Smart driving new front in China car wars despite fatal crash

Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) help with tasks ranging from cruise control to parking and collision avoidance.

Intelligent driving features are the new battleground in China's merciless car market, with competition spurring brands to world-leading advances -- but a recent fatal crash has seen the government intervene to put the brakes on runaway enthusiasm.

Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) help with tasks ranging from cruise control to parking and collision avoidance, with the ultimate aim being a fully self-driving car.

Automakers are pouring investment into their development, especially in the world's biggest car market China, which skews young and tech-savvy.

"Ten years ago, only 15 percent of customers said they would change car because of an intelligent cockpit -- today it's 54 percent," Giovanni Lanfranchi of EV firm Zeekr said.

Almost 60% of cars sold in China last year had level-two ADAS features -- where the driver is still in control but there is continuous assistance -- or above, according to an AlixPartners report released last week.

The features "are emerging as a key competitive tool", said the consultancy's Yvette Zhang.

Some firms use their own proprietary technology, like start-up Xpeng and consumer electronics-turned-car company Xiaomi, while others are cooperating with tech giants such as Huawei.