Zhijie Executive Zhao Changjiang Outlines Four Key Trends Shaping China's Auto Industry Over the Next Decade

At the 2026 China Automotive Chongqing Forum, Zhao Changjiang, Executive Director and Executive Vice President of Zhijie Auto, stated that China's automotive market has entered the second half of a stock-market phase. He noted that this stage will drive a comprehensive restructuring of consumption patterns, competitive dynamics, and consumer trends. Zhao emphasized that intelligence must deeply integrate with cross-sector ecosystems, highlighting that while China has already taken the lead in electrification, it must also maintain its leadership in intelligent technologies—with safety as the core priority. He also mentioned that overseas expansion strategies need upgrading, urging companies to carefully navigate the rhythm of global market policies and geopolitical competition-cooperation dynamics. Furthermore, Zhao stressed that breakthroughs in core technologies and AI empowerment will be key drivers for the industry’s upward spiral. Summarizing four major future trends for the sector, Zhao outlined: first, the second half of the stock-market era will bring comprehensive restructuring of consumption and competition; second, building on China’s lead in electrification, intelligent development must prioritize safety; third, overseas strategies must evolve to address the global landscape of competition and cooperation; and fourth, industrial upgrading will be propelled by technological breakthroughs and AI-driven innovation.