Data released jointly by the China Automotive Technology and Research Center’s Institute of Information Technology and the Intellectual Property Branch of the Society of Automotive Engineers of China shows that Xpeng Motors ranked top among Chinese auto makers in smart and connected car technology patents in 2019.
The company, which makes models like the G3 (pictured) and forthcoming P7, also ranked among the top 20 applicants in China’s auto sector with 742 patent applications published in 2019. Xpeng’s invention patent applications accounted for 76% of its published patent applications, the highest percentage among Chinese auto makers, according to the same data release.
“Our achievement in innovation and invention patents is a strong testimony of our dedication and focus on in-house R&D,” said He Xiaopeng, chairman and CEO of Xpeng Motors. Xpeng’s published patent applications increased from 2018 to 2019 by over 613% to 742 – claimed to be the biggest increase among the top 30 applicants last year.
More than 60% of the company’s 4,000-plus global employee base comprises R&D-related staff, helping to drive its R&D efforts forward, according to the Xpeng.
About 41% of the car maker’s patent applications in 2019 were related to smart and connected car technology, while vehicle technology, autonomous driving and powertrain technology-related patent applications accounted for 25%, 22% and 12% respectively.