China prioritizes core tech to boost auto sector

China will accelerate breakthroughs in core technologies such as all-solid-state batteries and high-level autonomous driving, while guiding automakers to expand overseas in a reasonable, orderly and secure manner, according to a key national industrial meeting.

The plan was outlined on Tuesday at the 2026 annual session of the inter-ministerial conference mechanism for the energy-saving and new energy vehicle industry, held in Beijing. The meeting was chaired by Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Lecheng.

It called for strengthening the independent controllability of industrial and supply chains, enhancing research and development in flagship products, foundational materials, and industrial software, and speeding up technological breakthroughs in areas including all-solid-state batteries and high-level autonomous driving.

The meeting emphasized bolstering international cooperation in trade, investment, and technology to promote the integrated development of trade and investment. It also highlighted the importance of preventing risks in technology and investment, guiding companies in their overseas expansion, and fostering a new landscape for global industrial collaboration.

Officials noted that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China's new energy vehicle sector overcame challenges and achieved its targets ahead of schedule.

By the end of 2025, the scale of China's new energy vehicle market had expanded by 3.6 times, while the country's auto exports ranked first globally.

Over the same period, the cost of power battery cells dropped by 30 percent, battery life increased by 40 percent, and charging speeds improved by more than threefold, significantly enhancing the industry's international competitiveness.