China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has recently disclosed a comprehensive work plan with the aim of establishing industry standards for the automotive sector. The primary objective is to promote innovation, specifically in the development of new-energy vehicles (NEVs) and smart cars, in order to enhance global competitiveness.
The work plan comprises 19 detailed key points across five major sectors, with the purpose of reinforcing the standards system, focusing on emerging technology fields, consolidating quality and safety, bolstering international cooperation and compatibility, and optimizing work mechanisms. This prioritization of the automotive standards system will be in line with technology trends and industry demands, whilst also advancing standard-setting in key fields and cutting-edge sectors.
A key focus of the plan is the improvement of standards for NEVs, encompassing finished EVs, power battery safety, remote service and management, to guarantee the security of EV operations. Additionally, the plan underscores the research of standards for intelligence-connected vehicles, covering technologies such as information security, software upgrade, and autopilot logs, in compliance with national standards. The plan also addresses the supply of automotive chip standards, solidification of standards for electronic systems, and deployment of automotive carbon emission standards.
The plan also aims to enhance automotive operation safety by updating relevant standards, while also integrating and reinforcing standards in domestic and international automotive industries. This will be complemented by comprehensive training programmes for industry talent.
Following China’s recent achievement in surpassing Japan to become the world’s largest exporter of all types of vehicles, experts have suggested that the growth momentum of China’s automotive industry necessitates abundant technology and standard reserves, especially in the context of exporting cars.
The work plan also responds to the recent imposition of additional tariffs on Chinese EVs by the European Commission. Analysts have stressed the importance of creating a complete internationalized standard system for China’s EV industry, countering politically-motivated moves from Western countries.
Furthermore, the MIIT’s plan is viewed as a strategic move to enhance the competitiveness of China’s EVs, strengthening the country’s capacity to navigate and mitigate potential sanctions from Western countries. In response, veteran automobile industry analyst Wu Shuocheng has expressed confidence that China’s EVs will not be shaken from their international market position, due to the country’s policy measures being grounded in technological innovation and market consumption promotion.
The MIIT’s unveiling of revised guidelines for the lithium-ion battery industry, and the allocation of 6.44 billion yuan by China’s Ministry of Finance to promote vehicle renewals and trade-ins, further reinforce the country’s commitment to scaling up the technological ladder and ensuring sustainable development.
With this ambitious and far-reaching work plan, China is steadfast in its objective to establish the global standard for innovation and competitiveness in the automotive industry, particularly in the burgeoning sectors of NEVs and smart cars.