2026 IAA China Day: Wang Xia Interprets Globalization Opportunities for China's NEW ENERGY Commercial Vehicles

　　On the morning of September 16 local time, the 2026 IAA China Day was held at the Hannover Exhibition Center in Germany. Wang Xia, President of the Automotive Industry Branch of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, delivered a speech at the 2026 IAA China Day.

　　The following is the full text of the speech:.

　　The rapid development of science and technology is driving continuous innovation in the global commercial vehicle industry. Its achievements are dazzling, and the changes it brings leave no room for the slightest slackness or hesitation.

　　IAA Transportation, with a history of more than 100 years, is a technological and product highland for the global commercial vehicle industry. Every two years it attracts the world's top technologies and products to make their appearance here. At the same time, Germany and even Europe are the markets where these top technologies and products are first implemented and put into use. What is most fascinating about IAA is that it presents the future of the global commercial vehicle industry. In 2018, IAA took the lead in displaying a newly developed pure electric heavy truck chassis. Since then, NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles, including pure electric and hydrogen-powered ones, have increasingly appeared at IAA, until they became the mainstream of the exhibition. And Chinese NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles have become the focus and highlight of this year's IAA.

　　Under the national strategic framework for green and low-carbon development, China's commercial vehicle industry, driven by innovation, has made substantial progress on the NEW ENERGY development track. Profound changes have taken place in its industrial system and market structure. The development direction of intelligentization, connectivity, and greening has not changed, and the pace of development continues to accelerate. Last November, at the 2025 China International Commercial Vehicles Show (China Commercial Vehicles Show, or CCVS for short) held in Wuhan, China, the ratio of NEW ENERGY to fuel-powered display vehicles reached 2:1, attracting many overseas buyers, dealers, and users.

　　At this IAA, more than 360 exhibitors from China are participating, making it the largest international exhibitor group at the exhibition, and their exhibition area has increased significantly. These Chinese companies basically cover the main links of China's commercial vehicle industry chain, including NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles. They not only showcase the latest achievements in multiple NEW ENERGY technology routes such as pure electric and hydrogen energy, but also display the new ecosystem, operating models, and development concepts of China's commercial vehicle industry.

　　In 2024, the penetration rate of China's NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles was close to 20%, of which the penetration rate of NEW ENERGY heavy trucks was 13.6%. Just two years later, in August this year, the penetration rate of China's NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles reached 49.3%. It is expected that the annual penetration rate of NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles will reach 40%, of which the penetration rate of NEW ENERGY heavy trucks is expected to be around 35.0%.

　　The goal proposed by China's automotive industry authorities is: by 2030, the penetration rate of NEW ENERGY heavy trucks should reach 40%, with ownership exceeding 1.6 million units, accounting for about 20% of total ownership; NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles should account for 40% of total new commercial vehicle sales. Some experts predict that by 2030, the penetration rate of China's NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles will exceed 60%, while two years ago that forecast was more than 30%.

　　2024 was the starting point for the explosive growth of China's NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles. Today, it has spawned a completely new ecosystem for the entire industry. The NEW ENERGY transformation and intelligentization of China's commercial vehicles have completed the breakthrough from 0 to 1, and are now on the eve of an explosive scale-up and globalization from 1 to N. Market-driven forces have become the leading force in the development of China's NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles.

　　One data point has attracted widespread attention: in the second quarter of this year, China's oil consumption fell by about 9% year-on-year, of which oil used for transportation fell by 16%. Of course, there were many factors affecting China's oil consumption in the second quarter, but this still shows that the decarbonization process in China's transportation sector is accelerating, and China's energy structure transformation has begun to show results.

　　The official theme of this IAA is "We Deliver" (we deliver, deliver, achieve). Chinese exhibitors have carried out a very comprehensive "Deliver". The NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles on display have complete categories, diverse technology routes, and a strong lineup, reflecting the R&D capabilities, innovation capabilities, and manufacturing level of Chinese commercial vehicle companies. The topics of today's speeches by Chinese corporate guests also revolve around green, low-carbon, and intelligent development, unfolding from technology, products, manufacturing, industrial chains, ecosystems, and innovation chains.

　　This year is the opening year of China's "15th Five-Year Plan". The "15th Five-Year Plan" draws a blueprint for China's economic and social development over the next five years and also provides a list of opportunities for the international community. In-depth study and understanding of the internal logic and trends of the development of China's commercial vehicle industry and market will help seize new development opportunities in China's commercial vehicle industry, innovate international cooperation models, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. Here, I put forward the following three thoughts and suggestions:.

　　First, take a long-term perspective, be pragmatic and efficient, and work together to promote the global green and low-carbon transition. In the past two years, China's automotive industry has been in a critical period of transformation. China's NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles have achieved explosive growth, with products covering more and more application scenarios, and at a speed much faster than expected. On the one hand, this is due to the continuous progress of key core technologies and products, the increasing improvement of industrial and supply chains, and the continuous improvement of standards and regulations; on the other hand, it is also due to strong support from infrastructure construction, intelligent connected technologies, and big data applications. How to quickly bring innovation results to the ground, how to build a more stable global industrial chain, and how to achieve sustainable development on the premise of profitability are common issues facing Chinese and foreign commercial vehicle companies.

　　Second, innovate cooperation models, complement each other's strengths, and seize the cooperation opportunities brought by the internationalization of China's commercial vehicles. In the process of accelerating their internationalization, Chinese commercial vehicle companies not only have to face competition in technology and products and different regional standards and regulations, but also face enormous tests in after-sales service systems, full product lifecycle solutions, industrial ecosystem construction, and global cooperation capabilities. At the same time, China's NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles have very obvious advantages. It is estimated that China's NEW ENERGY commercial vehicle ownership currently stands at about 2.8 million units (vehicles in use), with complete industrial and supply chains, rich application scenarios, relatively mature market-oriented operations, widespread application of intelligent connected technologies, massive data accumulation, and continuously optimized and innovative operating models. These advantages will help China's NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles integrate into different regional markets around the world, carry out localized operations, and provide Chinese solutions for the global green and low-carbon transition.

　　Third, as China continues to advance its transition toward new growth drivers and an optimized structure, the focus of China's commercial vehicle industry is shifting from "world factory" to "brand export," from "cost advantage" to "technology advantage," and from "scale expansion" to "quality improvement." In the past two days, I visited some Chinese companies' booths. What impressed me most was that "low price" and "backward technology" are no longer labels of Chinese commercial vehicles. The awareness, reputation, and connotation of Chinese commercial vehicle brands have been greatly enhanced and enriched. This cannot be separated from the support of the world's top commercial vehicle companies, including German companies. These companies have set up new R&D centers and factories in China and increased investment, not only deeply participating in the upgrading and renewal of China's commercial vehicle industry, but also accelerating their own green and low-carbon transition.

　　Only by moving forward together can we go far; cooperation delivers win-win results. The internationalization process of Chinese automobiles must be a joint internationalization process of Chinese companies and many international partners. China is willing, with a more open attitude, more pragmatic actions, and a longer-term vision, to work with partners to open up new prospects for global industrial cooperation.

　　It is hoped that Chinese and German commercial vehicle companies will build consensus on openness, expand cooperation space, innovate cooperation models, jointly improve the level of coordinated cooperation in the global commercial vehicle industry chain, reach out to and develop global markets, and let openness bring new bright prospects for global development.