Core Viewpoint - The automotive industry is witnessing a shift where traditional fuel vehicles are accelerating their smart technology integration to compete with the rising market share of electric vehicles (EVs). However, experts believe that this smartification of fuel vehicles is a transitional solution, as the long-term trend favors the replacement by electric vehicles, leading to a restructuring of the automotive supply chain with Chinese tech companies becoming central players [1][9]. Group 1: Smartification of Fuel Vehicles - The first fuel sedan equipped with Huawei's advanced smart driving solution, the FAW Audi A5L QianKun, has been launched, alongside the Dongfeng Nissan Teana featuring Huawei's Harmony cockpit [2]. - Data from the China Passenger Car Association indicates that fuel vehicle sales are projected to decline by 17.3% year-on-year in 2024, with their market share dropping to 52.4%. By the first nine months of 2025, this share further decreased to 49.9%, indicating that new energy vehicles have officially surpassed traditional fuel vehicles as the mainstream choice for consumers [2][3]. - A report highlights that 71.9% of users consider smart cockpits a primary factor in their purchasing decisions, while 69.3% focus on in-car interaction experiences, emphasizing the critical role of smart technology in consumer choices [2]. Group 2: Technological Challenges and Solutions - Experts point out that fuel vehicles face several technological bottlenecks in their smartification process, including limitations in architecture, power supply issues, and challenges in heat dissipation and integration [5]. - Despite these challenges, the narrative that fuel vehicles cannot be smartified is changing, as more models are now equipped with advanced smart driving systems, such as the FAW Audi A5L QianKun and the SAIC Audi A5L Sportback [6]. - Huawei and Audi have overcome key challenges related to computing power, power supply, and heat dissipation, enabling the integration of high-performance computing platforms in fuel vehicles [7]. Group 3: Industry Transformation and Supply Chain Restructuring - The trend of fuel vehicles adopting smart technology is part of a broader "oil-electricity intelligence" strategy being pursued by many automakers, including joint ventures like FAW-Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz [8]. - As consumer demand for smart driving features increases and technology costs decrease, traditional automakers are accelerating their efforts to enhance their products' smart capabilities [8]. - The shift towards smartification is expected to have profound implications for the automotive industry, driving a transformation towards intelligent vehicles and altering competitive dynamics, with a focus on collaboration between automotive manufacturers and tech companies [9][10].

Core Viewpoint - The automotive market is witnessing a significant shift as traditional fuel vehicles are increasingly adopting smart technologies to compete with electric vehicles, driven by consumer demand for enhanced intelligent features [3][4][6]. Group 1: Market Trends - During the "Eleventh" holiday, various cities in China hosted auto shows and promotional events to stimulate local automotive market consumption, showcasing both new energy vehicles and traditional fuel vehicles [2]. - In August, traditional fuel passenger car sales in China reached 902,000 units, marking a year-on-year increase of 13.5%, indicating sustained market demand for fuel vehicles [3]. Group 2: Smart Features in Fuel Vehicles - Fuel vehicles are now incorporating intelligent features traditionally associated with electric vehicles, such as advanced driver assistance systems and high-performance in-car technology [4][5]. - The 2026 models from GAC Toyota and the new Geely models emphasize smart technology, including high-capacity computing chips and comprehensive driver assistance features [4][5]. Group 3: Industry Challenges - Despite advancements, fuel vehicles face inherent limitations in smart technology integration due to their traditional electronic architecture, which is less capable than that of electric vehicles [6][7]. - Experts highlight that achieving higher levels of automation (L3 and above) in fuel vehicles will require significant hardware upgrades, which could increase production costs [8]. Group 4: Collaborations and Innovations - Many automakers are partnering with local suppliers like Huawei to enhance the smart capabilities of fuel vehicles, aiming to provide a competitive experience similar to that of electric vehicles [9][10]. - The collaboration between SAIC Audi and Huawei has led to the launch of the A5L Sportback, which features advanced sensor systems and intelligent driving capabilities [10]. Group 5: Global Market Opportunities - The demand for smart features in fuel vehicles is expected to grow in overseas markets, where the transition to electric vehicles is slower, presenting an opportunity for Chinese suppliers to expand their presence [12][13]. - Companies like Zhuoyue Technology are leveraging partnerships with major automakers to develop advanced driving assistance systems, aiming to penetrate the European market [14].