On the afternoon of January 13, 2026, the Inter-Ministerial Joint Conference on Energy Conservation and New Energy Vehicles held its annual work meeting in Beijing. The meeting was presided over by Li Lecheng, the Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). During the session, the attendees focused on implementing the important directives issued by President Xi Jinping and discussed the outcomes from 2025 and the 14th Five-Year Plan. They also reviewed the draft of the 15th Five-Year Plan for Smart Connected New Energy Vehicle Industry Development and outlined key tasks for 2026.
The meeting highlighted that the development of new energy vehicles is a significant strategic decision by the Central Committee of the Communist Party and the State Council. It is an essential part of building a modern industrial system in China. Over the past year, various member units have diligently followed President Xi’s guidance on promoting high-quality development in the automotive sector, collaborating effectively to enhance the industry’s progress. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the entire industry faced challenges head-on and exceeded expectations, achieving a 3.6-fold increase in the market size of new energy vehicles. Additionally, China became the world’s leading automotive exporter, with the cost of power batteries dropping by 30%, their lifespan improving by 40%, and charging speeds increasing by over three times, further strengthening international competitiveness.
The meeting underscored that 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan, presenting significant opportunities for the smart connected new energy vehicle industry. It emphasized a problem-oriented approach, systemic thinking, and a focus on bottom-line thinking to enhance collaboration and refine initiatives aimed at promoting high-quality industrial development. Key points of action include:
- Finalizing the Plan: Strengthening alignment with related plans in energy and infrastructure, clarifying development goals, and identifying key tasks to guide industry innovation.
- Enhancing Control of the Supply Chain: Improving the autonomy of the industrial chain and supply chain, launching a new round of high-quality development actions, and accelerating breakthroughs in technologies such as all-solid-state batteries and advanced autonomous driving.
- Expanding Automotive Consumption: Promoting vehicle trade-in programs, advancing the large-scale application of new energy heavy trucks, reforming new energy vehicle insurance, and stimulating diverse consumer demand.
- Regulating Industry Competition: Strengthening cost investigations and price monitoring, enhancing supervision of product consistency and quality checks, and guiding industry self-discipline through standard-setting.
- Strengthening International Cooperation: Supporting trade, investment, and technology collaborations, advancing integrated trade and investment development, and helping enterprises establish safe and orderly overseas operations, thereby fostering a new landscape for global industrial cooperation.
Relevant officials from the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Ministry of Transport, and 23 other member units attended the meeting.
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