(Yicai) April 23 -- Chinese firms such as Stonkam, Promata, and Zhongguang Electrical are enjoying rising export orders by focusing on product innovation amid the global shift to smarter cars and greener technologies.

Stonkam makes use of its technical advantages and domestic chips to develop onboard security and intelligent driving systems with artificial intelligence, Shi Ximin, general manager of the Guangzhou-based company, told Yicai.

"Our products do not target autonomous driving systems [which require high computing power], but have unique capabilities to focus on distinct functions such as assisted driving, pedestrian detection, and driver behavior analysis,” Shi said. For example, an AI vision system installed in agricultural machinery can analyze how effective weeding is.

Tech companies can opt for China-made sensors when it comes to chips used for a single purpose. The performance of semiconductors used in processing visual information in smart cars exceeds that of foreign rivals so Stonkam buys local, per Shi. The leading users of such products in the world are all Stonkam's customers, including German automation behemoth Bosch, car parts maker Continental, farming equipment giant John Deere, and construction machinery firm Caterpillar, Shi added.

Song Hua, marketing manager of Promata, told Yicai that compared with similar products on the market, the Chinese firm's tire pressure monitoring system made for trucks stands out.

"There is no other product with similar functions on the market yet," Song said. The product can detect pressure and temperature parameters for each tire, send relevant data to the truck owner’s fleet management system in real time, and provide timely alerts in case of abnormal conditions.

Promata's products are also customizable based on customers’ requirements. For example, one of the products is designed to work underwater, but when some clients asked for a new design that is capable of withstanding hot water of up to 85 degrees Celsius, the firm made an upgraded version.

Besides getting smarter, customers are looking to go greener. Liu Liping, general manager of overseas marketing at heat pump maker Zhongguang, said to Yicai that right now revenue coming from abroad makes up 10 percent of the total. But as the European Union is keen on promoting heat pumps to replace natural gas heaters, Zhongguang aims to increase its share of exports to 50 percent within five years.

"We have sufficient orders now and expect the order growth for the whole year to be similar to that of last year," said Tan Futong, sales director of Sino Green Power which makes fuel injection devices for vehicles.

Sino Green's products, which enhance cars' fuel efficiency and consequently reduce their emissions, are sold in Europe, America, Latin America, and some regions in Africa, Tan said. Last year, orders, mainly consisting of exports, rose by 24 percent because of better product performance.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Emmi Laine