[SMM Hydrogen Policy Update] Eight Departments Including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: Release the "Work Plan for Stabilizing Growth in the Automotive Industry (2025–2026)"

The document points out the need to accelerate the comprehensive market expansion of new energy vehicles (NEVs). Efforts will be intensified to advance the pilot zones for full electrification of vehicles in the public sector, promoting the addition of over 700,000 NEVs in areas such as urban public transport, taxis, and logistics distribution across 25 pilot cities. The NEV promotion campaign in rural areas and the pilot program to address shortcomings in charging and battery swapping infrastructure in counties will be continuously organized to enhance the electrification level of vehicles for rural residents. Demonstration and application of fuel cell vehicles will be actively carried out, promoting the large-scale application of medium- and long-distance, medium- and heavy-duty fuel cell commercial vehicles.

Main Goals:By 2025, strive to achieve annual auto sales of around 32.3 million units, up approximately 3% YoY, including NEV sales of about 15.5 million units, up around 20% YoY; maintain steady growth in auto exports; and achieve an increase in the added value of the auto manufacturing industry of about 6% YoY. By 2026, maintain stable and positive development in the industry, with further improvements in industrial scale and quality efficiency.

Focus on Expanding Domestic Consumption:

1. Accelerate the comprehensive market expansion of NEVs. Intensify efforts to advance the pilot zones for full electrification of vehicles in the public sector, promoting the addition of over 700,000 NEVs in areas such as urban public transport, taxis, and logistics distribution across 25 pilot cities. Continuously organize the NEV promotion campaign in rural areas and the pilot program to address shortcomings in charging and battery swapping infrastructure in counties to enhance the electrification level of vehicles for rural residents. Actively carry out demonstration and application of fuel cell vehicles, promoting the large-scale application of medium- and long-distance, medium- and heavy-duty fuel cell commercial vehicles. Develop guidance to promote the development of the battery swapping model to meet diverse market needs. Deepen the reform of NEV insurance and optimize the benchmark premium rates for commercial auto insurance. Implement preferential policies on vehicle purchase tax and vehicle and vessel tax for NEVs to ensure a smooth and orderly transition.

2. Further intensify efforts to promote auto consumption. Implement the requirements of documents such as the "Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance on Intensifying and Expanding the Implementation of Large-Scale Equipment Renewal and the Trade-in Policy for Consumer Goods in 2025" (NDRC Resource [2025] No. 13), supporting auto trade-ins, updates of NEV city buses and power batteries, and promoting tiered consumption and renewal consumption of automobiles. Carry out pilot reforms in auto circulation and consumption, expanding aftermarket consumption such as auto modification, leasing, motorsports, and RV camping. Encourage regions with auto purchase restrictions to optimize their policies, gradually shifting from purchase management to usage management. Implement facilitative measures such as "reverse invoicing" for used car sales and cross-registration of transactions, explore the establishment of an online transaction management system, strengthen information sharing and openness in the auto sector, enhance the accuracy and authority of used car information query platforms, and promote the efficient circulation of used cars.

3. Promote the Industrial Application of Intelligent and Connected Technologies. Deepen the application pilot of "vehicle-road-cloud integration" for intelligent and connected vehicles, accelerate the construction of connected infrastructure and cloud control platforms, encourage the pre-installation of high-performance communication modules such as V2X and 5G in vehicles, expedite the large-scale application of the BeiDou system, promote multi-scenario applications in logistics, sanitation, and mobility services, and encourage key regions to gradually expand cross-regional collaborative applications. Advance the pilot programs for market access and on-road operation of intelligent and connected vehicles, conditionally approve the production access for L3-level car models, and promote the improvement of laws and regulations related to road traffic safety and insurance. Support enterprises in the automotive, information and communication, and transportation industries to explore new-type business models using data as the link, and accelerate the cultivation of a diversified value chain.