More than a dozen major automakers in China have integrated artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek's popular large language model into their own systems, shifting the focus of their competition from autonomous driving to intelligent onboard experiences.

On Feb 6, just two weeks after the startup shocked Silicon Valley with its V3 release, Geely said it has started to use DeepSeek technology to train its own large language models, which involve vehicle control and proactive in-car interaction.

Geely said the advancements are set to significantly improve the vehicle's ability to learn and adapt to individual driver and passenger preferences, creating an experience that is both intuitive and highly personalized.

A day later, Dongfeng Motor's premium arm Voyah said it had embedded the system as well, with distillation and training starting on Friday. Its Courage and Dream are the first production models to feature DeepSeek technology.

More carmakers rushed to partner with the startup. By now, at least 20 auto companies said they have integrated or plan to integrate DeepSeek technology.

The majority of them are local Chinese companies, with the rare exception of big joint ventures including FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC GM.

With the automotive industry on the cusp of a technological revolution, industry analysts predict that the smart cabin, equipped with AI-powered systems like DeepSeek, will be the next major growth area for automakers.

Long before the arrival of DeepSeek, which was established in 2023, Chinese carmakers had started to work on smart cabin functions, harnessing machine learning and natural language processing to offer human-vehicle interaction.

Currently, China leads the market with a 44 percent share in the global digital cockpit market, according to statistics from MarketsandMarkets.

The business intelligence company predicts vehicles equipped with a digital cockpit will account for 93 percent of all new vehicles sold in China in 2030, up from 68 percent in 2023.