The 2024 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC) concluded on September 29 in Haikou, Hainan Province.

Participants at the three-day congress addressed key challenges faced by the fast-evolving new energy vehicle (NEV) industry and highlighted the importance of global cooperation in achieving sustainable development.With China leading the world in NEV production and sales, the congress provided a platform for global stakeholders to share insights, address challenges, and explore opportunities for achieving carbon neutrality.

Wan Gang, president of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and chairman of WNEVC, gave the keynote report. Feng Fei, secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, and Liu Xiaoming, governor of Hainan Provincial People’s Government, delivered speeches. Qiu Yong, vice minister of science and technology of China; Xin Guobin, vice minister of industry and information technology of China; Ling Ji, vice minister of commerce of China; and Huang Xuenong, supervisory director of the National Energy Administration; and Xu Niansha, president of the China Machinery Industry Federation, also addressed the congress.

Other attendees included Miao Wei, vice-chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee; Luo Zengbin, standing member of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and secretary of the CPC Haikou Municipal Committee; Yin Libo, standing member of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee; Xie Jing, deputy governor of Hainan Provincial People’s Government; Hou Maofeng, vice-chairman of the CPPCC Hainan Provincial Committee; and Shi Yiyun, president of the Hainan Association for Science and Technology. Shi Mingde, president of China-Germany Friendship Association, and Sun Fengchun, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor at Beijing Institute of Technology, also participated in the event.

International representatives such as Hildegard Müller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, and Mary Burce Warlick, deputy executive director of the International Energy Agency, shared their insights. Lewis Neal, HM Trade Commissioner for China, also participated in the discussions.

The congress placed strong emphasis on the need for international cooperation to accelerate the NEV industry’s low-carbon transition.

Wan advocated for deepening partnership, saying, “The ideal state of international cooperation is not about setting barriers but about building mutual understanding and trust.” He reiterated China’s openness, noting that international brands accounted for about 50% of the country’s passenger vehicle sales in 2023.

Wan emphasized the massive growth potential of China’s domestic market, highlighting the country’s relatively low vehicle ownership rate of 240 cars per 1,000 people, which leaves substantial room for growth. China has solidified its position as the world’s largest NEV market, driven by strong domestic demand. Wan said that 84% of China’s NEV sales occur domestically. From January to August 2024, NEV sales in China exceeded 7 million units, accounting for 37.5% of the country’s total vehicle sales.

He pointed out the increased adoption of NEVs in colder regions such as Northeast and Northwest of China, thanks to advancements in hybrid and range-extended technologies, which enable NEVs to perform reliably in harsh climates.

Globally, NEV sales topped 10 million during this period, with China accounting for over 60% of the market share.

Senior executives from top global companies were involved in key discussions. Zhu Huarong, chairman of Chang’an Automobile, and Jochen Goller, board member of BMW AG, joined other executives in exploring the path to achieving the “NEV50@2035” goal, which targets 50% of global vehicle sales to be NEVs by 2035.

Oliver Blume, chairman of the board of management of Volkswagen AG, and Fermin Soneira, CEO of Audi-SAIC Cooperation Project, also discussed the role of international cooperation in advancing NEV technology.

Executives from key Chinese companies, including Zeng Yuqun, founder and chairman of CATL; Wang Chao, vice president of Huawei Digital Power, and Kevin Binder, CFO of Mercedes-Benz Group China Ltd., highlighted the critical role of innovation in driving the NEV sector forward.

Hainan Province, which co-organized the congress, announced its commitment to smart vehicle development through the launch of the “Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integration Piloting Project”. Liu Liwu, secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the Hainan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, unveiled the plan, which aims to integrate vehicles, infrastructure, and cloud systems to enhance the development of smart and autonomous vehicles.

During the congress, the 2024 Global NEV Innovation and Frontier Technology Award was presented, recognizing key technological advancements in the NEV sector.

High-level discussions, moderated by Wan, brought together influential figures such as Xiang Changle, secretary of the Party Committee at Dalian University of Technology, to explore solutions for low-carbon transition. Other notable participants included Chen Liming, president of Horizon Robotics, and Lian Yubo, BYD’s chief scientist. As the global automotive industry transitions toward low-carbon, intelligent, and electric vehicles, cooperation and innovation will remain key to driving progress, said the organizers.

The event was 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 included 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.