Top 7 China Automotive Chip Companies & Startups 2025
China's automotive chip market has grown explosively alongside the electric vehicle revolution, with domestic semiconductor companies racing to replace foreign imports. China imports over 90% of its automotive chips, with a self-sufficiency rate below 10%. The government has designated automotive semiconductors as a strategic priority, targeting 30% self-sufficiency by 2027. Leading Chinese companies like AutoChips, SemiDrive, and Will Semiconductor are making breakthroughs in MCUs, power devices, and autonomous driving SoCs.
TL;DR: China's automotive chip industry is in a rapid catch-up phase, with domestic companies achieving certifications for AEC-Q100 reliability standards and winning design wins at BYD, Geely, and Changan. Key focus areas include MCUs, IGBT/SiC power chips, and automotive SoCs for ADAS.
Top Companies
AutoChips (杰发科技)
100M+ MCUs shippedAutoChips, backed by SERES Group, is China's leading automotive MCU supplier with 100+ million units shipped. Its AC7840x 32-bit MCU family covers body control, lighting, and BMS applications, certified to AEC-Q100 Grade 1.
Will Semiconductor (韦尔股份)
RMB 25B+ revenueWill Semi's automotive CMOS image sensors hold 30% global market share for automotive cameras. Its sensors are used in ADAS systems by BYD, Tesla (China), Li Auto, and most Chinese EV makers for lane detection, parking assist, and driver monitoring.
SemiDrive (芯驰科技)
AEC-Q100 certifiedSemiDrive develops high-performance automotive SoCs for smart cockpits and autonomous driving. Its V9 processor series delivers over 200 TOPS AI computing and has secured design wins at Changan, Dongfeng, and SAIC.
BYD Semiconductor
IGBT module leaderBYD Semiconductor is China's largest IGBT module manufacturer for EV powertrains, producing SiC MOSFET modules for BYD's electric vehicles. It also develops automotive MCUs, power management ICs, and sensor chips used across BYD's vehicle lineup.
Innovus Micro (纳芯微)
Signal chain chipsInnovus Micro specializes in high-performance analog and mixed-signal chips for automotive applications including CAN/LIN transceivers, current sensors, and gate drivers. Its products are certified to ISO 26262 functional safety standards.
Navtech (纳瓦电子)
77GHz radar chipsNavtech develops 77GHz automotive radar MMIC chips used in ADAS blind-spot detection, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Its radar chips are adopted by multiple Chinese Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs.
Biren Technology (壁仞科技)
1000+ TOPS targetBiren is developing automotive-grade AI chips for high-level autonomous driving. Its BR100 series GPU delivers over 1,000 TOPS for L4 autonomous driving compute, competing with NVIDIA's Orin platform for Chinese vehicle platforms.
Comparison Table
| Company | Key Product | Technology Node | Certification | Major Customers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AutoChips | MCU (AC7840x) | 40nm | AEC-Q100 | BYD, Geely, Changan |
| Will Semi | CIS (OXxxA) | BSI CMOS | AEC-Q100 | BYD, Tesla China, Li Auto |
| SemiDrive | SoC (V9) | 16nm | AEC-Q100, ISO 26262 | Changan, Dongfeng, SAIC |
| BYD Semi | IGBT/SiC module | SiC 1200V | AEC-Q101 | BYD internal |
| Innovus Micro | CAN/LIN transceiver | BCD工艺 | ISO 26262 | Multiple OEMs |
| Navtech | 77GHz radar MMIC | SiGe BiCMOS | AEC-Q100 | Tier 1 suppliers |
| Biren Tech | ADAS AI chip | 7nm | In development | Targeting OEMs |
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of automotive chips does China import?
China imports over 90% of its automotive semiconductors, with a self-sufficiency rate below 10%. The government targets 30% self-sufficiency by 2027 through aggressive investment in domestic chip design, fabrication, and packaging.
What types of automotive chips does China produce?
Chinese companies produce automotive MCUs (AutoChips), CMOS image sensors (Will Semi), IGBT/SiC power modules (BYD Semi), radar MMICs (Navtech), and smart cockpit SoCs (SemiDrive). Gaps remain in high-end ADAS compute chips and advanced process node manufacturing.
What is AEC-Q100 certification?
AEC-Q100 is the global reliability standard for automotive integrated circuits, requiring chips to pass temperature cycling, humidity, vibration, and accelerated life testing. Achieving AEC-Q100 is mandatory for supplying to major automakers, and Chinese companies increasingly obtain this certification.
Which Chinese companies make autonomous driving chips?
Biren Technology, SemiDrive, and Horizon Robotics are the leading Chinese developers of autonomous driving compute chips. Biren targets L4 with 1,000+ TOPS, SemiDrive offers 200+ TOPS for L2+/L3, and Horizon's Journey series has been adopted by multiple Chinese EV brands.
How does China's EV boom impact its chip industry?
China's EV production (over 10 million units in 2024) has created massive demand for automotive chips, stimulating domestic semiconductor investment. BYD vertically integrates chips, while other OEMs are creating domestic chip supply chains to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers like NXP, Infineon, and Bosch.