From October 17 to 19, 2024, the 2024 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference (WICV 2024), co-hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Transport (MOT), and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, was successfully held in the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA). It served as an international cooperation platform for sharing experiences and results while jointly building the ecosystem. The event provided robust support and guidance for the development of the global ICV industry, further enhancing China’s influence in this sector.

I. Overview

1. Clear and focused theme. Themed “Collaborating for Future Smart Mobility: Embracing New Opportunities in ICV Development”, the WICV 2024 encompassed forums, exhibitions, competitions, and experience activities, bringing together global resources and collective wisdom. A total of 17 key events were held, including the opening ceremony, the plenary session, and several thematic summits, along with interactive activities. More than 100 representatives, including dignitaries from government agencies, industry experts and scholars, leaders of international organizations, and heads of leading enterprises, delivered speeches. The event also attracted over 7,000 participants from governments, enterprises, and research institutions in more than 20 countries and regions, as well as over 33 million online views. In parallel, the exhibition and autonomous driving experience activity drew over 80,000 visitors, highlighting WICV’s role as a global platform for exchanges and promotion. Domestic and international attendees engaged in discussions on hot issues to share their insights and foster collaboration, showcasing the dynamic innovation of the ICV industry to the world.

2. Elevated attendee profile. Relevant leaders from the CPC Central Committee and the State Council visited the exhibition. Major leaders from the MIIT, the MOT, the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality attended the event and visited the exhibition. More than 100 representatives from government departments, key enterprises, and industry organizations were also present, including Lewis Neal, HM Trade Commissioner for China; Ms. Sigrid de Vries, Director General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA); Andreas Rade, Managing Director of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA); and Habib, Chief Development Officer of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Additionally, eight academicians, including Wu Hequan, Sun Fengchun, and Li Keqiang, delivered speeches. A total of 127 chairpersons and CEOs from leading enterprises, including Qiu Xiandong, Chairman of BOD at FAW Group; Zeng Qinghong, Chairman of GAC Group; Li Shufu, Chairman of Geely Holding Group; and Lei Jun, Chairman of Xiaomi, gathered to explore development strategies and map out the future of the industry.

II. Highlights

1. Expanding international exchanges and cooperation. We were honored to have Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry of Malaysia, address the opening ceremony. The event featured six thematic summits and five concurrent side events, with distinguished speakers from countries and regions such as the UN, Germany, the UK, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Greece. Additionally, the ambassadors of Argentina and South Africa to China, as well as delegates from Spain, the ROK, France, Uruguay, and other nations, engaged in cross-sector exchanges, collaboratively addressing challenges of comprehensive governance and sharing visions for the future of industrial development.

2. Building a robust industry ecosystem. The 2024 edition was held in Beijing E-Town for the first time, leveraging the advantages of Beijing High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Zone to forge synergy for industrial development. Alignment of policies and regulations, future technology trends, and industrial deployment direction were under in-depth discussions by over 30 representatives from embassies in China, international industry organizations, and key enterprises during the International Policy Roundtable, Enterprise Executive Roundtable, and Symposium on International Cutting-Edge Automotive Technologies. Together, they explored new pathways for collaborative development in the industry.

3. Building consensus on industrial development. Significant results, such as the Global Top 10 ICVs Breakthroughs and the Global Top 10 ICV Technology Trends, were released for the first time, reflecting industry-wide wisdom and offering a comprehensive view of the latest research and advancements in the ICV industry. The WICV 2024 also introduced intellectual achievements such as the Standard System and Application Pilot Recommended Standard List for the Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integrated System and the Comprehensive Research Report on Automotive-grade Chipleted System-on-Chip. These highlighted the dynamic innovation through cross-sector and cross-domain collaboration, effectively supporting the stable and orderly growth of the industry.

III. Key Achievements

1. Charting new directions for the industry. During the conference, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on hot issues, including policies, standards and regulations, pilot demonstrations, cyber and data security, and vehicle-road-cloud integration, exchanging valuable insights and recommendations. Over 1,000 cutting-edge ICV technologies and innovative products were showcased, attracting over 80,000 visitors. Special reports, such as The Construction and Application Guideline for the Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integrated System, were released as guidance for technological innovation and industrial upgrading.

2. Unleashing industrial vitality. The BDA unveiled important policies to support industrial growth, aimed at developing the Beijing E-Town Automotive Intelligent Manufacturing Innovation City and pooling high-quality industry resources in Beijing. Agreements were signed among 11 industry chain ecosystem enterprises across fields such as semiconductors, autonomous driving technologies, and charging infrastructure to build an ICV industry ecosystem and enhance the industry chain. The Beijing RISC-V Digital Infrastructure Innovation Center was launched to further catalyze technological collaboration and commercialization while fostering ecosystem development.

3. Elevating public awareness. From its preparation to conclusion, the conference received extensive coverage by central mainstream media outlets, including People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, and China Media Group. More than 100 domestic and international media outlets actively engaged in and reported on the event, broadly amplifying its results. The coverage helped the public gain a comprehensive understanding of the significance of ICV development, adopt a rational perspective on current technological advancements, and support technological innovation and industrial growth in an orderly way. A total of 76,200 media mentions were recorded, including 23,100 news and APP reports, 14,100 Weibo discussions, and 3,300 WeChat official account articles.