Dongfeng Motor's You Zheng: China's Auto Industry Achieves Historic Leap, Targets Over 70% NEV Share by 2030

On July 22, the 2026 China Auto Forum was held in Shanghai under the theme “A New Start, New Opportunities, A New Journey.” You Zheng, Deputy General Manager and Standing Committee Member of the Party Leadership Group of Dongfeng Motor Corporation, attended the event and delivered a speech. You Zheng noted that during China’s 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), the Chinese automotive industry achieved a historic leap from follower to leader, maintaining its position as the world’s largest automobile producer and seller for 17 consecutive years and leading globally in new energy vehicle (NEV) production and sales for 11 straight years. In 2025 alone, China sold 16.49 million NEVs and exported 7.1 million vehicles. Today, China’s auto industry has established three core advantages: independently controllable key technologies, a robust and comprehensive industrial chain, and the upward trajectory of domestic brands into the premium segment. Addressing four major trends—intelligentization, decarbonization, convergence, and internationalization—You Zheng stated that intelligentization is redefining the essence of automobiles, shifting competitive focus toward foundational technological capabilities; decarbonization is evolving from emission reductions at individual stages to systemic carbon reduction across the entire value chain; convergence is transforming vehicles from mere functional aggregation to emergent intelligent capabilities; and internationalization has entered a new phase, moving beyond “going global” to “integrating locally.” You Zheng outlined Dongfeng Motor’s “Feng Qi 2030” initiative and its “13343” strategic framework, targeting over 70% NEV sales share and approximately 40% overseas sales share by 2030, with R&D investment intensity steadily maintained at 7%. Dongfeng will advance its “Tianyuan Intelligence Program” to develop automotive AI agents capable of autonomous reasoning; implement the “Tianjing Zero-Carbon Program” to strengthen core technologies such as solid-state batteries and fuel cell stacks; and launch the “Tianji Sailing Program,” committing over RMB 100 billion to roll out 55 global NEV models and achieve more than 50% localized manufacturing. He called on the industry to enhance collaborative innovation, jointly build the Chinese automotive brand image overseas, and foster cross-sector integration to create a win-win ecosystem. He affirmed Dongfeng’s commitment to partnering with all stakeholders to drive high-quality development of China’s automotive industry.