BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China is central to the world's car market, according to the CEO of leading connected car technology company Harman on Thursday.
"No other country can replace China as a microcosm of the world regarding the synergy of global car firms," Dinesh Paliwal told Xinhua in an interview at the ongoing Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.
"We learn a lot from Chinese companies and at the same time we bring knowledge of global carmakers into China's market," Paliwal said. "Every company wants to tap into China's steadily growing economy."
He called the Chinese market "large, exciting, innovative and competitive."
Harman's revenue in China hit a record 1 billion U.S. dollars last year, a year-on-year increase of 30 percent.
"More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with Harman's technology, and an increasingly substantial number of those vehicles are now in China from our customers such as Geely Auto, Beijing Benz Automotive Company, GAC Group and Great Wall Motor," he said.
The Connecticut-based Samsung subsidiary is expanding partnership with Great Wall Motor for future infotainment systems on nearly all its car models, and introducing "over-the-air" download functions to its vehicles.
Chinese carmakers are globalizing themselves as the car is undergoing a transformation unlike anytime since its invention, Paliwal observed.
They are more open to adopting and implementing new technologies than traditional global car companies, and they are changing the way cars are designed, he said. "Collaboration is key, and China has led the way on this front."
"China is emerging as a global supplier of automobiles, and we will see more Chinese cars worldwide in 10 years," he added.
By the end of 2017, China's car ownership increased nearly 12 percent from one year earlier to reach 217 million.
Meanwhile, China remained the largest market for new energy vehicles, with some 777,000 units sold in 2017. China's new energy buses have been exported to over 30 countries and regions.
