China's intelligent network of car patents accounted for up to 37% of the world's patents

Unmanned driving has evolved from a hot topic within the automotive industry into a broader societal concern. Beyond its massive economic potential, it offers significant social benefits, prompting both multinational automakers and governments to invest heavily in its development. One key aspect of this progress is the growing number of patents related to autonomous technologies. Let’s explore what the car electronics editor has to say on this subject.

Patents are not only indicators of technological innovation but also powerful tools for strategic decision-making in industrial development. Companies can turn these patents into commercial value or use them as leverage against competitors in the global market. Recently, the Tsinghua University Global Industry 4.5 Research Institute released a report titled “Intelligent Networked Automotive Technology Global Patent Watch.” This comprehensive analysis highlights the trends, key players, and characteristics of patent applications in the field of smart connected vehicles. It serves as a valuable reference for China's future patent strategies in this area.

In the global landscape of intelligent networked cars, traditional automakers, tech-driven startups, and cross-industry players are all racing to develop cutting-edge technologies to capture the emerging market. Patents are one of the most quantifiable metrics for assessing a company’s innovation capabilities. By analyzing big data on related patents, we can identify the major research directions, technical strengths, and focus areas of countries and companies around the world. This kind of analysis helps predict future technology trends and uncover possible gaps in the field, offering critical insights for Chinese enterprises aiming to set R&D priorities, seek partnerships, and build strong patent portfolios.

Patent Trends Are Rising Rapidly

Intelligent networked vehicles are often referred to as "artificial intelligence on wheels." The two core aspects are "intelligence" — which includes autonomous driving and driver assistance — and "networking," involving vehicle communication systems and connectivity. According to the report, the number of global patent applications in this field has seen a sharp increase over recent years. Key areas of interest include driver warning systems, active collision avoidance, optical sensors, navigation systems, lane-keeping control, and remote communication. With more than 45,000 global patents in this space, over 32,000 were filed in the last decade alone, representing more than 70% of the total. Since 2009, the growth rate has been nearly 20% annually. Notably, driver warning and active collision avoidance systems have consistently led in patent filings over the past ten years.

Most Patents Come from Five Countries

Looking globally, China leads in the number of patents related to intelligent networked vehicles, accounting for 37% of the 32,000 global patents. Japan, the U.S., Germany, and South Korea follow with 20%, 16%, 12%, and 7% respectively. Together, these five nations hold nearly 95% of the patents. Thanks to supportive government policies, Chinese companies have surpassed their European and American counterparts in patent filings. However, in key technology areas, China still lags behind developed countries, especially when it comes to international patents. For example, in the TI core board patent collection (which includes only European, American, Japanese, and Korean patents), Japan holds 80%, while China accounts for just 1.57%. Despite being the world’s largest auto market, Chinese firms face challenges in securing global patent influence.

Traditional Automakers Still Dominate

The report highlights that established automakers like Toyota, Bosch, Denso, General Motors, Daimler, and others continue to lead in patent applications. These companies have clear strategies and evolving R&D focuses. Toyota tops the list with 1,355 applications, followed by Bosch, Denso, and other major players. Among the top 50 institutions, 70% are traditional automakers or Tier 1 suppliers, showing that they still lead in the development of intelligent networked vehicle technology. Notably, four Chinese institutions—Geely, Chery, Changan University, and Jilin University—are among the top 50 globally.

Google remains the dominant player in the unmanned driving sector, with the highest number of patents. Two Chinese institutions, Geely and Jilin University, have made it into the top 20. In the field of assisted driving, traditional automakers maintain a clear advantage, with Toyota leading. In car networking, Toyota and Denso rank 126th and 115th, respectively, while LeTV from China ranks 7th with 40 patents. In automotive communication, GM leads with over 300 patents.

Key Takeaways for Chinese Enterprises

The report concludes with several recommendations: first, focus on identifying technical gaps and strengthening the layout of patented technologies in intelligent networked vehicles. Second, prioritize independent research and development to improve the quality of patents. Third, promote a global strategy by emphasizing transnational patent transactions and foreign litigation. Finally, accelerate the industrialization of patent technologies to bring them to market effectively.

This article provides an overview of China's leadership in the global intelligent networked vehicle patent landscape, with 37% of the world's patents. If you want to learn more about this rapidly evolving field, keep following our updates. We’ll continue to provide you with comprehensive, detailed, and up-to-date information on automotive technology and beyond.