MIIT Outlines Four-Pronged Strategy for NEVs in the 15th Five-Year Plan

On August 26, 2026, the State Council Information Office held a press conference under the thematic series “Launching the 15th Five-Year Plan Period.” Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology, announced that the “15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Intelligent Connected New Energy Vehicles” has been formulated. The plan will promote high-quality industrial development across four key areas: product quality and supply, supporting usage environment, industry governance systems, and international cooperation and exchanges. To enhance product quality and supply, the plan supports leading enterprises in intensifying technological breakthroughs, with a focus on improving the low-temperature adaptability and durability of power batteries and enhancing the safety and reliability of autonomous driving systems. It also advances pilot programs for market access and road testing of intelligent connected vehicles, as well as integrated “vehicle-road-cloud” demonstration projects. Regarding the development of a supportive usage environment, the plan proposes initiatives such as trade-in programs for older vehicles, promoting new energy vehicles (NEVs) in rural areas, and pilot projects to address gaps in county-level charging and battery-swapping infrastructure. The goal is to achieve “charging stations in every county” and “charging piles in every township.” Additionally, it calls for establishing a sound regulatory framework for vehicle modifications and optimizing NEV insurance policies to reduce maintenance costs. In terms of industry governance, the plan will advance reforms toward group-based management of automotive manufacturing licenses, strengthen review and testing requirements for innovative vehicle designs, and strictly prohibit products lacking sufficient testing and validation from entering the market. It will also intensify supervision and inspection to ensure production consistency. On international cooperation, China will leverage multilateral and bilateral mechanisms to enhance coordination in developing international standards and regulations, improve supporting services such as cross-border logistics and investment financing, and steadily advance international trade and investment collaboration.