At the recent China International Cultural and Creative Industries Expo, an "intangible cultural heritage gearbox" incorporating Suzhou embroidery techniques became a focal point. Created in collaboration between the Suzhou Institute of Arts and Crafts and a car modification brand, the piece incorporates traditional embroidery techniques into the leather covering of the gearbox, creating exquisite designs depicting Jiangnan water towns, flowers, birds, insects, and fish.
With the increasing demand for intelligent and space-optimized new energy vehicles, traditional upright shift levers are gradually being replaced by newer shift mechanisms, such as hand-shift, rotary knob, and paddle shift. Over 70% of recently released electric vehicles feature non-traditional shift lever designs.
As consumers' pursuit of a personalized driving experience continues to grow, automotive gear knobs are becoming a popular category in the "light modification" market. Data shows that in the first three quarters of 2025, sales of automotive gear knobs on e-commerce platforms increased by 68% year-on-year, with high-end customized products being particularly popular.
At the recently opened 2025 Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, a "smart gear knob" integrating touch control, dynamic display, and intelligent interaction attracted widespread attention. Jointly developed by domestic auto parts company Huaqi Zhilian and a new energy brand, this product integrates OLED display and pressure-sensing technology into a traditional gear knob design for the first time.
