2026 IAA China Day: Jointly Advancing China-Germany Automotive Industry Cooperation into a New Era of Sustained Win-Win

Local time on September 14, the 72nd Hannover International Transportation Expo (IAA TRANSPORTATION), themed "WE DELIVER (we deliver)," opened at the Hannover Exhibition Center in Germany. On the morning of September 16, the 2026 IAA China Day event, co-hosted by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Automotive Industry Branch (CCPIT-Auto), was held as scheduled.

The IAA China Day event has been held for more than ten consecutive years, becoming an important Country Day event of IAA and an important platform for China-Germany commercial vehicle exchange and cooperation. This year, Chinese exhibitors became the largest international exhibitor group at IAA. The 2026 IAA China Day event attracted more than 300 Chinese and international attendees, and more than a dozen Chinese and foreign media outlets reported the event's grand occasion in a concentrated manner for the first time.

In the face of geopolitical tensions, trade frictions and protectionism, the theme of "openness, cooperation and win-win" upheld by IAA China Day was highly recognized and strongly echoed by the attending guests. The meeting conducted heated and candid exchanges on topics such as responding to the global green and low-carbon transition, NEW ENERGY technology routes, improving the openness and coordination level of the commercial vehicle industry chain, and building a new ecosystem.

Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA); Wang Xia, President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Automotive Industry Branch; and Zhai Qian, Minister Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Germany, delivered speeches respectively.

Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), delivers a speech

Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), said that China Day, as a highlight during the IAA auto show, once again brought together leaders of the Chinese and German commercial vehicle industries and provided a valuable exchange platform for both sides. China became the largest international exhibiting country at this IAA with more than 300 exhibitors, which in itself shows that direct dialogue is irreplaceable. In the face of geopolitical tensions and trade frictions, she made clear her position: we need dialogue, not decoupling; cooperation, not new barriers; fair competition, not protectionism. She emphasized that competition and cooperation are not opposites, and that German and Chinese companies are still investing in each other, conducting joint R&D and building platforms together. For this reason, reliable dialogue channels are even more necessary, and China-EU trade and investment consultations should play a substantive role. Müller also mentioned that competition will not disappear, but dialogue must continue.

Wang Xia, President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Automotive Industry Branch, delivers a speech

Wang Xia, President of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Automotive Industry Branch, spoke highly in his speech of IAA's "weathervane" status and role in the global commercial vehicle industry, and introduced the achievements and progress made by China's commercial vehicle industry on the NEW ENERGY development track under the national strategic framework of green and low-carbon development, relying on innovation-driven development. He pointed out that the "15th Five-Year Plan" outlines a blueprint for China's economic and social development in the next five years and also provides a list of opportunities for the international community. He put forward three thoughts and suggestions for Chinese and German enterprises to seize new development opportunities, innovate international cooperation models and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results: First, take a long-term view, be pragmatic and efficient, and work together to promote the global green and low-carbon transition, build a more stable global industrial chain, and explore sustainable development premised on profitability. Second, innovate cooperation models, complement each other's strengths, and seize the cooperation opportunities brought by the internationalization of China's commercial vehicle industry. Third, he hoped that German enterprises will continue to deeply participate in the upgrading and renewal of China's commercial vehicle industry, build consensus on openness, expand cooperation space, innovate cooperation models, jointly improve the level of collaborative cooperation in the global commercial vehicle industry chain, radiate and open up global markets, and work together to promote the global green and low-carbon transition.

Zhai Qian, Minister Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Germany, delivers a speech

Zhai Qian, Minister Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Germany, said in his speech that China-Germany automotive cooperation has yielded fruitful results over more than 40 years. In 2025, bilateral automotive trade volume was nearly USD 19 billion, and China has become the largest single market and innovation base for German automakers. German automakers have long played the role of "pathfinders." Chinese automakers have now improved their capabilities, but still need to make further progress in areas such as technological accumulation and standard certification. In the face of digital and green transformation, German automakers are using "China speed" to enhance global competitiveness. Zhai Qian emphasized that protectionism has no future, China-EU consultations should adhere to equality, and he hoped the German business community will remain clear-headed. He called on both sides to look to the future, engage in open cooperation in technological innovation, compete fairly in international markets, maintain communication at all levels, turn competition into innovation momentum, turn differences into complementary advantages, and jointly promote China-Germany automotive industry cooperation into a new era of sustained win-win.

Representatives of Chinese and German commercial vehicle enterprises delivered wonderful speeches respectively.

Feng Ande, Senior Vice President and Head of China Business, Daimler Truck AG

Feng Ande, Senior Vice President and Head of China Business at Daimler Truck AG, said that Daimler Truck has a 130-year heritage, operates in more than 100 markets worldwide, and has always been committed to fulfilling customers' entrustment and creating value. Facing the continued growth of global freight and the challenge of carbon emissions in the transport sector, he proposed a "dual-track technology route" to address the transition: on the one hand, advancing hydrogen fuel heavy trucks for long-distance and heavy-load transport; on the other hand, using pure electric trucks to cover short-distance transport. He emphasized that infrastructure such as the transport and storage of liquid hydrogen remains a key bottleneck, and only excellent partners can go further. Feng Ande also mentioned that Daimler has continued to lead in active safety since introducing ABS into heavy trucks 45 years ago, and in 2026 it will usher in a new generation of safety assistance systems. He called on Europe, known for its engineering heritage, and China, with strong transition momentum, to adhere to fair and transparent competition and open, collaborative supply chains, and work together toward a zero-carbon future.

Li Sheng, Chairman of FAW JIEFANG Group Co., Ltd.

Li Sheng, Chairman of FAW JIEFANG Group Co., Ltd., pointed out in his speech that the global commercial vehicle industry is evolving simultaneously along three main lines: greening, intelligentization and ecosystemization, which support each other and develop in a coordinated manner. He shared his understanding of these three main trends: in green transformation, "parallel multiple routes" is not an option but the only solution; in intelligent iteration, "full-domain autonomous evolution" is not a true-or-false question but an essay question; in ecosystem development, "delivery of an ecosystem with vehicles as the carrier" is not a bonus item but a passing line. In response, FAW JIEFANG relies on a fully flexible architecture model and multi-route technology layout to build full-scenario adaptability; relies on full-stack integrated in-house R&D and an intelligent ecosystem layout to build all-dimensional intelligent strength; and relies on the integration of industry chain resources to create a full-cycle empowerment system. In the future, FAW JIEFANG will continue to embrace partners in Europe and around the world with the most sincere attitude and the most open platform, jointly empowering green transportation, reshaping the logistics ecosystem, and writing a new chapter in the sustainable development of the global commercial vehicle industry.

Mats Harborn, Chief Representative of TRATON China Office and Vice President of Corporate Relations China, SCANIA Group

Mats Harborn, Chief Representative of the TRATON China Office and Vice President of Corporate Relations China at SCANIA Group, said that China and Europe have mature zero-emission vehicle technologies, but current electrification is mainly concentrated in short-distance transport. The core challenge lies in zero-emission solutions for long-distance transport, with bottlenecks including insufficient charging infrastructure, the need to improve battery technology, and the need to further reduce vehicle energy consumption. Europe is in a leading position in zero-emission-related regulatory frameworks, while China is in a leading position in the industrialization and scaling of zero-emission commercial vehicles, and is moving at a very fast pace from the product pilot stage to the transport corridor construction stage. The contradiction between the promotion of zero-carbon vehicles and supporting infrastructure requires cross-regional market coordination. He proposed that China and Europe advance mutual recognition and convergence of vehicle standards and regulations (such as weight and dimension standards), so as to achieve the global optimum of payload transport efficiency and promote carbon reduction.

Li Guiping, Chairman and CEO of CIMC Vehicles (Group) Co., Ltd.

Li Guiping, Chairman and CEO of CIMC Vehicles (Group) Co., Ltd., pointed out in his speech that the era of electric heavy trucks has arrived, but forward-looking standards are lacking, and a series of systemic problems remain to be solved. In the process of moving toward zero emissions, breakthroughs in single-point technologies are no longer sufficient to support industrial transformation, and the commercial vehicle industry urgently calls for a system-level architectural reconstruction. In response to industry pain points, CIMC Vehicles offered a way to break through, namely firmly building an EV-RT ecosystem: pioneering a pure electric integrated tractor-trailer train architecture, creating dual platforms for engineering and logistics covering all scenarios, and supporting an ultra-fast-charging, flexibly deployable mobile energy replenishment container solution. CIMC Vehicles is willing, with an open and inclusive attitude, to join hands with ecosystem partners to lead the evolution of global commercial vehicle standards with China's intelligent manufacturing, comprehensively promote NEW ENERGY heavy trucks from electrification to a future of intelligentization and unmanned operation, and show the world its strategic determination and ecosystem vision for technological transformation.

Song Zhaohuan, Vice President and Chief Brand Officer of Geely Farizon NEW ENERGY Commercial Vehicle Group

Song Zhaohuan, Vice President and Chief Brand Officer of Geely Farizon NEW ENERGY Commercial Vehicle Group, pointed out in his speech that the wave of NEW ENERGY and intelligentization is reshaping the global automotive industry landscape. As a pioneer in green and low-carbon development, Europe's NEW ENERGY commercial vehicle industry is ushering in a key window period for scaled growth. China's NEW ENERGY vehicles have been exported to more than 100 countries and regions and are participating deeply in global competition with greater confidence. The globalization of China's NEW ENERGY commercial vehicles faces two major systemic bottlenecks: first, insufficient capability for product and localized compliance adaptation; second, the absence of overseas supporting ecosystem development. The passenger-commercial vehicle synergy of "One Geely," on which Geely Farizon relies, is not a simple superposition of resources but systemic empowerment. Globalization does not mean simply selling products overseas; what Geely Farizon pursues is co-building an ecosystem and long-term symbiosis. He believes that globalization is never a 100-meter sprint, but a long journey requiring endurance, determination and long-term investment.

Shen Feng, General Manager of CATL Europe

Shen Feng, General Manager of CATL Europe, said that the NEW ENERGY revolution is moving from passenger vehicle electrification and energy storage to the third wave of commercial vehicle electrification. Although heavy trucks account for only about 9% of vehicle ownership, they contribute about 25% of transport emissions, leaving huge room for emission reduction. He pointed out that CATL has made heavy investments in Europe, building its first factory in Thuringia, Germany, in 2018, and successively investing in large battery bases in Hungary and Spain, with cumulative investment exceeding EUR 11 billion. He emphasized that the company mainly promotes two products: Tianxing II commercial vehicle batteries and Qiji battery swapping. The latter can achieve chassis battery swapping in 5 minutes, is compatible with 95% of mainstream heavy truck models, and has already established Europe's first battery swapping station in the UK. It has proposed a three-step "Green Corridor" to promote comprehensive decarbonization of road freight. Shen Feng also mentioned that China-Germany cooperation should unify standards in advance, prioritize verification of business models, build cross-border infrastructure and coordinate policies. He called on both sides to join hands through platforms such as VDA, relying on local manufacturing and supplier cooperation, to jointly open a new chapter of zero carbon.

Guests at the meeting

Audience at the venue

Guests exchanging ideas

IAA China Day venue