As smart cockpits evolve from mere transportation spaces into 'third living spaces', the value proposition of automotive interior textiles is being rewritten. On September 2, a symposium on high-quality development of automotive textile materials was held in Shanghai, bringing together representatives from the China Nonwovens & Industrial Textiles Association (CNITA), automakers, and key supply chain companies suching Shenda, Kuangda, Huafon Microfibre. A consensus emerged: material innovation is no longer a single-point breakthrough but a systemic engineering challenge across the entire supply chain.
Lack of unified standards remains a major bottleneck
The symposium highlighted a persistent issue: the absence of unified national standards for automotive interior textile materials. Different OEMs maintain separate testing and certification systems, forcing the same fabric to undergo repeated tests, increasing costs and slowing application cycles. Wang Jianbing, from FAW's R&D institute, called on OEMs to collaborate with upstream and downstream partners to share inspection and testing resources, mutually recognize qualifications, and accept universal results. This implies that in the future, material suppliers could enter multiple vehicle supply chains with 'one test, multiple acceptances', lowering hidden barriers.
Smart cockpit demands drive material upgrades
Ma Jia, Chief Interior Cabin Architect at XPeng Motors, shared insights from an OEM perspective: smart cockpits are shifting from 'passive response' to 'active companionship', making interior nonwoven materials more than decorative layers—they now must deliver acoustic insulation, thermal management, lightweighting, and even smart sensing. This changes procurement logic: fabric suppliers must provide not only comfortable textures but also the ability to integrate with electronic systems. For upstream chemical fiber and weaving manufacturers, this means R&D investment must shift toward bio-based materials and multifunctional integration, or risk exclusion from next-generation vehicle supplier lists.
Supply chain collaboration and 'going global'
Another symposium focus was the lack of collaboration mechanisms across the chain. Ji Jianbing, Vice President of CNITA, revealed that in early 2026, the association initiated preparations for an automotive textile materials sub-committee to consolidate core enterprise resources and solve common problems. Meanwhile, as domestic OEMs deepen overseas expansion, supporting textile companies face urgent needs to 'go global'. Li Wenhao, VP of Supply Chain Management and Sustainability at Autoliv China, suggested that industry organizations strengthen guidance in standard alignment, planning, and compliance to help textile firms participate in global competition in an orderly and high-quality manner. For small and medium fabric suppliers, following OEMs overseas is both an opportunity and a challenge—early adoption of international standard certifications will become a key asset for entering global supply chains.
From 'material supplier' to 'solution partner'
Yang Jie, Deputy Secretary-General of the Automotive Lightweight Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance, proposed mapping typical application scenarios for energy-saving vehicles, new energy vehicles, and future flying cars, and forming industry analysis reports. This suggestion reflects a shift in the role of automotive textile materials: suppliers can no longer simply deliver according to specifications; they must understand OEM scenario needs and even participate in early design. During the symposium, multiple company leaders called for establishing a professional sub-committee to address common industry issues through systematic strength. For procurement professionals, this implies that supplier evaluation criteria should expand from price and delivery to include technical research capabilities and participation in standards development.