Although China's automotive industry has made significant progress, the reliance on foreign brands and technologies remains a major challenge. Despite this, efforts are being made to build domestic innovation capabilities. According to data from the State Intellectual Property Office of China, between 1985 and 2005, foreign companies filed approximately 11.2 times more invention patents in China than domestic enterprises. These patents are often concentrated in critical areas such as onboard protection, engines, and electrical control systems, while Chinese companies focus on less strategic fields like vehicle transmission and specialized transport. In overseas markets, Chinese automakers have limited patent presence. For instance, well-known Chinese brands like Chery, Geely, and Chang’an have not obtained any authorized U.S. patents, highlighting a lack of global intellectual property strategy. In contrast, Toyota alone holds over 10,000 U.S. patents, showing the gap in technological leadership. This underlines the need for Chinese automakers to invest more in R&D and patent development to break free from the intellectual property constraints they currently face. The 863 Project, which focuses on six key technology areas, is now actively seeking breakthroughs that could help Chinese companies rise globally. These areas include integrated car development, heavy commercial vehicle technologies, direct injection gasoline engines, dual clutch automatic transmissions, diesel engine advancements, and automated manual transmissions (AMT). With continued investment and research, China is well-positioned to make significant strides in these sectors. In the field of integrated car development, research covers chassis optimization, collision safety, and noise control. Over the past three years, around 1,200 service invention patents were published, with over 60% from foreign entities. Domestic companies account for about 34%, and the rest come from research institutions. For example, a patent (No. 200510061026.8) describes a computer-aided method for car chassis layout. Another (No. 200610054365.8) details an automotive muffler design aimed at reducing low-frequency noise. Safety technologies, such as explosion-proof valves and airbag systems, also show growing domestic interest. In the area of heavy commercial vehicles, research includes aerodynamic cab design, noise reduction, and structural optimization. While most patents come from domestic entities, foreign applications are mainly from Japan and Europe. Technologies like component connection methods and gear design are being explored to improve performance and comfort. For direct injection gasoline engines (GDI), research involves combustion techniques, electronic control systems, and emission reduction strategies. Japanese and German companies dominate this space, but Chinese enterprises are gradually catching up with a few local applications. Dual clutch automatic transmissions (DCT) are another focus area, with research on control systems, shift strategies, and fault diagnostics. Most patents here are from foreign firms, but some domestic innovations are emerging. In diesel engine development for heavy vehicles, efforts center on improving emissions, corrosion resistance, and overall performance. While foreign companies lead, there is a growing number of domestic patents related to engine components and control systems. Automated manual transmissions (AMT) involve software and hardware development, intelligent shifting, and reliability testing. Although foreign patents still dominate, some Chinese innovations are starting to appear. Beyond these six core areas, the “Eleventh Five-Year Plan” also emphasizes road spectrum analysis and automotive standardization. These initiatives aim to support broader technological development and provide valuable references for future projects. With sustained investment and strategic planning, China’s automotive industry is poised to achieve significant technological advancements, enhancing its global competitiveness and breaking free from long-standing intellectual property challenges.

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