Gasgoo Munich- At the opening ceremony of the 2026 TEDA Automotive Forum on September 19, CATARC Chief Scientist Wang Fang delivered a keynote speech. She argued that AI large models and embodied robotics are ushering in the era of intelligent agents, and the new energy vehicle industry has moved beyond a policy-driven phase into a new stage defined by "dual-wheel drive" from both the market and technology. The industry's focus, she urged, must shift from chasing penetration rates and market share to prioritizing orderly development and profitability.
Image Source: 2026 TEDA Forum
Wang Fang offered a set of industry benchmarks. Global NEV sales reached 20.7 million in 2025, representing a 23.6% penetration rate. China alone accounted for 13.36 million units — 70% of the global total — with a domestic penetration rate of 50%. This marks the country's 11th consecutive year at the top, with domestic brands now holding a 75% share. Meanwhile, the penetration rate of Level 2 passenger vehicles surged from 25% in 2021 to 64.9% in 2025, having recently climbed past 70%.
Looking ahead, Wang pinpointed three core battlefronts: batteries, charging, and intelligent connectivity. In the battery sector, the industry is tackling safety, energy replenishment, and solid-state technology. Solid-state batteries have emerged as a new global battleground, with Japan and South Korea focusing on sulfides, the U.S. on polymers, and Europe on oxides. Chinese companies, meanwhile, are pursuing multiple routes in parallel.
On the charging front, peak power for some models has hit 300 to 500 kilowatts. As of June, the country's charging infrastructure surpassed 23 million units, with the share of 750-volt and 1,000-volt high-voltage piles rising rapidly. Wang emphasized that fast charging is a collaborative engineering challenge involving vehicles, piles, and the grid — not a breakthrough achievable by cars alone. Among the five major hurdles, the most critical are 1,000-volt high-voltage architectures, lifetime fast-charging safety, and flexible charging.
In intelligent connectivity, technology is evolving along four tracks: autonomous driving, smart cockpits, chassis systems, and vehicle-road-cloud collaboration. Key focus areas include end-to-end large models, multimodal interaction, steer-by-wire chassis, and C-V2X.
Wang also issued a warning: Chinese NEV exports are facing the accelerated construction of three barriers — tariffs, green standards, and data regulations. As the industry pushes for intelligence, functional safety, safety of the intended function (SOTIF), cybersecurity, and data security remain non-negotiable baselines.
