The year 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal turning point for the automotive industry. Speaking at the 2026 China Auto Chongqing Summit, Li Ming—deputy party secretary, director, and general manager of Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Co., Ltd.—noted that the rapid growth phase of electrification and intelligence is over. The sector is now shifting from "scale expansion" to "value creation." As domestic competition intensifies and external expansion accelerates, Level 3 autonomous driving is entering a phase of limited rollout.Image source: China Auto Chongqing ForumAgainst this backdrop, how JAC balances independent innovation with open cooperation has moved into the spotlight.Li Ming outlined JAC’s strategy: R&D intensity has topped 9% for two straight years. Meanwhile, the company has entered a "2.0 era" of comprehensive strategic cooperation with Huawei. The partners have assembled a joint R&D team of over 5,000 people to build the ultra-high-end new energy brand, Zunjie.He emphasized that innovation and cooperation are not mutually exclusive—they are complementary. Commercial vehicles act as the bedrock, with mid-to-high-end light truck exports holding the industry's top spot. On the premium front, the Zunjie S800 has delivered more than 18,500 units, securing the title of best-selling luxury vehicle priced over 1 million yuan for eight consecutive months.On the global stage, JAC operates 27 production bases and over 5,000 user centers worldwide. The company is pushing its global strategy beyond simple exports, aiming to "dig in" and "move up" the value chain. Li Ming stated that JAC Group remains committed to smart new energy vehicles, accelerating its transformation into a tech-driven enterprise by embracing both independent development and open collaboration.