Domestic ADAS Players Rise: BYD and Freetech Capitalize on Market Shift

Deep News
Yesterday

Since 2025, China's passenger vehicle ADAS industry has witnessed a clear trend of domestic dominance, market consolidation, and intensified competition. High-end intelligent configurations are scaling rapidly, while the market landscape is undergoing a significant transformation—local companies are steadily displacing foreign brands that once led the sector.

From January to August 2025, domestic suppliers have gained increasing shares in segments such as air suspension, high-precision mapping and positioning, LiDAR, and ADAS. This shift is driven by breakthroughs in technology and cost efficiency by local players. Among them, BYD Company Limited and Freetech have emerged as key representatives, advancing the localization of smart vehicle components through technological innovation, business model upgrades, and mass production.

The ADAS market, previously dominated by global giants like Bosch and Denso, is now undergoing structural changes. Data shows Bosch's installations dropped to 1,414,688 units in the first eight months of 2025, with its market share plunging to 14.8%. In contrast, domestic Tier 1 suppliers have successfully disrupted the market with a "full-stack in-house R&D + OEM partnerships" strategy. BYD recorded 1,257,782 installations (13.1% market share), while Freetech secured 554,283 installations, ranking as China's top Tier 1 supplier.

Freetech's strength lies in its full-stack independent R&D system—spanning sensors, domain controllers, and core algorithms—coupled with its proprietary ODIN digital-intelligence platform. This enables rapid customization for automakers. For instance, its L2+ solution for Geely not only undercuts foreign Tier 1 costs but also ensures deep compatibility with vehicle systems, meeting both cost and adaptability demands. The ODIN platform integrates controllers, sensors, software, algorithms, and a data-closure system, allowing continuous upgrades and iterations for optimal performance. This positions Freetech to offer comprehensive, flexible, and cost-effective solutions, capitalizing on the growing domestic substitution trend.

Freetech's scalable and modular ODIN platform has also enhanced its mass-production capabilities. Since its first-gen ADAS system launched in 2019, the company has delivered 2 million units in under four years, claiming the top domestic market share in L2 ADAS for self-owned brands and ranking second in L2/L2+ segments.

BYD leverages vertical integration, equipping its own models with in-house autonomous driving solutions. For example, its "Eye of the Gods" system combines 12 cameras and 5 mmWave radars—all sourced from its supply chain—enabling faster adaptation and enhanced safety through integration with battery management. Additionally, BYD has aggressively reduced costs by scaling production. In Q1 2025, it slashed the price of its L2 ADAS to below 100,000 RMB, down from the previous 150,000 RMB threshold, democratizing smart driving for budget segments.

As the ADAS industry transitions from "foreign-led" to "Sino-global competition," the trajectories of BYD and Freetech epitomize the success of domestic substitution. Their "full-stack R&D + OEM collaboration" model not only proves effective but also challenges foreign firms' grip on core technologies. Their achievements signal a broader trend: as more local players emulate this approach, China's passenger ADAS sector will accelerate toward a self-reliant supply chain, securing a pivotal role in the global smart vehicle race.

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