2026 New Energy Vehicle Aftermarket Summit Opens in Chongqing, Focusing on Ecosystem Building and Customization Opportunities

According to data from the Ministry of Public Security, as of 2025, China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) fleet reached 43.97 million units, marking the full entry of the automotive market into an era dominated by existing vehicles and injecting strong momentum into the growth of the aftermarket sector. On January 24, the 2026 New Energy Vehicle Aftermarket New Ecosystem Conference was held in Wanzhou District, Chongqing, focusing on the themes of “New Beginnings, New Markets, and New Services.” As a major hub for intelligent connected NEVs, Chongqing has incorporated the aftermarket into its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), aiming to build a complete ecosystem encompassing components, whole vehicles, and aftermarket services. Key policy priorities include enhancing inspection, testing, and maintenance systems; promoting innovation in automotive finance and insurance; advancing battery recycling initiatives; and vigorously fostering the vehicle customization industry. Experts noted that AI technologies will help break monopolies in after-sales services, while personalized vehicle modifications are emerging as a significant new growth driver. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) emphasized that future progress will require a three-pronged restructuring—policy, technology, and ecosystem—to drive collaboration between OEMs and customization enterprises and accelerate the evolution of automotive culture.