Focusing on the “15th Five-Year Plan period” and the shifting landscape of industries, the High-Level Seminar on the Development Situation and Policies of China’s Automotive Industry was held in Beijing.

China Economic Net, April 3 (Reporter Guo Tao) Recently, the China Auto Industry Development Outlook and Policy Senior Seminar, hosted by the Beijing Auto 100 Association New Energy Vehicle Technology Development Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as the “Auto 100 Research Institute”), was held in Beijing. The meeting brought together about 260 representatives from relevant government departments, institutions and organizations, vehicle manufacturers, supply chain and technology enterprises. Focusing on nine core topics—including industrial positioning, technological innovation, supply chain security, new industrial models, consumption policies, international development, and the industrial management system—the seminar carried out a high-quality discussion over the course of one day.

Topic One: Macroeconomy and the Auto Industry

Around the development main line of the “15th Five-Year Plan period,” participating guests believe that new-energy vehicles have become an important carrier of new quality productive forces, and also a key lever for promoting energy transformation and industrial upgrading. From the national perspective, pushing the transformation of the automobile industry from “oil-based” to “electric-based” is an important lever for reducing dependence on external energy and achieving the “dual carbon” targets. Against the backdrop that major economies worldwide are forming differentiated technical pathways, China needs to adhere to its own development route while strengthening international exchanges and cooperation to build a more stable external environment. In the coming decade, it will be a critical stage for new-energy vehicles to move from “steady scale” to “enhanced quality.”

The meeting further pointed out that the “15th Five-Year Plan period” is the decisive stage for China to move from being an auto power to becoming an auto strong nation. It is recommended that intelligent connected new-energy vehicles be planned within the overall framework of building a manufacturing power, an energy revolution, the digital economy, and national security, and that higher-level cross-departmental and cross-regional coordination institutions be established to advance a “single chessboard” approach. Meanwhile, it is recommended to develop a development plan for intelligent connected new-energy vehicles during the “15th Five-Year Plan period,” so that the market, enterprises, and capital can form long-term stable expectations.

On the stage judgment of industrial development, participating guests said that the industry development has entered a transition period from “scale expansion” to “high-quality development.” It is necessary to further strengthen top-level design and strategic guidance, enhance the continuity and stability of policies, and improve the modern industrial governance system.

Topic Two: Major Frontier Directions of Technological Evolution in the Auto Industry and Paths to Realize Them

In terms of power battery technology, solid-state battery industrialization has entered a tough tackling phase. From pilot-line production to large-scale vehicle installations to stable applications, there are still many challenges. Technological breakthroughs not only require material optimization, but also need coordinated design of the complete logic chain from user needs to vehicle-level indicator systems—promoting systematic development of core indicators such as range, lifetime, charging efficiency, environmental adaptability, and safety. At the same time, liquid-state and solid-state batteries are not substitute relationships; instead, they should form a complementary technology matrix to provide diversified solutions for new-energy vehicles.

In the area of intelligence, competition in the auto industry in the next step will revolve around autonomous driving. Intelligent driving has evolved into a comprehensive competitive field for the application of artificial intelligence in the automotive industry, involving the coordinated development of computing power, algorithms, data, and infrastructure. Participating guests suggested promoting coordinated development of scenarios, regulations, and infrastructure, improving system reliability, explainability of accident responsibility, and completeness of the standards system, to provide technical and institutional support for large-scale implementation of intelligent driving. Support the high-quality overseas expansion of automotive intelligence, and encourage enterprises with high innovation capabilities such as intelligent driving, intelligent cockpits, and intelligent chassis to develop toward overseas markets.

Topic Three: Building a Supply Chain System with Security and Resilience

The meeting noted that the global auto supply chain is facing systematic and long-term restructuring. International trade protectionism and technology barriers have raised China’s global market access threshold for the supply chain, and the domestic industry is also facing supply challenges for new production factors such as computing power and high-quality data. Supply chain risks have evolved from shortages of single products into systematic, multi-dimensional challenges across the entire chain. There are still clear weaknesses in high-end segments, core components, and intelligent computing power. Participating guests suggested coordinating efforts from the following four aspects to ensure supply chain security and resilience:

First, promote independent and controllable core technologies. Accelerate breakthroughs in key areas such as automotive-grade chips, basic software, and high-end materials. Establish a full-chain support system for domestically produced large-scale AI chips. At the same time, build a strategic reserve mechanism for key raw materials to stabilize upstream supply of the supply chain.

Second, build a whole-chain risk prevention and control mechanism. Set up a national-level supply chain risk monitoring and early warning platform, and establish industry-level emergency reserves for high-risk categories.

Third, innovate global cooperation models. Build a two-way empowerment global cooperation model to promote international interconnection of core technologies and supply chain capabilities. Deepen localized overseas arrangements and adapt in depth to overseas regulations and market needs.

Fourth, promote cross-industry reuse of the supply chain. Encourage core components to extend into related fields such as embodied intelligence, the low-altitude economy, and new energy storage, so that multi-scenario large-scale applications can accelerate technological iteration.

Topic Four: Building a New Model for Healthy and Sustainable Development of the Auto Industry

The new-energy vehicle industry has entered a new stage of high-quality development. Regarding how the industry can form a new development model, participating guests suggested that it should shift from homogeneous “involution” to value creation. The core path is to create products across five dimensions—high safety, high reliability, high performance, high quality, and high value—centered on users and driven by high standards. Promote platforming and standardization, reduce repetitive investment, and put the money into innovation rather than internal friction. Extend from the manufacturing sector to the services sector to build a standardized and digital after-sales service system. At the same time, the meeting emphasized that the development of new-energy vehicles has entered an era of ecosystem competition, and that grouping together for warmth and achieving mutual benefit through the ecosystem has become a strategic inevitability.

Topic Five: Further Stabilizing the Path and Policy System for Auto Consumption

The meeting pointed out that stabilizing auto consumption needs to work from multiple dimensions such as policy optimization, the use environment, and after-market services.

On the policy optimization front, it is proposed to study gradually shifting consumption tax from the production stage to the retail stage. At the same time, by adjusting the mechanism for distributing interests between the central and local governments, it will enhance the enthusiasm of local governments to promote new-energy vehicle consumption and infrastructure construction.

On improving the use environment, it is necessary to continuously optimize the layout of charging infrastructure and promote large-scale applications of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and related interactions. In the next stage, the focus of charging infrastructure construction will shift from “scale expansion” to “quality improvement,” addressing weak links such as city fast charging, highways, and towns and rural areas. Improve the quality of operational services, and strengthen the development of management and safety systems.

In terms of after-market services, it is necessary to promote standardized and digital construction of after-sales service systems, encourage the integration of manufacturing and the service industry, cultivate new after-market business models, release consumer potential, and address issues such as a relatively large shortage of professional technicians.

Topic Six: Policy System to Support High-Level Internationalization of the Auto Industry

The meeting proposed that accelerating international development is the only way for China to build an auto strong nation. It is recommended to drive the industry to transform from product exports to exporting the industrial chain and the ecosystem, realizing the shift from “going out” to “going in,” and building an all-factor export model of “complete vehicles + core components + services + technology + standards.”

First, rely on leading enterprises to guide and promote a coordinated layout of “complete vehicles + supply chain + services.” Second, build a more effective coordination model by establishing overseas enterprise alliances to avoid disorderly competition within the system. Third, realize innovation in localized production and cooperation models to transform the industrial chain from “Made in China” to global operations. Fourth, strengthen top-level design and form a system across areas such as financial policies, market assurance, mutual recognition of standards, and cross-border data flows.

Topic Seven: Supporting Cross-Border Companies in China with Development Assurance Systems

Facing profound changes in China’s auto industry landscape, the meeting also offered suggestions on how multinational companies can further develop in China. First, promote alignment between domestic and international standard regulations, encourage foreign-funded enterprises to participate in drafting relevant standards, and achieve mutual connectivity and mutual recognition of standards. Second, optimize cross-border data processing procedures so that, under the premise of ensuring security, data can flow efficiently and in a compliant manner. Third, encourage multinational companies to innovate technology and products based on localized needs. All parties said they will continue to deepen localization strategies, work openly with Chinese partners, and jointly build a safe, stable, and efficient global supply chain system.

Topic Eight: Management Systems and Policy Regulations to Adapt to Technological Innovation

To meet the needs of industrial development, the meeting proposed multiple policy and environment optimization recommendations. For example, optimize the business environment, break down hidden barriers, upgrade regulatory procedures, and establish an intelligent data circulation regulatory platform. Improve the use and service environment by accelerating the improvement of charging/swapping infrastructure and the after-market system, and speed up the formulation of unified standards for battery swapping and related initiatives. Guide some enterprises to transition toward after-market auto service, providing a stronger policy environment for related model innovation and scenario innovation. To meet technological innovation needs, improve management systems and policy regulations, and achieve institutional breakthroughs in areas such as traffic safety, data governance, and insurance mechanisms.

Topic Nine: New Ideas and New Directions for the Auto Governance System in the New Era

In the new era, optimizing the auto industry governance system and standardizing the competitive order in the auto industry are also of utmost importance. The meeting proposed that in order to govern disorderly competition in the auto industry, it is necessary to adhere to a combination of market mechanisms and laws and regulations. On the one hand, promote corporate mergers and restructurings, optimize industrial organizational structure, and increase market concentration. On the other hand, accelerate the improvement of the standards system, so that standards upgrading can lead the industry to shift from price competition to competition in technology, quality, and brands. At the same time, it is necessary to lawfully regulate competition order, crack down on false publicity and violations of pricing regulations. In addition, prevent “involution spilling over,” guide enterprises to expand overseas in an orderly manner, maintain the international image of Chinese manufacturing, and ultimately achieve a fundamental shift in the industry from price competition to high-quality development.

Through an in-depth one-day discussion, the meeting proposed many forward-looking, constructive, and actionable ideas and recommendations, providing valuable references and guidance for government departments to formulate related policies, for industry enterprises to adjust development strategies, and for coordinated innovation across the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain. All parties attending the meeting expect that in the future there will be more high-quality exchange platforms of this kind, to jointly promote China’s auto industry to achieve high-quality, healthy, and sustainable development.

It is reported that on April 11–12, the Auto 100 Research Institute will also hold an Intelligent Electric Vehicle Development Senior Forum (2026) at the National Convention and Exhibition Center. The forum, themed “Promoting the Intelligent, Green, Integrated, and Internationalized Development of New-Energy Vehicles,” will invite representatives from sectors such as automobiles, energy, transportation, cities, communications, and artificial intelligence to conduct further in-depth discussions around industrial hot topics.

(Editor-in-charge: Dong Pingping)

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