China Leads Development of Over 60 International Standards for EVs and Autonomous Driving, Boosting Asia-Pacific Automotive Collaboration

The 43rd APEC Automotive Dialogue was held in Shanghai on May 12. A representative from the Department of Equipment Industry I at China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated at the meeting that China continues to achieve breakthroughs in key automotive technologies, with semi-solid-state batteries already being deployed in vehicles and ultra-fast charging technology—capable of charging to 80% in just 15 minutes—now entering mass production. To date, over 57,000 kilometers of roads nationwide have been opened for intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) testing, and extensive demonstration applications of autonomous driving and electrification are underway. In terms of standardization, China has issued 237 national and industry standards for intelligent connected new energy vehicles, with another 103 under development. China also leads the formulation of more than 60 international standards and regulations, including those on electric vehicle safety and autonomous driving systems. In recent years, Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturers have significantly increased investments in multiple Asia-Pacific economies. Taking Thailand as an example, the country plans to strengthen its automotive supply chain and cultivate local suppliers to support the development of both complete vehicles and component industries. A representative from Mexico noted that Chinese brands have driven over 20% growth in local electric vehicle sales and introduced numerous innovative technologies. The APEC Automotive Dialogue has long focused on automotive industry development and capacity building in the Asia-Pacific region, promoting regional cooperation and industrial synergy. China will host the APEC meetings for the third time in 2026, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will organize a series of supporting events, including the Automotive Dialogue.