First, the number of Chinese automobile patent disclosures in 2024 remained a negative growth trend, the number of invention patent authorizations continued to grow, and the quality of patents kept improving.

In 2024, the number of automobile patents disclosed in China was 300,500, a year-on-year decrease of 8.19%, showing a negative growth trend for two consecutive years. The reasons for the continuous decline in the number of automobile patents disclosed mainly include three aspects as follows: the strategic layout of automobile enterprises prefers invention patents, directly causing a sharp drop in the number of applications for utility model patents; enterprises’ promotion on product structure optimization leads to decreasing patent application activity in the traditional automobile field; the increasingly intensified involutionary competition has prompted companies to reduce costs and increase efficiency, making a certain impact on the domestic patent layout. However, what should be noticed is that in sharp contrast to the downward trend in the total number of patent disclosures, the number of automobile invention patents authorized in China in 2024 reached 111,700, up  3.62% year-on-year, showing a positive growth trend.

Second, regarding data on the number of patents authorized and disclosed by independent vehicle groups

1. In 2024, the number of Chinese automobile invention patent authorizations is counted by independent vehicle groups. Dongfeng Motor ranks first for three consecutive years. The number of authorized invention patents of FAW Group, CHANGAN, GWM, and SERES Group has increased dramatically.

2. In 2024, the number of disclosed Chinese automobile invention patents is counted by independent vehicle groups. FAW Group, Dongfeng Motor, and BYD rank in the top three, while the number of disclosed invention patents of SERES Group, Li Auto, and NIO has increased significantly.

3. In 2024, the number of authorized Chinese automobile invention patents is counted by independent vehicle groups. BYD ranks first, SERES Group has significantly increasing patent authorization numbers. The patent authorization number of over half of the TOP20 groups shows a downward trend.

Third, regarding data on the number of patents authorized and disclosed by innovative entities

1. In 2024, the number of Chinese automobile invention patent authorizations is counted by innovation entities. The proportion of foreign-funded enterprises in the TOP50 decreases, and the number of invention patents granted of independent enterprises such as CATL, GWM, BAIC New Energy, and Aulton New Energy show a rapid growth trend.

2. In 2024, the number of Chinese automobile invention patent disclosures is counted by innovation entities, half of the top 20 are independent vehicle companies, and the number of invention patents disclosed by BYD, DONGFENG, GAC, CHERY and other automakers has increased greatly. In terms of the number of invention patents disclosed, most companies no longer just focus on the number of disclosures, instead formulate patent application strategies by taking more comprehensive factors such as the scale of R&D individuals, R&D technology direction, and market sales of vehicle models.

3. In 2024, the number of authorized Chinese automobile invention patents is counted by innovation entities. BYD ranks first, and eight of the top 10 are vehicle manufacturers.

Fourth, regarding data on the number of automobile invention patents authorized/disclosed by joint ventures

1. Among the top 15 joint ventures in terms of the number of Chinese automobile invention patent authorizations in 2024, SGMW ranks first, and the number of invention patent authorizations of FAW-VOLKSWAGEN, GAC TOYOTA, FAW TOYOTA and other companies has increased significantly.

2. Among the top 15 joint ventures in China with the largest number of disclosed automobile invention patents in 2024, UAESU ranks first, and Zhengzhou Nissan's disclosed invention patents greatly increased.

Fifth, regarding the number of commercial vehicle invention patents authorized/disclosed

1. In 2024, the number of invention patent authorizations for commercial vehicles in China is counted by innovation entities. FAW Jiefang, Dongfeng Trucks, and Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor rank in the top 3, and 16 of the top 20 are autonomous enterprises.

2. In 2024, the number of invention patents disclosed in China for commercial vehicles is counted by innovation entities. FAW Jiefang, Sinotruk, and Dongfeng Trucks rank in the top 3 and the number of invention patents disclosed by Xugong Automobile, Nanjing King Long, Xiamen King Long and other companies have increased sharply.

From Auto IP

January 23rd, 2025