China’s State-Owned Auto Giants Turn to Huawei in Smart Car Race
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Dongfeng Motor's Yang Qing (left) meets with Huawei's Ren Zhengfei in Shenzhen on Sept. 22. Photo: Dongfeng Motor
Another of China’s major state-owned automakers is expanding its collaboration with Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., as legacy carmakers increasingly turn to the tech giant for an edge in the smart vehicle race.
Dongfeng Motor Group Co. Ltd. Chairman Yang Qing on Monday met with Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, stating that Dongfeng will pursue comprehensive cooperation with Huawei in areas such as corporate management, product design, smart technologies and marketing, according to a Sept. 23 company statement. Several of Dongfeng’s brands, including Voyah, eπ and M-Hero, have already integrated Huawei’s systems into their vehicles.
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- Major Chinese state-owned automakers, including Dongfeng, SAIC, and GAC, have deepened collaborations with Huawei for smart vehicle technology integration.
- Huawei’s two partnership models, the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance and Huawei Inside, have attracted top automakers facing challenges in developing advanced in-house systems.
- Industry trend shows traditional automakers are increasingly relying on Huawei's expertise to remain competitive amid rapid market shifts and new consumer demands.
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Who’s Who
- Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.
- Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. is expanding its collaborations with major Chinese state-owned automakers. It offers two partnership models: the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance and the "Huawei Inside" (HI) model, providing comprehensive smart vehicle solutions. These collaborations aim to help automakers integrate advanced intelligent systems into their vehicles, addressing shortcomings in their in-house development.
- Dongfeng Motor Group Co. Ltd.
- Dongfeng Motor Group Co. Ltd. is a major Chinese state-owned automaker that is expanding its collaboration with Huawei. Its chairman, Yang Qing, met with Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei to pursue comprehensive cooperation in corporate management, product design, smart technologies, and marketing. Several of Dongfeng's brands, such as Voyah, eπ, and M-Hero, already integrate Huawei's systems.
- SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd.
- SAIC Motor Corp. Ltd. (600104.SH) is a Chinese state-owned automaker that has partnered with Huawei. Initially hesitant about deep integration, SAIC launched the "H5" model under its "Shangjie" brand, co-developed with Huawei. SAIC is also part of Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance, demonstrating a strategic shift to leverage Huawei's smart vehicle technology amidst market pressure.
- Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd.
- Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd. (GAC) recently unveiled a new brand in partnership with Huawei, despite previously rejecting deep integration with the tech giant. This shift highlights GAC's increasing reliance on Huawei's expertise in smart vehicle technology to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving automotive market. Their collaboration is aimed at leveraging Huawei's capabilities in areas where traditional automakers like GAC have recognized shortcomings.
- Chery Automobile Co. Ltd.
- Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. is a partner in Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance. Previously, Chery had to disband its assisted driving research team due to its inability to develop a viable system in-house, highlighting the automotive industry's increasing reliance on Huawei for advanced smart vehicle technology.
- Seres Group Co. Ltd.
- Seres Group Co. Ltd. (601127.SH) is a partner in Huawei's Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance. Their collaboration with Huawei has been notably successful, enabling Seres to achieve profitability and establish a presence in the luxury automotive market. This success has encouraged other automakers to join similar partnerships with Huawei.
- Beijing Automotive Group Co. Ltd.
- Beijing Automotive Group Co. Ltd. (BAIC) is one of Huawei's partners in the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance. This collaboration highlights a growing trend among state-owned automakers to integrate Huawei's advanced smart vehicle systems, leveraging the tech giant's R&D to enhance their competitiveness in the evolving intelligent vehicle market.
- Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp. Ltd.
- Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Corp. Ltd. (**600418.SH**) is a state-owned automaker that has partnered with Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. It is part of the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance, a collaboration led by Huawei's consumer business group, aimed at integrating smart technologies into vehicles.
- Shenzhen Yinwang Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd.
- **Shenzhen Yinwang Intelligent Technology Co. Ltd.** is a new company spun off from Huawei's "Huawei Inside" (HI) intelligent solutions business. It partners with automakers like Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Ltd. (for its Avatr and Deepal brands), Dongfeng's various brands, and a brand under GAC, providing a full suite of intelligent solutions for smart vehicles.
- Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Ltd.
- Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Ltd. (branded as Changan Automobile Group) utilizes Huawei's "Huawei Inside" (HI) partnership model. Its Avatr and Deepal brands incorporate Huawei's full suite of intelligent solutions. The chairman, Zhu Huarong, has even attended Huawei's training workshops to learn from their product development and marketing systems.
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What Happened When
- June 30, 2025：
- GAC Chairman Feng Xingya met with Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei.
- August 2025：
- Changan Automobile Group Chairman Zhu Huarong visited Huawei and attended its training workshops.
- September 19, 2025：
- GAC officially unveiled a new brand created in partnership with Huawei.
- September 22, 2025：
- Dongfeng Motor Group Chairman Yang Qing met with Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei and stated intentions for comprehensive cooperation.
- September 23, 2025：
- Dongfeng Motor Group released a company statement about its cooperation with Huawei. On the same day, SAIC Motor launched the first H5 model from its 'Shangjie' brand, co-developed with Huawei.
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