China's Latest Automotive Industry Technology Roadmap Is Out!

On October 22, 2025, the Society of Automotive Engineers of China officially released the "Energy-Saving and New Energy Vehicle Technology Roadmap 3.0."

This is the third version of the roadmap, following versions 1.0 and 2.0 in 2016 and 2020, respectively. Each update has charted the course for the development of China's automotive industry.

Compared to the previous two versions, version 3.0 features a significant shift-a more international perspective. Rather than focusing solely on domestic development, it positions the Chinese automotive industry within the broader global automotive transformation, enabling it to keep pace with global automotive development.

This roadmap clearly outlines the development blueprint through 2040, each of which is closely related to our mobility and the environment:

1. Early "brakes" On Carbon Emissions: 1. Early "brakes" On Carbon Emissions: tive industry will peak in 2028, earlier than the country's overall carbon reduction commitment. By 2040, total carbon emissions will have fallen by more than 60% from their peak, reducing the environmental burden of driving.

2. Safer And More Efficient Travel: The transportation system, centered around smart new energy vehicles, will strive for "zero accidents, zero casualties, and high efficiency," making travel more secure and time-saving.

3. New Energy Vehicles Will Become Mainstream: New energy vehicles will account for more than 80% of new car sales, accelerating the pace of full electrification.

4. Large-scale Implementation Of Autonomous Driving: The intelligent connected vehicle infrastructure, integrating vehicles, roads, and the cloud, will mature and become comprehensive. High-level autonomous driving vehicles will be widely used, and it may be common to see cars that "drive themselves."

5. China Becomes The "birthplace" Of Automotive Technology: Through collaborative efforts in education, science and technology, and talent, China will lead the world in automotive technology innovation and become a significant source of new automotive technologies.

6. Build A Strong Automotive Industry Cluster: Build a modern automotive industry cluster that is innovative, data-driven, efficient, collaborative, safe, reliable, and low-carbon, achieving high-end, intelligent, and green development. This will significantly enhance the global competitiveness of Chinese brands, deeply integrate key auto parts companies into the global industrial system, and position China among the world's leading automotive powers.

Zhang Jinhua, Chairman of the Society of Automotive Engineers of China, stated that the Version 3.0 Roadmap focuses on the automotive industry's transformation toward electrification, intelligence, and low carbon, while also emphasizing the importance of intelligent manufacturing. "In the early days, we focused more on the technology of the automotive products themselves. This time, we are focusing on both product technology and manufacturing technology, working together."

1. The Internal Combustion Engine Will Not Be Phased Out: Despite the rapid development of new energy vehicles, the internal combustion engine will remain an important power source for vehicles. By 2035, all traditional fuel-powered passenger cars will be replaced by hybrid models. By 2040, passenger cars with internal combustion engines (such as hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and extended-range electric vehicles (REEVs)) will still account for approximately one-third of new car sales.

2. Full Rollout of New Energy Vehicles: Over the next 5 to 15 years, new energy vehicles will become the mainstream of the automotive market. By 2040, the penetration rate of new energy passenger vehicles will exceed 85%, with pure electric vehicles (BEVs) accounting for 80%. New energy commercial vehicles will also expand from their current short-distance urban transportation to medium- and long-distance transportation scenarios.

3. Intelligent Driving Enters a New Phase: Intelligent connected vehicles will accelerate market development. By 2040, Level 4 intelligent connected vehicles (capable of fully autonomous driving in specific scenarios) will be fully popularized, and Level 5 intelligent connected vehicles (capable of unconditional autonomous driving in all scenarios) will begin to enter the market. The coverage, safety, and reliability of vehicle-to-vehicle collaboration will continue to improve, supporting the large-scale and safe application of autonomous driving.

4. Smarter Automotive Manufacturing: The roadmap proposes for the first time a hierarchical system and implementation approach for intelligent automotive manufacturing. By 2040, automotive manufacturing will achieve full integration across all stages of the manufacturing process, from R&D, production, sales, and service, through data connectivity, with the goal of improving quality, increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and reducing carbon emissions.

5. Battery Technology Upgrades: All-solid-state batteries are expected to achieve small-scale deployment by 2030 and global widespread adoption by 2035. By then, batteries will have improved performance, lower costs, and greater environmental adaptability, better meeting consumer needs.