On January 10, 2025, the Wenzhou preliminary round of China's Intelligent Driving Competition kicked off, pitting top Chinese EV brands against each other in real-world urban NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) challenges. Amid a blockbuster year for the Chinese EV market—where new energy vehicles hit 1280.9 million units sold, up 17.6%—JiZi LS6 (Momenta), XPeng G9, and Avita 12 emerged victorious, advancing to finals against heavyweights like NIO ET5T, Xiaomi SU7, and Zeekr 7X. This event underscores the fierce race in autonomous driving tech as domestic brands dominate with 65% market share.
Wenzhou Prelims: Grueling 21-23km Urban NOA Tests
The pre-race followed Taizhou's proven format, with blind routes testing unknown urban scenarios like narrow community roads, roundabouts, U-turns, construction zones, and mixed motor/non-motor traffic. No prior route disclosure ensured authentic evaluation of perception, planning, decision-making, and safety redundancy.
Morning Session: Momenta vs. XPeng Showdown
- Route: 21km, 54 traffic lights, 6 key test points, ~80min expected.
- Contenders: JiZi LS6 (IMOS 3.3.1), Buick Zijing L7 (OS1.0.1), Denza N7 (V2.2.0), XPeng G9/P7 (XOS 5.8.6, G9 laser radar + dual Orin-X chips).
| Test Point | Key Challenge | LS6 | L7 | N7 | G9 | P7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Narrow Road) | Evasion/Yielding | Pass | Pass | Fail | Fail (takeover) | Fail (wrong turn + takeover) |
| 3 (U-Turn) | Negotiation | Fail | Fail | Fail | Pass | Pass |
| 4 (Roundabout) | Entry/Exit | Pass | Pass | Takeover | Pass | Pass |
| 6 (Construction) | Bypass | Pass | Pass | Fail | Fail | Pass |
Scores:
- LS6: 106pts (2 takeovers, 79min), champ despite minor violations.
- G9: 95pts (4 takeovers, 72min fastest), edged P7 (91.54pts, 7 takeovers).
LS6's 'old driver' intuition in complex spots and G9's compute power secured their spots.
Afternoon: Huawei Ecosystem Dominance
- Route: 23km, 61 lights, similar challenges.
- Contenders: Avita 12, Lumin Dreamer, Zhijie S7, Wenjie M8 (unchanged ADS versions).
All aced most points, but community roads separated leaders:
- Avita 12: 112.17pts (1 takeover, 107min)—2nd highest ever, behind only Xingtu's 112.81.
- Lumin: 107.81pts (2 takeovers).
Huawei stack shone sans park roads, proving urban NOA prowess.
Broader 2025 Chinese EV Market Context
These wins align with explosive growth: 2025 retail totaled 23.74M units (+3.8%), NEVs at 53.9% penetration (59.1% Dec). Autonomous brands claimed 65% share (+4.8% YoY), NEV penetration at 80.9% vs. joint ventures' 8.2%.
| Segment | 2025 Retail (M units) | YoY Growth | NEV Penetration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 23.74 | +3.8% | 53.9% |
| Autonomous | ~15.43 (65%) | Strong | 80.9% |
| Mainstream JV | ~5.1 (Dec) | -27% | 8.2% |
| Luxury | 0.29 (Dec) | -1% | 39.1% |
December dipped (-14%) due to expiring tax exemptions and subsidy exhaustion, yet NEVs grew 2.6%.
XPeng's Big Win: CNY 100B ICBC Credit Line
Fresh off G9's triumph, XPeng inked a strategic pact with ICBC Guangdong on Jan 6, unlocking CNY 100B credit for financing, global ops, and cash flow. What Xiaopeng called a 'financial-tech duo' booster supports Zhaoqing mega-factory (90s/car output) and 2025's 429K deliveries (+126%, 45K overseas +96%). XPeng eyes physical AI and smart manufacturing scale-up.
Global Implications: Why This Matters
China's EV surge—autonomous brands leading ADAS innovation—pressures globals. Events like this validate NOA readiness for L2+/L3, fueling exports amid 65% domestic dominance. Joint ventures lag in electrification, risking further erosion as buyers prioritize smart, efficient NEVs.
What's Next: Finals and Beyond
Tomorrow's Wenzhou finals pit LS6, G9, Avita 12 against 8 foes, including debutants like Li Auto i6 and Zeekr 7X. Winners signal production-ready urban autonomy. For XPeng, CNY 100B fuels 2026 ambitions in a market eyeing 60%+ NEV share—watch for physics AI breakthroughs reshaping global mobility.
