China has established a comprehensive industrial system for its intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) sector, covering products and technologies such as basic chips, sensors, computing platforms and chassis control, Minister Jin Zhuanglong of industry and information technology said on Thursday.

Jin made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference in Beijing.

He highlighted that China is at the forefront of global advancements in human-machine interaction and is making significant strides in technologies such as steer-by-wire and active suspension.

The country's ICV sector currently boasts nearly 400 "little giant" firms, or novel elites of small- and medium-sized enterprises that are engaged in manufacturing, specializing in a niche market, and holding cutting-edge technologies.

Five Chinese lidar companies have ranked among the world's top ten in sales, and nine automotive manufacturers are piloting conditionally automated driving models, Jin said. Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light to measure distances.

To support such rapid industrial development, more than 50 cities in China have designated over 32,000 kilometers of test routes for intelligent connected vehicles and upgraded about 10,000 kilometers of roads with smart technologies.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology aims to enhance the industry's foundational capabilities, foster a new industrial ecology, improve infrastructure, and optimize the development environment to ensure high-quality and sustainable growth.

The 2024 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference, taking place from October 17 to 19, has drawn over 250 automotive firms and institutions from around the globe. More than 200 new technologies and products are set to debut at the event.