Former MIIT minister: China's 95% auto chips imported from other countries

Beijing (Gasgoo)- On the 2021 WNEVC (World New Energy Vehicle Congress), former MIIT minister Miao Wei said China has headed off a preemptive start in the concept and analysis of automobile connectivity. The unique user-car synergy shall be an advantage of China’s intelligent connected vehicles industry, but it still faces many challenges.  

photo credit: WNEVC

Demands for auto-grade chips are surging along with the booming industry. The domestic supply chain still requires strengthen against external shock since 95% of China’s in-vehicle perceptual, computing, storage, and communication chips need to be imported, according to the expert.

Fundamental software stacks like vehicle safety control OS are mainly provided by foreign OEMs and auto part suppliers. Design, develop and verification tools are also mostly from western countries. Foreign companies in the industry are relatively advantageous in on-board operating systems.

Problems concerning functional safety, network security, and data security still exist. Adding the recently introduced SOTIF (Safety of the Intended Functionality) risk, both companies and regulators in the industry are facing new challenges.

In addition, infrastructure construction for car-road synergy is limited by current business model, technology level, and other objective reasons.  

Miao Wei pointed out, with the rising of intelligent connected vehicle industry, the cross-industry integrated development is a consequent result. A diversity of businesses can incorporate their individual advantages into the field.

In spite of the already large-scaled application of assistant driving technology, every move towards actual unmanned driving has to be made under the utter premise of ensuring safety.