The 2024 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC), with the theme of “Low Carbon Evolution and Global Cooperation”, opened on September 27 in Haikou, capital city of Hainan Province in southern China.
The three-day event has drawnsenior government officials, heads of international organizations, and business executives to share their insights on advancing the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry in the world.
Statistics show that global NEV sales hit over 10 million units in the first eight months of this year. Of these, 7 million units were sold in China, accounting for 37.5% of the country’s new car sales during the same period. By the end of August, cumulative global NEV sales exceeded 52 million, with China accounting for over 60%.
Wan Gang, president of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and chairman of WNEVC, delivered the keynote address.
Feng Fei, secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, and Xin Guobin, vice minister of industry and information technology of China, also delivered speeches. Mary Burce Warlick, deputy executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), addressed the congress via video.
Luo Hui, a member of the Leading Party Members Group and director general of the International Affairs Department (Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan Exchange Office) of CAST, hosted the opening ceremony.
In his keynote report, Wan said the NEV market continues growing around the world. In China, the sector is developing in synergy with infrastructure and renewable energy. He called for a focus on innovation in plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and range-extended electric vehicle (REEV) technologies and urged the industry to enhance battery safety, performance, and environmental adaptability. He also advocated for the accelerated application of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles across various sectors.
Wan noted that vehicle-cloud technology is reshaping autonomous driving, urging the sector to explore collaborative solutions for developing verifiable AI models to enhance compliance and safety in autonomous vehicles.
He stressed the importance of deepening international exchanges and cooperation, calling for the establishment of a fair, transparent, open, and non-discriminatory environment for vehicle trade and automotive investment.
Xin addressed the ambitious target of NEVs accounting for a 50 percent share of the global vehicle market by 2035, emphasizing the need for greater international cooperation to realize the goal.
He said that the Chinese NEV sector not only meets consumer demands for high-quality products and services but also provides a mature and efficient industrial chain to support automotive electrification in other countries. Xin also noted that China will ramp up efforts in NEV technological innovation, promotion, and application.
Feng discussed Hainan’s strategic initiatives, including the construction of a free trade port (FTP) and national ecological civilization pilot zone, as catalysts for the region’s burgeoning new energy vehicle industry. He expressed confidence that Hainan could become a national benchmark for the promotion and application of new energy vehicles.
Other officials present at the event were Miao Wei, vice-chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee; Liu Xiaoming, governor of Hainan Province; Luo Zengbin, standing member of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and secretary of the CPC Haikou Municipal Committee; Ni Qiang, standing member and secretary-general of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, and director of the Office of the Hainan Free Trade Port Working Committee; Xie Jing, deputy governor of Hainan Provincial People’s Government; Hou Maofeng, vice-chairman of the CPPCC Hainan Provincial Committee; Shi Yiyun, president of the Hainan Association for Science and Technology; Shi Mingde, president of China-Germany Friendship Association; and Xu Niansha, president of the China Machinery Industry Federation, among others.
A number of business executives shared their thoughts at the WNEVC.
Zhu Huarong, chairman of Chang’an Automobile; Jochen Goller, board member of BMW Group; Oliver Blume, chairman of the management board of Volkswagen Group; Fermin Soneira, CEO of the Audi-SAIC cooperation project; Zeng Yuqun, founder and chairman of CATL; Kevin Binder, CFO of Mercedes-Benz Group China Ltd.; Li Ming, deputy chief engineer of State Grid Corporation; and Wang Chao, vice president of Huawei Digital Power, shared their insights on addressing climate change and green & low-carbon transformation.
The 2024 WNEVC comprises three main forums, 15 sub-forums, three dialogues, one high-level closed-door meeting, and two working group meetings, where participants address topics such as “Forward-looking Technologies and Future Vehicles”, “NEV50@2035: Path to Climate Change Response”, and “Globalization and Open Cooperation”.
The event is organized by the China Association for Science and Technology, the Hainan Provincial People's Government, and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China. Its co-organizers include the China Society of Automotive Engineers, the EV 100, the China Centre for International Science and Technology Exchange, the Hainan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Hainan Association for Science and Technology, and the Haikou Municipal People's Government.