China's rapid transformation toward smart living and its edge in electric vehicle manufacturing and usage are factors that are reshaping the global automotive landscape and redefining market opportunities as well as industrial innovation pathways, industry experts said.

"China is no longer just a market for deployment, but a critical hub for innovation and outbound growth," said Deon Newman, senior vice-president and general manager for Asia-Pacific at HERE Technologies, a global provider of mapping and location data.

"Over the past decade, the country has undergone one of the most profound transformations in the global automotive industry, driven by the rise of domestic brands in electrification, software-defined vehicles and intelligent driving," Newman said during an exclusive interview with China Daily, adding that the country has been at the core of HERE's global strategy for the past two decades.

China's position as the world's largest auto market continues to underpin this transformation. According to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China sold 34.4 million vehicles in 2025, up 9.4 percent year-on-year, while total production reached 34.53 million units. Both production and sales have remained above 30 million units for three consecutive years.

Against this backdrop, Chinese automakers are increasingly expanding overseas, moving into markets such as Europe and Southeast Asia, supported by rapid product iteration and growing technological capabilities.

"This shift is precisely why our strategy today is built on a clear principle: 'in China, for global'," Newman said, noting that China's evolution is also reshaping the role of global technology partners. "Our ambition is to serve as an accelerator and enabler for Chinese automakers and technology leaders as they scale beyond China."

He added that navigation systems are evolving from traditional mapping tools into safety-critical components that directly support intelligent driving functions.

"In software-defined vehicles, maps are becoming a key digital layer that connects cloud development with in-vehicle operations," he said.

This enables automakers to develop, test and validate intelligent driving functions in the cloud before deploying them on the road, forming a continuous development loop.

Such systems now support advanced driver assistance and navigation-on-autopilot functions, while also helping meet regulatory requirements such as Intelligent Speed Assistance in markets like Europe.

As Chinese brands expand globally, they face growing complexity in adapting to different regulatory frameworks and road environments, Newman said, adding that collaboration between global and Chinese technology companies is becoming increasingly important.

The company has established long-term partnerships with Chinese automakers including Geely, BYD, Nio and SAIC Motor, as well as tech players such as Amap and Baidu Maps.

In late 2025, HERE announced an alliance with Amap, combining global mapping capabilities with local expertise. "Together, we are building a bridge between China-leading innovation and global-scale deployment," Newman said.

Looking ahead, Newman said China will continue to play a pivotal role in the global automotive industry as its intelligent driving technologies advance.

He said: "Demand for globally consistent and compliant technology solutions will continue to grow in the next three to five years.

"At the same time, we are continuing to strengthen our presence in China," Newman said, citing ongoing expansion in teams and partnerships to better support local clients.

"In many ways, HERE's journey in China mirrors the transformation of the country's automotive industry. Today, we are helping to bring China's advanced intelligent mobility technologies and user experiences to the global stage."

yinmingyue@chinadaily.com.cn