2026 Future Auto Pioneers Summit Dives Deep: Tech Implementation, Value Return, and Systemic Competition

In 2026, the 4th Future Mobility Pioneers Conference was held alongside the 30th anniversary of the Greater Bay Area Auto Show, under the theme “Ascending Step by Step.” The theme underscores the need for the automotive industry to shift from scale-driven expansion toward rebuilding technological order, deepening industrial collaboration, and reshaping brand value, as new energy and intelligent connected vehicles enter a more complex and challenging phase. Data shows that China’s passenger vehicle sales reached 26.19 million units in 2025, with replacement purchases accounting for over 50%, marking the beginning of a new upgrade-and-replacement cycle. From January to April 2026, the penetration rate of new energy vehicles (NEVs) surged from 38% to 61%, with domestic brands capturing 80% of the NEV market. Chinese plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) accounted for 70% of global PHEV sales, while battery electric vehicles (BEVs) represented 60% of the global BEV market. Despite the rapid rise in NEV adoption, the industry’s overall profitability remains under pressure. In January–February 2026, the average profit margin of the automotive sector fell to a range of 2.9%–4.1%. Multiple executives emphasized that long-term growth cannot rely solely on price wars or feature stacking; instead, companies must focus on building systemic capabilities and delivering genuine user value. Xiang Xingchu of JAC Group stated that traditional automakers must simultaneously advance electrification, intelligence, organizational efficiency, user operations, and global expansion. Wang Hui of Avatr stressed the need to shift from “selling products” to “building strong brands” and from “competing on specs” to “competing on safety.” Xu Jun of Leapmotor noted that the marginal returns of extending driving range are diminishing, and users now prioritize practical, efficient, reliable, and cost-effective mobility solutions. Zhang Zhengping of Seres declared, “Safety is the ultimate luxury,” highlighting that its intelligent driving system has already prevented over 3.54 million potential collisions and implemented end-to-end traceability and automated inspection at vehicle rollout. Li Chuanhai of Geely argued that innovation must evolve from isolated breakthroughs to holistic system-level advancement, leveraging full-domain AI and the 2030 Lab to develop embodied intelligence. William Li of NIO observed that the industry has entered a “brand clarification phase,” where competition hinges on comprehensive capabilities across R&D, supply chain, manufacturing, quality, and service. Michael Zobel of Mercedes-Benz China noted that software-defined vehicles and centralized computing architectures are redefining OEM-supplier relationships, making future competitiveness increasingly dependent on system integration and sustained engineering excellence. Wang Lang of Chery called for moving beyond low-level internal competition toward co-advancement based on value, experience, and collaboration. Yi Han of smart proposed leveraging dual-core synergy between China and Europe, pursuing “premium compact cars and personalized large vehicles” to refocus on long-term user value. In the second half of the intelligent era, Zhou Guang of YuanRong pointed out that small models have hit their performance ceiling, and physics-based AI foundation models will deliver a tenfold leap—targeting delivery of over one million urban NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) systems in 2026. Wang Tan of XPeng unveiled the world’s first mass-produced flying car, “Land Aircraft Carrier,” along with the Greater Bay Area’s first flying car production line, emphasizing that AI and electrification are transforming vehicles into intelligent agents with expandable physical boundaries. From a supply chain perspective, Lu Chuanhua of Yanfeng outlined that intelligent cockpits will evolve around “four freedoms”: spatial flexibility, interaction, comfort, and health/safety. Adopting a “Tier 0.5” model, suppliers will deeply engage in early-stage vehicle definition to support Chinese automakers’ global expansion. Discussions at this year’s conference have moved beyond individual products or technical pathways, delving into industrial structure, energy networks, urban mobility, and even civilizational paradigms. Participants reached a consensus: the core of future automotive competition lies in the ability to translate grand visions into verifiable, actionable technological steps—reestablishing brand and value benchmarks amid the fog of price wars, and achieving sustainable development that is stable, enduring, and substantive.