It is March 4, 2026, and the "Two Sessions" are underway. As a veteran of the auto industry, Li Shufu, chairman of Geely Holding Group, has once again submitted three proposals this year.
Compared with previous years, Li's recommendations this year focus more sharply on tangible solutions: energy substitution in freight, structural gaps in automotive talent, and mobility challenges for special groups.
Methanol-Electric Trucks: A "Break-the-Ice" Choice for Northern Logistics
Statistics show that in 2024, China's total freight volume exceeded 56 billion tons, with road transport accounting for 73.6% of the total—a market worth roughly 4.3 trillion yuan. Within this sector, diesel internal combustion engines remain dominant.
Yet the environmental pressure from diesel trucks has long been a pain point for the industry.
To address this challenge, Li argues that methanol-electric commercial trucks offer a distinct advantage: they are cost-effective, eco-friendly, and easy to refuel—making them particularly viable for electrification in northern, cold regions. Ideally suited for medium-to-long-haul routes over 400 kilometers and irregular freight scenarios, they represent a critical path for green transformation in the sector.
Consequently, Li recommends that the Ministry of Transport prioritize the promotion of methanol-electric commercial trucks to increase their adoption rate. This would help achieve carbon reduction while ensuring operational economics and meeting freight capacity demands.
Specifically, he calls on the ministry to prioritize the layout of methanol refueling facilities at highway service areas and along provincial trunk roads to create "green freight demonstration corridors." This initiative aims to drive carbon reduction in road transport while maintaining freight capacity and cost-efficiency.
Smart EV Networks: "Tearing Down Walls" for Automotive Talent
In recent years, the development of intelligent connected new-energy vehicles has surged, yet a talent shortage has become increasingly pronounced—particularly a severe lack of interdisciplinary innovators.
Li attributes this primarily to the inability of traditional academic knowledge systems to cover the cross-disciplinary requirements of industrial technological innovation. This has caused a structural mismatch between talent cultivation and industry needs, driving up the cost of "retraining."
Therefore, it is urgent to break down disciplinary barriers and accelerate the establishment of "Intelligent Electric Vehicles" as a first-level interdisciplinary discipline. This would allow for the systematic cultivation of high-end, composite talent capable of deep multidisciplinary integration and innovation, providing solid support for the sustainable innovation and global competitiveness of China's auto industry.
Specifically, Li suggests that the Ministry of Education seize the opportunity of the 2027 adjustment to the discipline catalog to formally establish "Intelligent Electric Vehicles" as a first-level interdisciplinary discipline in the "Catalogue of Disciplines and Specialties for Graduate Education." This would resolve the long-standing structural problem of a missing disciplinary framework in the automotive sector and provide robust institutional support for the integrated development of education, technology, and talent.
Meanwhile, he proposes deepening the integration of industry and education by formulating special policies to guide and encourage leading automakers to participate deeply in discipline construction. He supports the joint establishment of industry-education integration communities, industrial colleges, joint laboratories, and internship bases by universities and enterprises. Furthermore, he advocates for a "dual-tutor" system for talent cultivation, directly integrating cutting-edge industrial technology needs, engineering cases, and R&D systems into the entire teaching process.
Accessible Taxis: "Paving the Way" for Special Groups
In contrast to the industrial perspective of the first two proposals, the third focuses on a frequently overlooked group: the elderly and people with disabilities.
Li points out that as China's population ages and awareness of disability rights rises, accessible travel has become a vital component of urban public services. However, many cities still face issues such as insufficient supply, operational difficulties, and inadequate policy support for accessible taxi services, making it hard to meet the mobility needs of the elderly and people with disabilities.
To address this, Li recommends strengthening national-level policy guidance and standard-setting, establishing diversified funding support mechanisms, and promoting innovation in operational models and digital transformation. He also calls for strengthening taxi driver training and service systems, as well as encouraging vehicle technology R&D and industrial support.
Three proposals, three distinct angles. Whether it is "breaking the ice" for methanol trucks, "tearing down walls" in discipline construction, or "paving the way" for accessible travel, Li's focus remains firmly on implementation. As the automotive industry moves toward a new stage of high-quality development, whether these recommendations translate into reality remains a story worth watching.
