Gasgoo CEO Xiaoying Zhou Speaks at 2026 Stuttgart International Symposium on Automotive and Powertrain Technology

Stuttgart, Germany Xiaoying Zhou, Chief Executive Officer and Editor‑in‑Chief of Gasgoo, was invited as a keynote speaker at the 2026 Stuttgart International Symposium on Automotive and Powertrain Technology, one of Europe’s most prestigious gatherings for automotive professionals. In her address titled “China's Automotive Momentum: From Market Scale to System‑Level Innovation,” she outlined the ongoing transformation of China’s automotive industry and its shifting role in the global landscape. She also joined a high‑level panel discussion to explore how the Chinese and German automotive sectors can work together for mutual benefit.

A Leading Platform for Global Dialogue

The Stuttgart International Symposium brings together automakers, component suppliers, technology firms, researchers, and policymakers from across the world. It serves as a key forum to share insights, present breakthrough technologies, and discuss the future direction of the industry — covering topics such as electrification, intelligent mobility, powertrain efficiency, sustainability, and digital transformation.

This year’s event focused heavily on how different regions can leverage their respective strengths to navigate the rapid changes reshaping mobility.

Keynote: Beyond Scale Toward Integrated Innovation

In her keynote presentation, Zhou drew on Gasgoo’s years of industry research and data to explain how China’s competitive advantages are evolving. She noted that while the country has long been recognized for its vast market size, cost‑effective manufacturing, and large production capacity, its current momentum is driven increasingly by system‑level innovation.

This shift is being fueled by four key areas:

• Electrification: Rapid development and deployment of new energy vehicles, battery technology, and charging infrastructure;

• Intelligent technologies: Progress in advanced driver assistance systems, connected vehicles, and artificial intelligence integration;

• Supply chain collaboration: More coordinated and efficient industrial ecosystems that reduce costs and speed up development cycles;

• Ecosystem building: Moving from single‑product design to comprehensive solutions that include software, services, and user experience.

Zhou emphasized that this evolution is not only redefining China’s position in the global automotive industry but also creating new possibilities for international cooperation. As the industry becomes more interconnected, there is a growing demand for partnerships that combine different areas of expertise rather than relying on isolated development.

Panel Discussion: Balancing Speed and Precision

Following her speech, Zhou joined the panel discussion titled “How Can We Combine China's Automotive Momentum with German Accuracy and Precision?”, moderated by André Kulzer.

The discussion featured senior representatives from leading global organizations:

• Otmar Scharrer, Senior Vice President of R&D for E‑Mobility at ZF Group;

• Ragnar Burenius, Corporate New Product Line Leader at Horse Powertrain;

• Arnd Franz, Chief Executive Officer of MAHLE GmbH;

• Philipp Franke, Head of Mobility Hub, Connected and Digital Mobility at the Ministry of Transport, Baden‑Württemberg.

During the session, participants explored how China’s strengths, including its fast innovation cycles, customer‑focused development, and ability to scale new technologies quickly, can complement Germany’s well‑established reputation for engineering excellence, product reliability, long‑term quality standards, and strong brand heritage.

Panelists agreed that the modern automotive industry no longer operates in a simple “compete or cooperate” framework; instead, competition and collaboration exist side by side. They also noted that digitalization has moved from being a unique selling point to a basic requirement for all new vehicles.

A key conclusion from the discussion was that sustainable success does not depend on launching products faster than others, but on delivering the right solutions at the right time, solutions that meet safety, quality, and user expectations. By combining China’s speed and innovation with Germany’s precision and rigor, the industry can develop more robust, efficient, and future‑ready products for global markets.

Strengthening Cross‑Border Exchange

Zhou’s participation in the symposium reflects Gasgoo’s role as a bridge between the Chinese automotive industry and the rest of the world. By sharing first‑hand observations and facilitating dialogue, the platform aims to foster greater understanding, build trust, and support partnerships that help drive the global transition toward smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable mobility.

As the industry continues to evolve, events like the Stuttgart Symposium remain essential for aligning different visions and turning regional strengths into shared progress.