I. Global Market Trends: The New Energy Vehicle Industry Enters a Stage of High-Quality Development

Against the backdrop of the accelerating transformation of the global automotive industry, attendees generally agreed that the new-energy vehicle sector is transitioning from a phase of rapid expansion to one of high-quality development.

Wei Jinglin, Vice President of the China Equipment Management Association, stated in his keynote address that the global automotive industry is currently undergoing a transformation of unprecedented magnitude in a century, with electrification, intelligence, and connectivity converging and integrating at an increasingly deep level.

He put forward three recommendations:

• Uphold the bottom line of industrial security and enhance our capability for independent control over core technologies and supply-chain resilience.

• Strengthen collaborative innovation among industry, academia, research institutions, and end-users to drive industrial upgrading through new-quality productive forces.

• Promote mutual recognition of technical standards in accordance with international rules and facilitate the high-quality international expansion of the new-energy vehicle industry.

   

Ren Xingzhou, former director of the Institute for Market Economy Studies at the Development Research Center of the State Council, stated that policies related to new-energy vehicles are gradually shifting from a single, support-oriented approach to a systematic policy framework centered on high-quality development. In the future, China’s new-energy vehicle industry will continue to enhance its competitiveness through technological innovation, quality upgrades, green development, and global expansion.

Xie Yu, Chairman of the New Energy Vehicle Industry Branch of the China Equipment Management Association, put forward the industrial cooperation concept of “Borderless, Win-Win.” He believes that the development of the new energy vehicle industry is not merely about product competition; it is, above all, the result of coordinated efforts across the global supply chain system. Looking ahead, industry development must be centered on “openness, connectivity, and trust” to foster the formation of a global cooperation network.

Johann Wieland, the initiator of the conference, former CEO of BMW Brilliance, and an independent automotive expert, stated that compared with the era of traditional internal-combustion vehicles, the pace of technological iteration and market competition in the new-energy-vehicle industry has markedly accelerated. Companies must not only navigate the transition to electrification but also continuously adjust their strategies in response to software-driven transformation, intelligentization, and the reshaping of global supply chains.

He pointed out that, following several years of rapid expansion, the industry is shifting its focus from scale-driven growth to more sustainable profitability models. In the future, the automotive industry’s core competitive advantage will increasingly hinge on firms’ innovation capabilities and market agility.

II. China’s Automotive Export Boom: A New Wave of Industrial Linkages in the Global Market

As the global influence of China’s automotive industry continues to grow, “going global” has become a key topic at this conference.

Zhang Yongwei, Chairman of the Board of the Auto Industry Research Institute of China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, stated that one of the most landmark developments in the global automotive industry over the next five years will be the deep integration of China’s automotive sector with the global market.

Data show that China’s automobile exports reached approximately 7 million units in 2023. Industry analysts forecast that over the next few years, export volumes could surpass 10 million units, creating a global market worth several trillion yuan.

Li Yin, an associate professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University, analyzed the rise of China’s new-energy vehicle industry from the perspective of the national innovation system. He pointed out that the development of China’s new-energy vehicle sector has been inseparable from long-term, strategic investment; independent innovation is not only a key driver of industrial upgrading but also an essential component of national energy security and industrial strategy.

Representatives from multiple foreign embassies in China also shared their respective countries’ investment policies for new-energy vehicles at the conference.

His Excellency Jimmy, the Philippine Ambassador to China, and His Excellency Milan Lajčák, the Slovak Ambassador to China, each provided an overview of their respective countries’ investment policies and strategies.

His Excellency Jimmy, the Philippine Ambassador to China, provided an in-depth analysis of the Philippines’ investment policies for new-energy vehicles and their practical implementation, emphasizing that a precise understanding of the target market’s investment framework is critical for companies seeking to expand overseas. His Excellency noted that the Philippines is emerging as a key growth hub in the global electric-vehicle (EV) industry, with a dynamic, youthful market characterized by steadily rising incomes—providing natural high-growth opportunities for Chinese firms and enterprises from other countries alike.

His Excellency Milan Laca, Ambassador of Slovakia to China, provided an in-depth overview of Slovakia’s investment policies and development roadmap for new-energy vehicles, underscoring the country’s strategic advantages within both the European and global automotive industries.

His Excellency Leziak pointed out that Slovakia boasts three core advantages in the new-energy and electric-vehicle sectors: first, a stable operating and investment environment, underpinned by business-friendly policies and incentive measures from the government; second, a robust industrial base and a well-developed supply chain that ensure end-to-end capabilities spanning battery materials, component manufacturing, and final vehicle assembly; and third, a strategically advantageous geographic location at the heart of Europe, which facilitates access to the EU’s 300-million-strong market while reducing transportation and logistics costs.

III. Technical Standards and Quality Systems: Supply Chain Competition Enters a New Phase

Against the backdrop of the accelerated development of the new-energy vehicle industry, supply-chain quality management and technical standards have become critical foundations for competitive advantage.

Automotive standards expert Wolfgang Wagner points out that the widespread adoption of the ASQMS framework marks a pivotal shift for Chinese enterprises—from mere followers of global standards to active participants and, in some cases, standard-setters. By building a robust standardization system, China’s automotive industry will be better positioned to compete on the global stage in the software-driven new era of mobility.

Wang Fang, Chief Scientist at the China Automotive Technology Research Center Co., Ltd., delivered a speech in which she systematically reviewed the development trends in power battery technology. She noted that significant progress has been made in recent years in enhancing the safety of power batteries.

Data show that in 2020, only about 10% of batteries passed the one-hour thermal runaway test without catching fire or exploding; by 2025, this figure had risen to nearly 80%–90%. Meanwhile, fast charging, ultra-fast charging, and solid-state battery technologies are emerging as the industry’s new technological priorities.

From the perspective of industrial practice, enterprises’ demands for supply-chain collaboration capabilities are continuously increasing.

Yang Yong, Executive Vice President of Desay SV, stated that there is a clear divergence in the pace of new-energy-vehicle development between the Chinese and European markets: Europe places greater emphasis on safety and regulatory compliance, while the Chinese market prioritizes rapid technological iteration and superior user experience. Suppliers must strike a balance across these distinct market environments.

Luca Forte, Global Executive Vice President of the Italian Eldo Group, delivered a presentation on how European suppliers can capitalize on the China boom. He particularly emphasized that well-designed factories are not merely production facilities—they are also vessels for culture and value.

Patrick Mueller, Vice President of Research and Development at BMW Brilliance, pointed out that Chinese suppliers are playing an increasingly important role in BMW’s global ecosystem, and that stable partnerships and long-term trust are key to the success of supply-chain collaboration.

Kang Bo, Vice President of Seres Auto, shared the supply-chain management model employed by “chain-leading enterprises.” He stated that, through smart factories and the “factory-within-a-factory” model, companies can achieve deep supply-chain collaboration, enhance production efficiency, and build a long-term, stable ecosystem of cooperation.

IV. AI and Logistics Collaboration: Digitalization is Reshaping Global Supply Chains

Amid the wave of intelligent and digital transformation, AI technology is increasingly emerging as a critical enabler for enhancing supply-chain efficiency.

Chen Yuxiao, CEO of Yaqi Group, delivered an in-depth presentation on the market opportunities, regulatory challenges, and compliance pathways for Chinese automakers and their supply chains as they expand into the European market.

He pointed out that Chinese automakers’ expansion into Europe is driven by five core strategic reasons: the gradual saturation of the domestic Chinese auto market, which necessitates tapping new markets to sustain growth; the opportunity to build a global brand and gain recognition from capital markets in overseas markets; the need to diversify operations to hedge against geopolitical risks and ensure supply-chain stability; the ability of global markets to absorb excess production capacity and R&D investment, thereby maximizing economic returns; and the favorable policy environment for new-energy vehicles in Europe, which presents a significant strategic opportunity, particularly for NEV manufacturers.

He also proposed that Chinese automakers and their supply chains should shift their overseas expansion strategy from product export to ecosystem localization, emphasizing long-term, deep-rooted engagement in the European market.

Ding Yaqi, Director of Tencent Smart Mobility, stated that large-model technology is transforming the ways in which the automotive industry conducts R&D, manufacturing, and supply-chain collaboration. Digitalization and AI will serve as key drivers for enhancing efficiency in the future new-energy vehicle industry.

Focusing on the synergy between overseas logistics and industrial development, Zafer Engin argues that future competition in the mobility sector will hinge not only on manufacturing capacity but, more importantly, on ecosystem capabilities. Companies must integrate multiple links—including manufacturing, logistics, finance, and digital platforms—to build a comprehensive industrial ecosystem.

Baran Gümüsel, CEO of Supply Bridge, pointed out that innovation in the automotive industry often stems from cross-industry technologies. For example, AI-powered visual recognition technology, originally developed for sports applications, can be adapted for use in the automotive sector to detect objects in adverse weather conditions.

As the number of software modules continues to grow, OEMs and suppliers must collaborate more closely to address an increasingly complex technological and regulatory landscape.

V. The International Cooperation Network Continues to Expand

This conference drew representatives from the embassies of 16 countries accredited to China, including European nations such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Finland, Greece, Slovakia, and Estonia, as well as Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Pakistan, Morocco, Armenia, and Colombia.

Through policy briefings and on-site exchanges, representatives from various countries provided recommendations on legal compliance, trade policies, and the investment environment to facilitate the entry of China’s new-energy vehicle industry chain into local markets.