The 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), held this week in Shanghai, has become a pivotal gathering for global automotive technology suppliers seeking to leverage the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) market and its accelerating adoption of autonomous and connected mobility systems. The 2025 event, which runs amid rapid expansion in China’s EV sector and increased regulatory focus on vehicle electrification and safety, drew major Japanese and South Korean corporations including Sony, Samsung, and Asahi Kasei, all of whom unveiled major new strategies and product lines aimed squarely at securing their positions within China’s evolving automotive value chain.

Sony debuted the world’s first connected vehicle with a "see-through" function, enabling drivers and occupants to visualize their surroundings through real-time images captured around the vehicle—delivered via advanced artificial intelligence technology developed in partnership with Chinese universities. Sun Chen, vice president of Sony China Research Institute, revealed that this breakthrough, initially piloted in China, will subsequently be rolled out to global markets. The solution integrates real-time environmental monitoring with sensor fusion and high-bandwidth transmission, offering a compelling safety upgrade for new energy vehicles and fleets seeking to minimize blind spots and enhance situational awareness under complex urban conditions.

Sony’s growth trajectory in China underscores the rising demand for high-performance in-car audio and sensor modules, reflective of broader supplier trends to move up the technology stack. Wu Lei, director of Sony China’s automotive product division, noted that since entering the Chinese market in 2020, Sony has achieved a tenfold increase in its car audio business performance, and has recently entered commercial pilot projects with autonomous shuttle operators. This shift signals the strategic importance of forming partnerships within China’s robust ecosystem of EV startups and public transportation innovators, particularly as new-concept vehicles and autonomous mobility platforms transition to mass deployment.

Japanese chemical giant Asahi Kasei highlighted its latest electrolyte technology for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, supporting stable operation from minus 40 to 60 degrees Celsius. The company’s solution enables thick electrode designs which extend EV range—a business-critical consideration for both passenger and commercial fleets, especially in southern and northern China where operating conditions can vary dramatically. The new material innovation offers manufacturers and battery suppliers opportunities for supply chain optimization, cost reduction, and compliance with stringent range and safety standards increasingly mandated by policymakers and fleet operators.

Samsung showcased its next-generation "smart cockpit" hardware—incorporating advanced organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays throughout the vehicle, from curved central consoles to detachable rear passenger entertainment screens and privacy-shielded instruments for the front seat. According to expo representatives, several rising Chinese EV brands have already adopted Samsung’s cockpit platform, supporting the regional trend toward user-centric connectivity, personalization, and digital interaction. Samsung further presented its new advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) camera, which leverages proprietary high-temperature, high-voltage, and high-capacity capacitors, tailored for autonomous and electrified vehicles—highlighting the continued cross-border co-innovation taking place in sensor and safety-critical electronic subsystems.

These technology showcases at CIIE 2025 reflect deepening Asia-Pacific cross-industry collaboration, intensified investment in research and development, and the growing sophistication of automotive Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier ecosystems in China. Executive teams from all three suppliers emphasized the strategic role of China’s supply chain modernization and regulatory advancements in accelerating deployment, as well as the necessity of partnerships with local universities and tech startups. For B2B executives, the immediate implications include new partnership structures, fresh sourcing strategies, and expanded technology transfer agreements as the region’s automotive manufacturing, battery R&D, and digital integration capabilities continue their rapid evolution in anticipation of global rollout.

In summary, CIIE 2025 underlines the critical juncture at which Asia’s leading OEMs, suppliers, and technology vendors are taking bold steps to future-proof their businesses and address growth in connected, autonomous, and electrified vehicle platforms. This not only reshapes the competitive landscape for China itself but is setting a new global blueprint for supplier engagement, manufacturing transformation, and intelligent mobility infrastructure in the electric age.