AI-led transformation

That transformation is particularly visible in artificial intelligence, robotics, and smart manufacturing, where China has developed strong industrial ecosystems combining scale, speed, and application diversity.

"AI brings a completely new quality of innovation to industry," Hartung said. "China is already developing extremely fast in automation and smart manufacturing, while Europe has longstanding strengths in industrial equipment and systems integration."

He noted that the next wave of automotive transformation — especially automated driving and intelligent mobility — will further intensify cooperation between Europe and China, rather than separate them.

Xu echoed this view, pointing to the speed of Chinese consumer expectations and industrial iteration cycles.

"In areas such as AI applications and intelligence development, China is at the global forefront," Xu said.

To respond to these rapidly evolving demands, Bosch has expanded collaboration with Chinese technology partners, including WeRide and Horizon Robotics, in the field of advanced driver-assistance systems.

"Through cooperation with Chinese partners, we can jointly create products that truly meet the needs of Chinese consumers," Xu said.

This approach reflects a broader strategic shift: Bosch increasingly develops products in China for China, while also using China as a reference market for global innovation benchmarking.