JETRO sets up first Japan booth at Shenzhen automotive electronics summit

Overview

On July 9, 2025, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) reported in its business news service that it had set up its first-ever Japan booth at the 14th International Automotive Electronics Industry Summit in Shenzhen. Organized by the Shenzhen Automotive Electronics Industry Association, the summit was held on June 28 at the Hilton Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center. Its theme was AI enablement, technological innovation and global collaboration in the smart automotive ecosystem, and the program included lectures, exhibitions and networking sessions.

About 530 automotive-related companies took part, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers in China, and attendance exceeded 1,000 for the first time, a record. Alongside the summit, JETRO held its first Japan–China Automotive-Related Exchange Meeting (Shenzhen). Eight Japanese companies operating in China exhibited at the Japan booth and held business talks with Chinese firms.

Background

Shenzhen is a major hub for electronic components and the electronics industry, and in recent years it has become increasingly prominent in new energy vehicles (NEVs) and automotive electronics. Competition in China's domestic car market remains intense, and many Chinese companies are expanding overseas, including into third-country markets. According to JETRO, some Japanese automotive-related companies in China are likewise seeking new sales channels and exploring cooperation with Chinese firms in third-country markets.

Shenzhen is also home to the headquarters of BYD, and an industrial chain has formed around complete vehicles, traction batteries, automotive-grade chips, smart cockpits and autonomous driving. Automotive electronics, which links conventional components with electrification and intelligent technologies, is attracting growing attention from domestic and foreign companies, and specialized summits have become an important venue for connecting buyers and suppliers.

Key Points

• Exhibitor feedback: Exhibitors said the automotive focus of the event helped them find new customers efficiently. One noted that a Chinese Tier 1 supplier had shown interest in its factories in Southeast Asia.
• Other countries: South Korea also had a booth at the summit.
• NEV keynote: Ye Shengji, a chief engineer at the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, said China's NEV production and sales exceeded 10 million units in 2024, rose more than 40% year on year in January–May 2025, and that full-year 2025 output was expected to exceed 16 million units.
• Industry trends: The keynote highlighted accelerating vehicle intelligence, improving infrastructure and rapid export growth.
• Southeast Asia: A JETRO check of the MarkLines automotive research website on July 1 found that Japanese automotive companies entered Southeast Asia earlier than Chinese firms, and many already have bases there.

Implications for Japan–Shenzhen Exchange

The initiative is drawing attention as an attempt to widen contact between Shenzhen's automotive electronics industry and Japanese parts makers. As Chinese suppliers expand abroad, there may be room for cooperation with Japanese companies that already have bases in Southeast Asia and elsewhere. For Japanese firms, it is also an opportunity to observe first-hand the NEV and automotive electronics supply chain centered on Shenzhen and South China.

Shenzhen is home to many companies with vehicle-related technologies in batteries, semiconductors, sensors and software, and there is interest in how technical and business exchange between Japanese and Chinese companies in these fields will develop. Specialized trade events of this kind are seen as one effective way for Japanese firms to understand the market and build contacts in South China.

Outlook

JETRO's report did not say whether further Japan booths or similar exchange meetings are planned. With China's NEV market continuing to grow, it remains to be seen how far cooperation between Japanese and Chinese companies in third-country markets will take concrete shape.

From the Association

The Association will continue to follow industrial exchange between Shenzhen and Japan, including in the automotive and electronics sectors. We remain committed to creating opportunities for companies from both sides to meet and share information.