Mei Ri Jing Ji Xin Wen·2026-01-15 15:14Core Insights - The competition for the title of "Automobile Capital" in China is intensifying, with Chongqing projected to produce 2.788 million vehicles in 2025, marking a 9.7% increase and solidifying its position as the top city in vehicle production [1] - Chongqing's automotive industry is experiencing a resurgence after a decade, particularly in the production of new energy vehicles (NEVs), which are expected to reach 1.296 million units, a 36% increase [1] - The issuance of China's first L3-level autonomous driving license to Changan Automobile signifies a historic milestone for smart driving in China, positioning Chongqing as a leader in this domain [1] Industry Overview - Chongqing aimed to become "China's Detroit" in 2013, achieving the highest vehicle production in the country by 2014, with production peaking at 3.156 million units in 2016 [4] - However, from 2017, Chongqing's vehicle production began to decline, dropping to 1.383 million units by 2019, attributed to a shift in consumer preferences towards mid-to-high-end vehicles and insufficient production capacity [5] - The rise of NEVs has disrupted the traditional automotive landscape, with national NEV sales surpassing 1 million units within three years after first exceeding 100,000 units in 2015 [6] Company Developments - Changan Automobile launched the "Shangri-La" plan in 2017, aiming for full electrification by 2025, but initially faced challenges as NEV production in Chongqing grew slowly from 40,400 units to 51,100 units by 2020 [7] - A turning point occurred in 2021 when Changan partnered with Huawei and CATL to introduce new high-end NEV brands, leading to a significant increase in sales, with total vehicle sales reaching 2.913 million units and NEV sales at 1.11 million units, a 51.1% increase year-on-year [7] - Seres, another key player, transitioned from traditional automotive manufacturing to NEVs, achieving profitability in 2024 and selling 472,300 NEVs in the previous year, a 10.63% increase [7] Competitive Landscape - The collaboration with Huawei has been pivotal for Chongqing's NEV transformation, with Seres being the first to adopt Huawei's smart selection model [8] - The automotive industry is entering a new competitive phase characterized by smart electric vehicles, with Chongqing positioned to lead due to its early adoption of L3-level autonomous driving technologies [12] - The competition is heating up, with cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen also vying for leadership in the NEV sector, each setting ambitious goals for future growth [17] Challenges and Future Outlook - Despite its recent successes, Chongqing faces challenges in AI and core technology competitiveness, ranking 14th nationally in AI industry competitiveness, indicating a need for improvement in talent attraction and retention [20] - The city aims to address these shortcomings by enhancing its automotive industry through innovation and integration with advanced technologies, targeting high-quality development by 2024 [14][21]