Hani Joudi 
Chinese car buyers have had access to seamless voice assistants, automated parking help, karaoke and streaming, personalized cockpits and regular over-the-air updates across brands for years.
Western visitors to China describe truly smart, integrated software-enabled vehicles — including Ford CEO Jim Farley, who said that Chinese automakers have “far superior in-vehicle technology” in an electric fleet that is “the most humbling thing I have ever seen.”
China has been bolstered by advantages that have put the nation on the fast track to software-defined vehicles. Such vehicles will offer new functionality via over-the-air updates and will have an open developer ecosystem. Coders outside an automaker’s universe will contribute capabilities.
Analysts, software developers and suppliers describe increasing fear over Chinese software features that are a cut above those available in the West. While China may not be able to offer vehicles in to the U.S. anytime soon, increasingly efficient and sophisticated cars are projected to capture global market share.
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