Policy Acceleration Responds to Industry Innovation Pace
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced at the 2026 World Intelligent Connected Vehicle Conference that it will accelerate the release of the 15th Five-Year Plan for smart connected new energy vehicles (NEVs). Guo Shougang, head of MIIT’s Equipment Industry Department, stated that the plan’s accelerated release aims to prevent obsolescence, as the pace of industry innovation has outstripped policy drafting timelines. Guo emphasized that MIIT will fully implement the National Standardization Development Outline, expedite breakthroughs in key core technologies, and promote pilot applications, production access, and road access for vehicle-road-cloud integration to build a complete industrial ecosystem.
Guo noted that MIIT will prioritize pilot programs for vehicle-road-cloud integration in 2026 and accelerate international coordination and implementation of related standards. This move will not only help Chinese companies maintain a leading position in global smart connected vehicle competition but also accelerate the commercialization of technologies. He added that the policy acceleration will provide a clear development direction for the upstream and downstream industrial chain, fostering cross-industry collaborative innovation.
China’s Smart Connected Vehicle Industry Leads Globally
Fu Bingfeng, Vice President and Secretary General of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, stated at the conference that the global smart connected vehicle industry is in a critical transition phase from assisted driving to autonomous driving. Leveraging advantages in policy guidance, technological innovation, cross-industry collaboration, and market-driven development, China’s industry has reached an internationally leading level. Fu highlighted that Chinese companies lead globally in key technological areas such as vehicle-road-cloud integration, human-machine interaction, and multimodal perception. They have also established a virtuous cycle of mass production cost reduction and technological enhancement in core components like LiDAR, high-performance chips, and communication terminals.
Fu further analyzed that smart connected vehicles will undergo profound changes in technology routes, product forms, technological ecosystems, and cross-industry integration. He noted that Chinese companies have made significant progress in autonomous driving model applications, human-machine interaction, and multimodal perception. Moving forward, they will continue to promote collaborative innovation across the industrial chain to enhance overall competitiveness. Fu emphasized that the development of smart connected vehicles will reshape the global automotive industry landscape, with China poised to play a leading role in this process.
Capital Markets React Positively, Automakers’ Stock Prices Rise Broadly
The policy-driven positive news from MIIT sparked a strong reaction in capital markets on July 29. Stock prices of multiple automakers, including BYD, Xiaomi, Leapmotor, Seres, NIO, XPENG, Li Auto, Geely, Chery, and GAC, rose in response. Market analysts believe the policy acceleration not only demonstrates the Chinese government’s determination to promote smart connected NEVs but also reflects the industry’s urgent demand for technical standards and market access.
Despite the positive signals from the accelerated policy release, the industry remains focused on the specific content and implementation details of the plan. MIIT has not yet disclosed the timeline for the release of the 15th Five-Year Plan or the specific targets of the National Standardization Development Outline. Analysts point out that as policies are gradually implemented, China’s smart connected NEV industry is expected to achieve faster development. However, international coordination of technical standards and market access mechanisms still require further clarification. The industry anticipates that policy details will be released soon to provide clearer development pathways for companies.
Guo Shougang stated at the conference that MIIT will continue to promote standardization in the smart connected NEV industry and strengthen alignment with international standards. He emphasized that policy support will focus on breakthroughs in key core technologies and the improvement of the industrial ecosystem to lay a foundation for the long-term development of China’s smart connected vehicle industry. Fu Bingfeng noted that Chinese companies have achieved significant results in technological innovation and market applications and will continue to deepen industry cooperation to drive the global development of smart connected vehicles.
