Smart cockpits have emerged as a key driver on China’s road to more intelligent cars, creating fertile ground for new innovators in the fast-evolving space. Once limited to facilitating interaction between driver and car through voice commands and large touchscreens, such cockpits are now moving to the next level with the inclusion of AI-based natural language processing, visual recognition, contextual interaction, and remote OTA updates. As that happens, a product once considered an add-on and “nice to have” is rapidly becoming a central battlefield for automakers trying to differentiate their products.

The emerging sector has already produced some publicly traded choices for investors, with names like Minieye (2431.HK) listing in Hong Kong. Now, investors could soon have a new choice with the recent application for a Hong Kong listing by Megatronix Inc.

The new wave of software-defined technology powering the smart cockpit 2.0 era has not only reshaped the automotive supply chain but is also spawning a group of "Tier 1.5" suppliers like Minieye and Megatronix. Such companies are positioned between traditional Tier 1 giants like Bosch and Continental and module component suppliers. Other such smart cockpit providers include Autotai and Pateo Connect, which is also preparing to list in Hong Kong.