New profession emerges as vehicles get smarter

Intelligent connected vehicles made by Changan Auto wait for export shipment at the Liangjiang manufacturing base. [Photo by Wang Jiaxi] 

Sitting in a new, forthcoming model, Dou Jian activates the intelligent driving assistance. As the car runs smoothly on the test road, real-time data constantly appears on his laptop, which is connected to the center console.

As Changan Auto's deputy chief engineer of software qualification, Dou is also an intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) tester, a new profession listed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security earlier this year. 

For almost a year, Dou and his team have thoroughly tested the new model's performance, communication, entertainment, and safety systems, as well as the Navigation Cruise Assistance (NCA). 

Dou said ICV testers uncover problems with new models and verify all the product layers through tests before delivery, helping them achieve zero defects. The NCA function, for example, needs tests in different scenarios, including expressways, national and provincial highways, and country roads.

Dou and his team have more than 1,110 test items covering various intelligent functions such as APP control and internet of vehicles technology. Traditional vehicles require around 300 test items. 

Dou describes his job as effort-requiring, challenging, and sometimes interesting. The ICV industry poses new challenges to existing test methods, as the traditional auto industry mainly deals with mechanical problems. With new embedded technologies, ICV tests face more complex issues.

In the past, the majority of testers were mechanics and electromechanics professionals. Nowadays, while auto mechanics' knowledge is still necessary, the job requires more intelligent connected technologies, such as computers, software, and communication, which means higher requirements for testers, said Dou.

For instance, communication between mobile devices and vehicles is essential, so testers need to be knowledgeable about mobile communication and software. Dou explained that Changan exports voice-controlled vehicles, which involve adapting and testing English, Thai, Arabic, and other languages. Thus, testers need to master language skills and voice control software and hardware. 

The China Society of Automotive Engineers estimates that the demand for ICV talent, including testers, will be 116,000 by 2025. Dou suggested that talent should be fostered to focus on three aspects: vehicle intelligentization and autonomous driving technology, vehicle new energy power system technology, vehicle design, and advanced manufacturing technology. Vehicle engineering and other related college and university majors should establish new disciplines to promote cross-field studies and meet the demand for talent.