Gasgoo Munich-the Ministry of Commerce and other departments have rolled out a policy "combo," releasing two major notices in a single day to aggressively drive auto consumption across the entire value chain. Launching pilot reforms in auto circulation and nurturing the aftermarket are critical levers in this strategy.
Image Source: Screenshot from Ministry of Commerce
On the same day, the Ministry of Commerce and seven other departments issued a notice officially naming 40 pilot cities for auto circulation reform and outlining their key innovation priorities. Drawing on local industrial strengths, market conditions, resources, and strategic positioning, these cities will target bottlenecks and unreasonable restrictions in the sector. The goal is to refine reform measures, cultivate new scenarios and business models for auto consumption, and drive the integrated development of commerce, tourism, culture, sports, and wellness.
Image Source: Ministry of Commerce
Image Source: Ministry of Commerce
The pilot layout reveals distinct regional focuses. Tianjin is prioritizing vehicle modification, classic cars, and motorsports; Shenyang in Liaoning is zeroing in on used car circulation; Yangzhou in Jiangsu is pushing into RV camping; and Weinan in Shaanxi is targeting end-of-life vehicle recycling as a breakthrough point. Meanwhile, Beijing’s Chaoyang district and Guangzhou are taking early leads in vehicle modification, Shanghai’s Jiading district is exploring the classic car sector, and Hangzhou is tasked with optimizing purchase restrictions and hosting comprehensive circulation reforms. Zhuzhou, for its part, is working to build an integrated "exhibition-racing-sales" automotive ecosystem.
Image Source: Screenshot from Ministry of Commerce
Simultaneously, the Ministry of Commerce and eight other departments released the "Notice on Measures to Cultivate and Strengthen Auto Aftermarket Consumption." The document outlines 17 measures across six key areas: regulating the orderly development of vehicle modification, supporting the RV camping industry, fostering new business models for classic cars, optimizing maintenance and insurance services, actively developing motorsports, and promoting the innovative integration of car rentals.
On vehicle modification, the notice explicitly calls for establishing a robust management system, implementing tiered and classified oversight, and defining a list of permissible modification projects. It also aims to refine requirements for vehicle inspection and registration changes. Furthermore, the authorities plan to establish a sub-committee on vehicle modification under the National Automotive Standardization Technical Committee to accelerate the creation of national standards, while exploring an access licensing system for modified parts and improving the CCC certification regime.
For classic cars, the notice requires the formulation of identification rules and operational norms based on the "General Requirements for Traditional Classic Cars" (GB/T 45194-2024). It encourages pilot cities to explore classic car trading, circulation, exhibitions, and conditional road use.
In the realm of motorsports, the notice proposes building a multi-tiered event system anchored by renowned races, promoted by professional competitions, and popularized by public participation. Pilot cities are encouraged to introduce international events tailored to local conditions. Additionally, the policy promotes mass-oriented activities like rallies, off-road races, and karting, while supporting universities in establishing motorsport-related programs to train professional talent.
Regarding maintenance and insurance, the notice stipulates that automakers cannot restrict consumers' freedom to choose independent service providers. It urges NEV and battery manufacturers to open up repair technology authorizations and encourages a "repair over replacement" approach. In the insurance sector, authorities will explore models for "vehicle-battery separation" coverage.
This policy "combo" spans the entire auto circulation chain and covers every sector of the aftermarket. By moving from pilot trials to nationwide institutional frameworks, these systematic efforts are expected to further unleash consumption potential. The ultimate goal is to steer China's automotive industry away from pure "incremental expansion" toward a balanced approach that prioritizes both "stock optimization and incremental innovation."
