For many years, we viewed China as the world’s largest factory. Today, that perspective is no longer sufficient. The reality is that the country is setting the pace for the transformation of the automotive industry—not only because of its production capacity, but above all because of the speed with which it develops and brings new technologies to market.

The numbers help illustrate the scale of this change. In 2025, China produced approximately 34.4 million vehicles, a volume greater than that of Europe and the United States combined. In the domestic market, more than 70% of the cars sold are now from Chinese brands, confirming a historic shift in a sector that for decades was dominated by European, Japanese, and American manufacturers.

BYD’s leadership is now one of the most visible examples of this transformation. The brand has surpassed Tesla in electric vehicle sales and continues to expand into new markets. At the same time, companies such as SAIC, Geely, and even Xiaomi demonstrate that the automobile has definitively become part of the tech world.

This capacity for innovation is also reflected in the company’s international expansion. In 2025, China exported approximately 8 million vehicles, cementing its position as the world’s largest automotive exporter. In Europe, the presence of Chinese brands continues to grow, already accounting for about 7% of sales—a trend that is unlikely to be reversed.

But perhaps the most interesting thing is to realize that this transformation isn’t limited to electric cars.

Humanoid robotics is following a very similar path. In 2025 alone, Chinese manufacturers accounted for the majority of humanoid robots sold worldwide. Companies such as Unitree and Agibot are already producing thousands of units, while their robots are beginning to operate in industrial settings, including BYD and Geely’s automobile factories.

Unlike what often happens with emerging technologies, we are no longer dealing with prototypes or lab demonstrations. We are talking about real-world applications that are integrated into production processes.

The same is true for autonomous driving.

While much of the world continues to test solutions, China is already operating large-scale commercial services. Baidu, through its Apollo Go platform, has already completed more than 17 million autonomous trips and accumulated more than 240 million kilometers driven without a driver. Pony.ai and WeRide are following suit, preparing for a significant expansion of their fleets in the coming years.

Forecasts point to very rapid growth. Goldman Sachs estimates that China’s robotaxi fleet could reach about 500,000 vehicles by 2030, approaching 2 million by 2035.

There is another factor that should not be overlooked: Chinese consumers are more open to adopting these technologies and are willing to pay for autonomous driving solutions when they offer greater safety, convenience, and comfort.

For those who work in the automotive industry, these figures send a clear message.

Competition is no longer limited to car manufacturers. It now takes place among technology ecosystems, where software, artificial intelligence, data analytics, electronics, robotics, and new mobility services are evolving together.

The question is no longer whether this transformation will happen. The question is who will be prepared to keep up with the pace at which it is happening.

At this speed, it’s already called: China Fast!

Rodrigo Ferreira Silva – Presidente da Direção da ARAN