Mainland China excludes EVs from strategic industries list in 2026–2030 development plan

Mainland China's latest five-year plan shifts focus to sectors like quantum tech and hydrogen energy, as EVs lose strategic priority

Mainland China has decided to exclude electric vehicles from its strategic industries list in its latest five-year development plan for 2026–2030, marking the first time in over a decade that EVs have not been prioritized. Previously classified as new-energy vehicles (NEVs) — a category that includes EVs, plug-in hybrids, and fuel-cell vehicles — these were considered strategic emerging industries in the last three five-year plans, benefiting from significant governmental subsidies aimed at boosting industrial competitiveness. These efforts had positioned mainland China as a prominent player in the global EV market and industry chain.