By 2027, the industry chain aims to reach a scale of 300 billion! Qingdao has released a three-year action plan for the development of the intelligent, connected, and new-energy vehicle industry.

To seize the opportunities presented by the transformation and upgrading of the automotive industry and accelerate the innovative development of smart, connected, and new-energy vehicles across the city, the General Office of the Qingdao Municipal People’s Government recently issued the “Qingdao Action Plan for the Development of the Smart, Connected, and New-Energy Vehicle Industry (2025–2027).” The Action Plan states that Qingdao will build upon its existing automotive industry foundation, closely align with the trends of electrification, intelligence, and connectivity in the automotive industry, and take the transformation and upgrading of existing vehicle manufacturers as the main focus. By identifying niche market segments and pursuing a dual-track approach—combining “vehicle-level intelligence with connectivity empowerment”—Qingdao aims to become a leading national hub for innovative applications of smart, connected, and new-energy vehicles, a major production base for new-energy commercial vehicles, and a driving force for the export-oriented new-energy vehicle industry. By 2027, the industry chain is expected to reach a scale of 300 billion yuan.

New energy vehicles account for over 40% of total vehicle production.

The action plan states that by 2027, the city will have established more than 20 new innovation platforms, engineering research centers, and enterprise technology centers dedicated to intelligent, connected, and new-energy vehicles. The city’s total vehicle production will exceed 1.3 million units, with new-energy vehicles accounting for over 40% of the total. The annual compound growth rate of new-energy commercial vehicles will exceed 200%. Additionally, the city will foster three new-energy vehicle manufacturers each with an annual production capacity of over 100,000 units.

By 2027, Qingdao’s annual exports of complete vehicles will exceed 250,000 units, and the city will have cultivated robust capabilities for overseas expansion of its industrial chain, attracting more automakers to export via Qingdao’s ports. Together, we will focus on building a national benchmark model integrating “automotive industry + port operations + logistics.” Significant enhancements will be made in supporting capabilities across key areas such as power battery systems, intelligent cockpit systems, automotive-grade chips, smart chassis, electric drive and control systems, and “vehicle-road-cloud integration” sensing systems, with the overall industry scale surpassing 50 billion yuan. A high-quality, intelligent charging infrastructure system and a vehicle-grid interaction framework will be preliminarily established. Moreover, road-side infrastructure for “vehicle-road-cloud integration” applications will be deployed across no less than 200 square kilometers. We will also explore opening up over 1,000 kilometers of test roads for intelligent, connected, and new-energy vehicles, and fully open small-scale, low-speed, non-crewed autonomous driving scenarios across entire regions.

The action plan also proposes an industrial layout featuring “three major support hubs” and “multiple breakthrough points.” Relying on existing vehicle manufacturing capacity, we will develop new-energy vehicles and cluster development in the Jimo Automotive Industry New City, the Laixi New-Energy Vehicle Industry Cluster Zone, and the West Coast Automotive Production Base. Districts (cities) and functional zones are encouraged to leverage their own industrial foundations, talent resources, geographic advantages, and other strengths to develop specialized industrial parks focusing on smart, connected, and new-energy vehicle sub-sectors such as automotive electronics, inspection and testing, and component supply chains.

Launch a demonstration operation of smart terminals.

According to the action plan, Qingdao will focus on developing the intelligent, connected, and new-energy vehicle industry, cultivate a number of leading industries, and promote the implementation of demonstration applications across multiple scenarios.

Focus on developing the automotive electronics industry. Leveraging the foundation of the integrated circuit industry and drawing on the resources of leading enterprises in rail transit equipment, we will build a chip industry tailored for automotive applications. Capitalizing on our strengths in artificial intelligence, next-generation displays, and virtual reality technologies, we will foster the development of smart cockpit industries—including laser displays, central control displays, streaming rearview mirrors, automotive thermal management systems, and in-vehicle entertainment—as well as intelligent sensing industries such as automotive cameras, lidar, and millimeter-wave radar. We will accelerate the deployment of wire-controlled intelligent chassis systems, including intelligent braking systems, electric power-assisted steering systems, and hydraulic control systems. Anchoring on the trend of evolving from distributed to vehicle-domain-controlled electronic and electrical architectures, we will further develop the electric drive and electric control industries.

Cultivate and develop the power battery industry. Accelerate the development of next-generation intelligent lithium-ion electronic power batteries. Foster and strengthen upstream and downstream core enterprises specializing in battery management systems, electrolytes, battery separators, and positive and negative electrode materials. Relying on institutions such as the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, leverage our strengths in basic research on solid-state batteries, help related products obtain automotive-grade certifications, and accelerate the early industrialization of solid-state battery technology.

Deepen demonstration applications in non-manned scenarios. Support the deployment of autonomous driving technologies in non-manned fields, exploring new business models for commercialization of small, low-speed, non-manned vehicles in areas such as logistics delivery, security patrols, mobile unmanned vending, and environmental sanitation cleaning, as well as new models for smart logistics commercial operations. Also, support the application of autonomous vehicles in horizontal transportation at ports, launch pilot operations of intelligent terminals, and accelerate the intelligent upgrading of ports.

Explore and expand the application of manned demonstration scenarios. Promote pilot demonstrations of driverless shuttle services in communities, industrial parks, and “last-mile” settings. Investigate the feasibility of conducting manned demonstration applications for intelligent, connected, and new-energy vehicles within the current regulatory framework. Explore pilot applications of smart shuttle sightseeing buses in scenic areas and large-scale amusement parks. Explore the creation of cross-sector integration between “new-energy vehicles and cultural tourism,” develop new consumption scenarios for intelligent, connected new-energy vehicles, and drive an upgrade in cultural consumption experiences.

Guide universities in the development of new engineering disciplines.

Promoting the development of the intelligent, connected, and new-energy vehicle industry requires both talent and policy support.

The action plan proposes supporting partnerships between vocational colleges and enterprises to promote the deep integration of vocational education with the intelligent, connected, and new-energy vehicle industry. It encourages enterprises to establish talent-development models that integrate industry, academia, and research and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration with universities and research institutions. Furthermore, it guides universities to adjust their academic programs and develop new engineering disciplines, thereby cultivating the urgently needed talent for the intelligent, connected, and new-energy vehicle sector.

Meanwhile, Qingdao City will strengthen financial support, make good use of the promotion mechanisms for key enterprises and major projects, and expand the scale of direct financing. It will leverage the role of government-guided funds by establishing an industrial development fund for intelligent, connected, and new-energy vehicles, thereby attracting and mobilizing social capital to participate in industry investment and financing services.