With the meteoric rise of DeepSeek, China’s homegrown AI large model, the automotive industry is undergoing a new wave of intelligent transformation. As of February 12, 2025, at least 11 Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturers have announced deep integration with DeepSeek, covering key areas such as intelligent cockpits, autonomous driving, and vehicle control systems. This technological breakthrough not only reduces the cost of AI applications but also accelerates the widespread adoption of advanced intelligent driving features. Here’s a summary of the key collaborations:
1. Dongfeng Nissan: First Joint Venture to Integrate with DeepSeek
On February 12, Dongfeng Nissan’s new all-electric sedan, the N7, announced its integration with DeepSeek-R1 deep reasoning model, marking the first joint venture car to implement this technology. The N7, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295P processor, will feature high-speed NOA (Navigation On Autopilot), city-memory NOA, and full-scene parking functions, with an expected official release in May 2025.
2. BYD: Bringing Advanced Intelligent Driving Across All Models
In its “Universal Intelligent Driving” strategy announced on February 10, BYD revealed that its entire lineup will integrate DeepSeek-R1 through its “Xuanji Architecture.” The goal is to bring high-level autonomous driving to all models, including entry-level vehicles like the Seagull (priced at ¥100,000). By using the “God’s Eye” technology matrix, BYD plans to eliminate the cost barrier to advanced driver-assist technologies.
3. Changan Automobile: Accelerating the Launch of “Beidou Tianshu 2.0”
Changan officially launched its “Beidou Tianshu 2.0” intelligent strategy on February 9, and on February 11, it announced deep integration with DeepSeek. The Tianshu intelligent driving system, combined with lidar technology, achieves an AEB (Automatic Emergency Braking) avoidance capability at 135 km/h, with plans to achieve full-scene L3 autonomous driving by 2026.
4. Geely Group: AI Upgrades for Xingrui and Zeekr
- Geely: By integrating DeepSeek-R1, the Xingrui model undergoes distillation training, enabling its AI system to precisely call 2,000 vehicle interfaces and proactively analyze user needs for vehicle control and interactive services.
- Zeekr: Completed the integration of its self-developed Kr AI model with DeepSeek, and plans to launch the AI assistant Eva in its intelligent cockpit to enhance interaction precision.
5. Dongfeng Motor Group: Comprehensive AI Integration Across Multiple Brands
Dongfeng’s brands such as Lantu, Moles, Yipai, Fengshen, and Nano have all integrated DeepSeek’s full-series models. The Lantu Zhiyin model was the first to roll out an OTA update with an AI-powered cockpit, featuring innovative functions such as AI-generated poetry and artwork.
6. Other Key Automotive Developments
- Leap Motor: Integrated DeepSeek-R1 into its new cockpit system and connected with the “Xiao Ling GPT” large model.
- Great Wall Motors: Completed the adaptation of the Coffee Agent model with DeepSeek, improving the vehicle’s AI inference capabilities.
- Baojun Motors: Integrated the Lingyu intelligent cockpit with DeepSeek, with some models already in production.
- Zhiji Motors: Built a multi-scenario AI matrix by collaborating with models like Doubao and Tongyi to strengthen the ecosystem.
Technological Impact and Industry Trends
DeepSeek’s low cost (with a total training cost of just $5.58 million), multi-modal data fusion capabilities, and localization advantages have significantly lowered the entry barrier for AI in the automotive sector. For example, after integrating DeepSeek, the cost of urban NOA functionality can be reduced from ¥7,000 to under ¥5,000, while computational efficiency is optimized by 35%. According to an analysis by Kaiyuan Securities, this will catalyze the upgrade of intelligent cockpit experiences and accelerate the adoption of advanced autonomous driving in more affordable vehicles.
Looking Ahead: The Era of Universal Intelligent Driving
The “Universal Intelligent Driving” strategy from Changan and BYD, alongside the wide adoption of DeepSeek, marks 2025 as the year of intelligent transformation for China’s automotive industry. Industry experts predict that within the next 2-3 years, advanced intelligent driving technologies could become standard across vehicles, and Chinese automakers are poised to lead the global AI race.
This development signals a transformative shift where AI-driven vehicles will become more accessible, ushering in an era of intelligent driving for the masses.
