As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the automotive industry, APEC economies are strengthening cooperation on intelligent mobility, safety standards and digital integration across the sector.

Government officials, automotive industry leaders and experts from across the region convened for a workshop in Shanghai on Monday to examine opportunities and challenges of AI and digital technology integration across the industry, highlighting the critical role of public and private collaboration.

“The Asia-Pacific has become one of the most dynamic markets for intelligent connected vehicles. The competitive and diverse nature of our region is our strength, it is what makes regional cooperation so valuable and the outcomes so meaningful," said Wang Weiming, Co-Chair of the APEC Automotive Dialogue.

The session highlighted how digital technologies are now embedded across the entire automotive ecosystem, from manufacturing and research and development to supply chain management, sales and after-sales interactions, helping to cut innovation costs, improve product quality and unlock more tailored customer experiences.

At the heart of discussions was the rapid advancement of autonomous vehicles. Industry experts from Yinwang Intelligent Industry and Tesla highlighted efforts to expand the adoption of advanced driving technologies that allow vehicles to steer, brake and accelerate with limited driver input. Participants discussed how these technologies could support safer and smarter mobility.

“A new wave of technological revolution is reshaping the very definition of the automobile, transforming it from a mechanical product into an intelligent and connected ecosystem,” said Chen Chunmei, First-level Researcher, Automotive Development Division, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China in her opening remarks.

“Sustaining this transformation requires industrial collaboration across sectors including semiconductors, cloud services, energy, transportation and digital infrastructure. This also demands stronger policy cooperation and alignment across the Asia-Pacific,” she added.

The workshop also showed that several APEC economies are already piloting higher levels of automated vehicles requiring little to no human intervention, including autonomous cars, taxis and buses.

Human safety was the shared priority across the workshops. Participants emphasized that ensuring the safety of AI-powered vehicles requires both rigorous training of AI systems to navigate complex real-world driving conditions and regulatory frameworks that are clear, consistent and adaptable to rapidly evolving technologies.

Participants also highlighted the broader potential of autonomous vehicles beyond convenience. Safe and reliable autonomous technologies could help reduce road accidents caused by human error, improve traffic flows, strengthen logistics efficiency and expand access to transportation services across the region.

“Open collaboration is what will drive the automotive industry forward. The economies that work together to share digital expertise, align standards and invest in their talent will be the ones steering the future of intelligent mobility, creating opportunities for all in the Asia-Pacific,” concluded Fu Bingfeng, Co-Chair of the APEC Automotive Dialogue.

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