Gasgoo Munich- Recent data has turned heads across the industry: Chery Automobile has held the top spot for invention patents in Anhui Province for 12 straight years. In 2025 alone, patent applications climbed nearly 50% year-on-year, while authorizations surged by more than 300%.
As the auto industry navigates the deep waters of transformation, patent counts serve as a barometer for technical reserves. This report card sends a clear signal: this legacy tech-focused automaker is quietly building momentum on the intelligence track.
Yet patents are only the starting line; implementation is what counts. As the AI wave sweeps through the automotive sector, the rules of the tech race have shifted: from isolated breakthroughs to systemic capability, and from hardware stacking to software-hardware integration. In this new phase, the competition hinges not just on R&D spending, but on the speed of tech conversion and the ability to build an ecosystem.
Chery, for its part, is answering that challenge with a concentrated rollout of AI achievements.
AI steps out of the lab for real-world testing
This past February, Chery's AI technologies went to work en masse.
During the Spring Festival travel rush, the Falcon Intelligent driver assistance system logged over 12.86 million km across 130,000 equipped vehicles. Its "millisecond-level collision avoidance" triggered more than 10,000 times, lane corrections exceeded 5.5 million, and automated parking was executed over 170,000 times.
Beyond the road, Chery's embodied intelligence products are integrating deeply into daily life. The Moja humanoid robot served as a volunteer at Wuhu Station, guiding travelers during the rush. It also took the stage at the Wuhu Spring Festival Gala to perform alongside actors and even appeared as a "reporter" at the Anhui Provincial Two Sessions, becoming a focal point of tech discussion.
Image source: Chery Automobile
Meanwhile, the "Wuyou Smart Police U001" vehicle-mounted drone—a joint effort between Chery and Wuhu Public Security—officially launched operations. It establishes a trinity smart patrol system spanning "air, ground, and network," providing comprehensive protection for travel safety.
From intelligent driving systems to humanoid robots and vehicle-mounted drones, Chery's AI technology is no longer just a slide-deck concept. It has stepped into real-world scenarios and passed rigorous testing.
The ultimate test for implementation, however, lies in market feedback.
In February, the classic Chery QQ series made a comeback. The new QQ3, an "AI-powered smart electric sedan," features Falcon Intelligent Driving and the Lingxi Smart Cabin. Within three hours of opening blind pre-orders, orders surpassed 27,000 units—a clear vote of confidence from consumers.
The iCAR V27, positioned as a mid-to-large off-road SUV, is equipped with the high-end Falcon 700 intelligent driving system to target the personalized off-road market. Its overseas counterpart made its global debut in Dubai, UAE, while the domestic market awaits its launch.
Notably, the EMB electro-mechanical braking system—a cutting-edge technology from the aviation sector—will see its first mass-production land application in the EXEED EX7. Distinct from traditional hydraulic systems, EMB enables millisecond-level response and ultra-high braking precision, providing foundational support for advanced intelligent driving.
In short, Chery is rapidly converting AI technology into product competitiveness, using a matrix of new models to answer market demand.
A "Land, Sea, and Air" ecosystem takes shape
If implementing individual technologies creates "points," then ecosystem building creates the "plane." Chery's AI strategy is unfolding a three-dimensional network across land, sea, and air.
The core "Land" sector aggregates intelligent technologies like Falcon assisted driving and the Lingxi Smart Cabin, alongside products such as smart vehicles, the Chery AiMOGA robot, and robotic dogs. By the end of the year, Falcon technology will cover more than 35 models, spanning all brands and powertrain types.
In the "Water" domain, the Ark amphibious system empowers the Zongheng G700, enhancing all-terrain adaptability for amphibious travel. This is not a concept car gimmick, but a substantial technical reserve.
The "Air" domain features products like the Lingxiao 208 amphibious flying car and the "Wuyou Smart Police U001" drone, positioning Chery to seize opportunities in the low-altitude economy.
The synergy across these three sectors is accelerating Chery's transformation into a global high-tech ecosystem group. Behind this rapid deployment of AI achievements lies the deep foundation of Chery's "technology-first" philosophy.
Image source: Chery Automobile
Beyond its 12-year patent dominance, Chery has built a "super technology shelf" covering five major areas: Mars Architecture, Kunpeng Power, Lingxi Smart Cabin, Falcon Intelligent Driving, and the Galaxy Ecosystem. This shelf is subdivided into 17 technical modules, stocking over 400 advanced technologies ready for rapid deployment.
The Flying Fish Chassis, the Kunpeng Tianqiang engine with 48% thermal efficiency, Falcon Intelligent Driving, the AI agent "Xiaoqi," and the scalable use of 100% recycled aluminum are all part of the mix—giving new product development a significant edge.
More importantly, starting from the top level, Chery has connected the entire innovation chain—from patents to the technology shelf, and on to product development and ecosystem construction. This system ensures efficient technology conversion and iteration, building a systemic innovation capability that is difficult to replicate.
Today, competition in the auto industry has evolved from a battle over power performance to a contest of intelligent experiences, and now to a race defined by AI system capabilities.
In this new phase, success depends not on how flashy a single technology is, but on the depth of technical reserves, the speed of implementation, and the breadth of the ecosystem. Twelve years of patent accumulation are now translating into Chery's differentiated competitive edge in the AI era.
From intelligent protection on the Spring Festival roads to the daily application of robots and the market heat of new products, Chery has proven with tangible results that a "technology-first" approach remains valid in the age of intelligence.
Can this legacy tech automaker ride the global wave of intelligence on the strength of its AI hand? The answer is being verified, one result at a time, by the technology it brings to the road.
