

Advanced driver-assistance systems (Adas) help with tasks ranging from cruise control to parking and collision avoidance, with the ultimate aim being a fully self-driving car.

Automakers are pouring investment into their development, especially in the world's biggest car market, China, which skews young and tech-savvy.

"Ten years ago, only 15% of customers said they would change car because of an intelligent cockpit today it's 54%," Giovanni Lanfranchi of EV firm Zeekr said.

Almost 60% of cars sold in China last year had level 2 Adas features in which the driver is still in control but there is continuous assistance or above, according to an AlixPartners report released last week.

The features "are emerging as a key competitive tool", said the consultancy's Yvette Zhang.

Some firms use their own proprietary technology, like start-up Xpeng and consumer electronics-turned-car company Xiaomi, while others are cooperating with tech giants such as Huawei.

Such software is being developed in Europe and North America too.

But in a survey of hundreds of global auto executives surveyed by AlixPartners, two-thirds said they believed China led the world in the field.