US, Japanese, and German Car Manufacturers Chase Chinese Technology Amid Sales Decline

BEIJING, KOMPAS.com - Car manufacturers are beginning to catch up on their technological lag behind local competitors in China. The pressure stems from declining sales in the world’s largest automotive market.

Manufacturers from the United States, South Korea, and Germany are introducing new models specifically for the Chinese market. The launches coincide with the Beijing auto show, which began on Friday.

“We have plans to rebuild this brand and return to our previous position in terms of volume and market share,” said Will Stacy, Vice President of Cadillac China at General Motors, quoting CNBC on Friday (24/4/2026).

Advanced driver assistance software supports use on highways, urban roads, and automatic parking. The technology was developed in collaboration with the Chinese autonomous driving startup, Momenta.

Cadillac has long been known as an internal combustion engine-based brand in China. The launch of an electric model represents a crucial step to catch up with market changes.

Local production also accelerates the manufacturing process. Production time has been reduced by up to 18 months.

Hyundai Motor Company is launching the IONIQ electric vehicle brand in China. This move is part of a major expansion in the country.

“China is where the future of mobility is being shaped, and Hyundai wants to help define it in China, for China, and ultimately for the world,” said Hyundai CEO, Jose Munoz.

The latest IONIQ V model is equipped with driver assistance technology resulting from collaboration with Momenta. Other features include AI-based voice control with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chipset.

Hyundai is preparing to export the IONIQ lineup to the Asia-Pacific, Australia, and the Middle East if it succeeds in China.