GM envisions intelligent auto era

China is in the driver's seat when it comes to automotive electrification and vehicle-to-infrastructure connectivity, thanks in part to a strong government commitment to catapult the world's largest car market to the forefront of pioneering practices, according to a top executive from General Motors Co.

The rollout of V2X, or vehicle-to-everything communication, requires corresponding legislation and other endeavors, such as installing sensors on roads or making traffic lights smart, which are all ultimately critical to a smoother flow of traffic, said Matt Tsien, GM executive vice-president and president of GM China.

"Right now, V2X is not deployed on any sort of scale anywhere in the world," Tsien told China Daily in a recent interview. "China is in an environment where the government has the resolve. When they see the benefits to society... there's been a willingness to make an investment in infrastructure."

Last year, the company demonstrated its vehicle-to-infrastructure capabilities on public roads, showing the vehicle was able to receive real-time data from traffic lights, which it used to help drivers to better control their driving speed, and thereby cutting congestion.

Tsien said China's desire to embrace new technologies is in accordance with GM's vision of a world free of emissions, accidents and congestion with its electric vehicles, autonomous driving and V2X technology.

The automaker has announced plans to deliver 10 new energy vehicle models in the country between 2016 and 2020 and double that number by 2023. This is in line with a government target that by 2020, 10 percent of all new cars sold in the country will be new energy vehicles.

GM also plans to introduce its advanced driving technology to China, including Super Cruise, which the car maker claims to be the world's first true hands-free driver-assist technology. In the United States, GM is testing its autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals on public roads in big cities, including San Francisco.

"Chinese consumers in particular welcome new technology and are very open to trying the new and the best," Tsien said.

"Given the fact that the auto industry is moving very quickly towards high-level automation, a higher level of shared mobility and electrification, this is a very important aspect because that's where a lot of the innovation will occur."

GM took some of its most advanced technologies to the China International Import Expo, which concluded last Saturday in Shanghai. Tsien said the fair itself is "a wonderful invitation to the world", as it signals an open attitude toward collaboration.

"When we think about imports, we don't think of necessarily just a narrow sense of importing products... but of bringing ideas together," he said, adding that it is essential to have cross-industry collaboration to meet local market and regulatory conditions.

Tsien also commended local governments' continued work to simplify procedures, saying the authorities have a service-oriented attitude to facilitate GM's business operation in the country.