China to accelerate development of low-carbon automotive industry

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology on August 24 published a response to Proposal No. 1259 of the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (the Proposal for Promoting the Effort to Peak Carbon Emissions in the Automotive Industry and Achieve Carbon Neutrality). According to the response, the ministry will implement the following things immediately.

Develop carbon emissions standards for vehicles

• Cooperate with other relevant departments to establish carbon emissions standards for vehicles as soon as possible; and consider establishing carbon emissions standards for the entire lifecycle of vehicles, which involves complete vehicles, important vehicle parts, materials for vehicles, fuels and comprehensive recycling
• Continue to optimize energy conservation tax management; promote new energy vehicles; promote green factories, green supply chains and green design products; promote eco-friendly, low carbon solutions across the entire industrial chains (产业链) and entire product lifecycle; and provide active support for the transportation sector to achieve the targets of peaking carbon emissions and accomplishing carbon neutrality

Provide a roadmap for innovation in low carbon technology for vehicles

• Focus on innovation in low carbon technology for vehicles to develop competitive low carbon industrial chains
• Ensure that the Ministry of Science and Technology implements the New Energy Vehicle key special program; continues increased investment in research and development of technology for new energy passenger and commercial vehicles; leads the transformation and advancement of China’s automotive industry though scientific innovation; and accelerates the green and low carbon development of the industry
• Conduct research on vehicle exhaust post-processing equipment that can be controlled independently, as part of the Air, Soil and Groundwater Pollution Comprehensive Control key program; establish super low and near-zero carbon emission technologies for vehicles; and carry out preliminary studies on the National VII standards

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will also cooperate with other relevant departments to create a roadmap for developing a low carbon automotive industry; estimate emission intensities throughout the vehicle lifecycle; establish targets for peaking carbon emissions in each industry; and present roadmaps and policy proposals to achieve low carbon industry, products, transportation and energy.

The full text of the document (in simplified Chinese) is available at
http://www.caam.org.cn/chn/10/cate_110/con_5234458.html