China Leads Global Auto Patent Filings for a Decade, with Annual Growth of 17.1% in NEVs and 11.6% in Smart Connected Vehicles

Over the past decade, China has consistently ranked first globally in the number of published automotive patents, significantly outpacing major automotive manufacturing regions such as the United States, Japan, and Europe. Specifically, published patents in the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector rose from over 50,000 in 2016 to more than 110,000 in 2025, representing an average annual growth rate of 17.1%. Meanwhile, published patents related to intelligent connected vehicles increased from 44,000 in 2016 to 93,000 in 2025, with an average annual growth rate of 11.6%. During the same period, Chinese automakers have expanded their overseas patent portfolios to cover more than 50 countries and regions.