The third annual Automobile Industry Digital Intelligence Scenario Innovation Competition has opened for entries, according to a statement from the organizing body reported by D1EV, a Chinese electric vehicle news outlet. The event aims to identify advanced practices in automotive intelligent manufacturing and select high-quality solutions that are technically advanced, scenario-appropriate and valuable.
Co-hosted by the Automotive Industry Sub-Alliance of the Intelligent Manufacturing System Solutions Provider Alliance and the Manufacturing Digital Transformation Promotion Center (Automotive Industry), the competition supports China's push to build a modern industrial system. Its theme is "Scenario-driven, digital intelligence empowered, intelligent manufacturing for the future."
Four focus areas
The competition targets four key directions in the digital transformation of automotive manufacturing. The first focuses on AI-ready high-quality datasets, large-scale application of data products, cross-industry data collaboration, and trusted data infrastructure to unlock the value of industrial data elements.
The second direction invites projects involving automotive industrial large models, multimodal intelligence, industrial intelligent agents, specialized AI algorithms, and large-scale AI engineering deployment, pushing AI from pilot projects to enterprise-wide applications. The third covers embodied intelligent robots, smart process equipment, core software and hardware components, and production line solutions for stamping, welding, painting, final assembly, inspection, logistics and maintenance. The fourth emphasizes system-level integration across factory hierarchies, end-to-end product lifecycle closure, and cross-factory and supply chain collaboration.
Timeline and prizes
Applications are open until November 6, with initial review from November 7 to 15, final roadshows from mid to late November, and awards in November 2026 at the 2026 Automotive Industry Digital Intelligence Innovation and Development Forum. The competition will award one first prize, three second prizes, six third prizes, and ten excellence awards. Winning cases will be prioritized for inclusion in the "Automotive Industry Intelligent Manufacturing Best Practices - Standard Conversion Pool" of the vehicle sub-committee of the national auto standards committee, helping convert best practices into industry demonstration standards.
Eligible participants include vehicle and parts manufacturers, industrial software, AI, big data and robotics technology companies, smart equipment suppliers, universities, research institutes, and industry organizations. Projects must be real, original, and either implemented or at a stage with tangible results; pure concepts or thesis projects are not accepted. Joint applications are allowed with up to five organizations, one designated as the lead.
The competition charges no entry fee, but travel and accommodation costs are borne by participants. According to D1EV, the automotive intelligent manufacturing sector is entering a new phase of deep integration of industrial data, large models, embodied robots and system collaboration, and the competition aims to discover innovative teams and promote replicable practices.
