China Targets Global Auto Powerhouse Status by 2030 Under New Five-Year Plan

China has unveiled its 15th Five-Year Plan for the Intelligent Connected and New Energy Vehicle Industry, outlining targets to establish the country as a global automotive power by 2030. Under the blueprint reported by People's Daily, Beijing aims for new energy vehicles to account for 70 percent of domestic passenger car sales and 40 percent of commercial vehicle sales by 2030. The strategy calls for large-scale autonomous vehicle rollouts, stricter energy efficiency benchmarks, and the elevation of Chinese automakers into the global top ten by sales volume.

The plan establishes the top-level design for China's automotive industry across the 2026–2030 period. By setting quantitative adoption targets for electric and smart vehicles alongside ambitious efficiency metrics, the framework signals heightened regulatory expectations for vehicle manufacturers, acceleration in high-level autonomous driving deployment, and increased state backing for domestic automakers seeking expanded global market share.

China has officially released its 15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Intelligent Connected and New Energy Vehicle Industry, setting quantitative benchmarks to establish the nation as a leading global automotive powerhouse by 2030, according to state-run People's Daily. Under the newly published policy roadmap, Beijing aims to solidify its full industrial chain advantages in intelligent connected and new energy vehicles (NEVs). Domestically, the plan targets NEV penetration rates of 70 percent for new passenger car sales and 40 percent for commercial vehicle sales within their respective segments by 2030. The framework also calls for the large-scale commercial application of vehicles equipped with autonomous driving capabilities. To raise foundational technical standards, the document specifies efficiency targets, aiming to reduce the average fuel consumption of passenger vehicles to 3.3 liters per 100 kilometers. For pure electric passenger cars, average energy consumption is targeted to reach approximately 11.5 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers. On the automation front, the plan envisions high-level autonomous driving operational on highways, urban expressways, and select municipal roadways, with safety metrics targeted to substantially outperform human drivers. The blueprint additionally focuses on industrial restructuring and manufacturing productivity. The plan sets an objective to improve overall labor productivity across the sector by 15 percent compared to 2025 levels through advanced digital and intelligent manufacturing systems. Beijing aims to cultivate several domestic vehicle manufacturers that rank among the top ten globally by vehicle sales, alongside multiple auto parts suppliers entering the global top 100. Internationally, the plan directs automakers to strengthen their global operating capabilities, enhance brand reputation abroad, and secure a greater voice in formulating international automotive standards and technical regulations. Environmentally, the policy requires the automotive industry to reach its carbon emissions peak before 2030, driving supply chains to accelerate low-carbon and green manufacturing transitions.