Guangdong Province is set to expand the operational zones for autonomous public transit and broaden the scope of road testing and demonstration applications for intelligent connected vehicles. The "Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the High-Quality Development of Guangdong's Digital Society" proposes enhancing intelligent digital lifestyle services. It aims to diversify the supply of digital consumption, innovate and enrich digital consumption scenarios, and promote a higher-level dynamic balance between supply and demand in digital consumption. The initiative also supports the healthy development of new models and formats in digitalized public services, constructing digital life "new infrastructure" such as community smart logistics networks and new energy facility terminals. It encourages the application of digital-intelligent technologies in sports venues to foster smart interconnection and urges tourist attractions and service companies to upgrade their smart tourism services to enhance visitor experiences using these technologies. Expanding autonomous public transit operational areas and increasing intelligent connected vehicle testing zones will encourage digital transportation platforms for navigation, ride-hailing, and smart parking to provide integrated, intelligent mobility services.
By 2026, autonomous driving is anticipated to reach a critical juncture, transitioning from "testing and validation" to "large-scale deployment." Tesla's Cybercab plans for mass production, Baidu's Apollo Go service surpassing 17 million global rides (exceeding Waymo), and the listings of WeRide and Pony.ai on the Hong Kong Exchange reflect growing capital market confidence in driverless technology. By the end of 2025, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued conditional access permits for L3 autonomous driving, with Beijing and Chongqing pioneering commercial pilot programs that clarify accident liability (primarily borne by manufacturers, with drivers liable if they fail to take over), thereby removing regulatory hurdles. By 2035, China's Robotaxi market is projected to exceed 7.096 trillion yuan, with L4 autonomous vehicles capturing a significant share of new car sales. The commercial L4 vehicle market is forecast to reach 4-8 trillion yuan by 2035, with a penetration rate exceeding 13%. The year 2026 is expected to mark the start of L3 commercialization, with L4 vehicles gaining substantial market share by 2030, fundamentally transforming traditional transportation. The maturation of vehicle-road-cloud integrated architecture and the deep integration of intelligent transport with smart cities will position autonomous driving as a core component of the digital economy infrastructure. By 2026, driverless technology will have evolved from a "technological fantasy" to an "industrial reality." With comprehensive leadership in policy, technology, and ecosystem development, China is spearheading a new era of global smart mobility.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has emphasized breakthroughs in key technologies such as computing chips and industrial large models to optimize the application ecosystem. At the 16th plenary meeting of the China Artificial Intelligence Industry Development Alliance held in Beijing's Shijingshan district on February 3, 2026, Gan Xiaobin, Deputy Director-General of the MIIT's Department of Science and Technology, outlined the ministry's focus on leveraging artificial intelligence primarily within the manufacturing sector. Moving forward, efforts will concentrate on four key areas: first, strengthening the application foundation by achieving breakthroughs in critical technologies like computing chips and industrial AI models; second, optimizing the application ecosystem through enhanced standards and fostering open-source culture; third, expanding international cooperation by actively engaging in multilateral forums such as the UN, BRICS, and ASEAN for industrial exchange; and fourth, solidifying application governance by innovating security management tools and reinforcing industry self-regulation. The alliance is expected to play a greater role in building a more competitive industrial ecosystem.
The global artificial intelligence market is projected to reach $757.58 billion in 2025, growing 18.7% year-on-year, with manufacturing being a core application area. China's core AI industry scale surpassed 900 billion yuan in 2025, involving over 6,000 enterprises and accounting for 16% of the global total, forming a complete industrial chain. The penetration rate of digital transformation in manufacturing reached 68%, with smart factories driving an average productivity increase of over 25% in key sectors. From 2025 to 2030, China's market is forecast to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 41.8% to 47.1%, positioning the industry's scale and empowerment capabilities at the global forefront by 2027. The number of smart factories exceeded 30,000, boosting production efficiency by 22.3% and reducing R&D cycles by nearly 30%. Continued government support, such as Guangxi's 45 billion yuan investment over three years for AI-manufacturing integration and the MIIT's "AI + Manufacturing" action plan targeting 2027 goals, underscores this commitment. The deep integration of AI and manufacturing is evolving from "point-based intelligence" to "systemic intelligence," becoming a core driver of high-quality industrial development. Over the next five years, China is poised to achieve global leadership in "smart manufacturing" through technological breakthroughs, ecosystem refinement, and policy guidance, catalyzing a new cycle of economic growth. Companies should capitalize on policy incentives by investing in vertical-specific models and agent applications, while prioritizing compliance and security to gain a competitive edge.
Comments