Former MIIT Vice Minister Su Bo: NEV Domestic Penetration to Exceed 70% by 2030

At the High-Level Forum on Intelligent and Electric Vehicle Development held on April 11, Su Bo, Vice Chairman of the Strategic Advisory Committee for Building a Strong Manufacturing Nation and former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), stated that the upcoming "15th Five-Year Plan" period (2026–2030) will be a critical stage for China’s transition from a major automobile producer to a global automotive powerhouse. He emphasized that new energy vehicles (NEVs) must shoulder key national strategic responsibilities, including advancing China as a strong manufacturing nation, a science and technology leader, a transportation powerhouse, and achieving its dual carbon goals. Su projected that by 2030, NEVs will become the dominant force in China's domestic auto market, with a penetration rate exceeding 70%, potentially enabling China to achieve its goal of becoming a global NEV powerhouse ahead of schedule. Addressing the issue of "involution" (excessive internal competition) in the auto industry, Su stressed that regulatory measures should be grounded in laws and regulations. He clarified that "involution" does not refer to normal price reductions but rather to unlawful or malicious forms of disorderly competition, underscoring the need to clearly define standards distinguishing legitimate competition from disorderly or illegal practices. He added that healthy price competition remains a vital driver for enterprise survival and market-driven selection. Su also highlighted multiple challenges currently facing NEV development: rapid technological iteration coexists with persistent "bottleneck" weaknesses in core technologies; intensifying global competition poses new risks to industrial security; insufficient resilience in industrial and supply chains creates supply vulnerabilities, particularly due to reliance on imported chips and key battery materials; and unregulated market competition necessitates urgent improvements in the relevant governance systems.