Gasgoo Daily presents a selection of the latest developments from China's automotive industry. Here are the key stories in this edition.
FAW Group, GAIG Automobile Form Alliance
FAW Group and Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group ("GAIG Automobile"), the controlling shareholder of GAC Group, signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement on September 29.
The two state-owned automakers plan to strengthen coordination in assets and capital, technological innovation, and cross-regional industrial resources, drawing on their respective strengths in manufacturing, brands, global operations, and key automotive technologies.
The agreement comes as GAC Group advances a major asset restructuring. Under a proposal disclosed on September 28, the listed automaker plans to acquire a 50% stake in FAW Toyota through a share issuance. The strategic partnership and the proposed transaction will move forward in parallel.
China Unveils 2026-2030 Battery Plan
China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and six other government departments have jointly released a plan for the new-type battery industry during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), setting out development goals and key priorities.
A key target is to achieve initial large-scale commercialization of all-solid-state batteries by 2030. The plan also calls for major advances in next-generation battery technologies, while targeting a cycle life of 15,000 cycles for long-life lithium batteries and product defect rates at the parts-per-billion level for leading manufacturers.
The plan outlines 19 key tasks across five areas, including breakthroughs in all-solid-state battery industrialization, development of next-generation battery chemistries and a supply system centered on lithium-ion batteries alongside sodium-ion and flow batteries. It also calls for stronger battery recycling and the development of standards for emerging technologies.
Beyond technology, China plans to promote the digital and green transformation of battery manufacturing and support battery companies expanding overseas. The policy also calls for international cooperation and measures to address overseas technical trade barriers, signaling an effort to strengthen China's battery industry across both technology development and global markets.
XPeng's Carbon Credit Revenue Tops RMB 1 Billion
XPeng has reportedly reached carbon credit deals with Porsche and several other international automakers covering emissions regulations in the EU, UK and Australia, generating more than RMB 1 billion ($140 million) in total revenue. XPeng's vice president confirmed that the reports were accurate, with the company expected to generate more than RMB 500 million in carbon credit revenue in 2026.
The deals come as automakers face increasingly stringent emissions requirements in overseas markets. According to European Commission documents, Porsche has opted out of Volkswagen Group's internal CO₂ emissions pool and plans to form an independent open compliance pool for 2026–2027, with XPeng identified as a key partner. Under EU rules, automakers can form emissions pools and use surplus credits from low-emission manufacturers to offset excess emissions.
XPeng's growing overseas sales are helping build its position as a potential carbon credit supplier. Its overseas deliveries topped 20,000 units in the second quarter, up 81% year on year, while overseas business accounted for more than 25% of revenue in the first half. From January to July, XPeng ranked first among Chinese new-energy brands in pure-electric sales in several European markets, including Norway, Denmark, France and Portugal.
The development highlights a potential new revenue stream for Chinese automakers expanding overseas. As emissions regulations tighten globally, carbon credits are becoming an increasingly strategic asset, allowing automakers with strong EV sales to monetize their regulatory compliance advantages beyond vehicle sales themselves.
