Song Zhiming: Focus on high-quality development to enhance the core competitiveness of the commercial vehicle industry

Topic: 2026 Commercial Vehicle Industry Development Conference

From March 25 to 27, 2026, the 2026 Commercial Vehicle Industry Development Conference will be held in Shiyan City, Hubei Province. This conference is hosted by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. Its theme is “Green Transformation, Digital Intelligence Empowerment, Integrated Development—Chasing a Vision Together to Build a New Ecosystem.” At the “Opening Ceremony and Plenary Session” held on the morning of March 26, Song Ming, Vice Chairman of the China Machinery Industry Federation, delivered a speech.

The following are the verbatim records of remarks made on-site:

Distinguished Vice Minister Su Bo, Secretary Wang Yonghui, Mayor Yu Ke; distinguished Chairman Yang Qing, President Fu Bingfeng; all leaders, all guests, ladies and gentlemen;

Good morning, everyone!

I am very pleased to be invited again to Shiyan, the city of automobiles, to attend the 2026 Commercial Vehicle Industry Development Conference and meet with friends old and new, to discuss major plans for the high-quality development of the commercial vehicle industry. First, on behalf of the China Machinery Industry Federation, I would like to extend my warm congratulations on the convening of this conference!

The year 2025 that has just passed is the closing year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. The machinery industry’s economic performance remained stable and improved steadily. The total operating revenue of enterprises above designated size exceeded RMB 33 trillion, up 6%, and profits also reached RMB 1.7 trillion, up 5.9%. The total value of imports and exports reached USD 1.27 trillion. Among them, exports exceeded USD 980 billion, up 13.5%, and the trade surplus also exceeded USD 700 billion. The machinery industry (including the automobile industry) has made a great contribution to the steady operation of the industrial economy. In 2026, during the critical turning point of the closing of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan, national two sessions will make high-quality development the primary task, driving the industry to transition toward “new,” “better,” “greener,” and “smarter.” The theme of this conference—“Green Transformation, Digital Intelligence Empowerment, Integrated Development”—is highly aligned with the national requirements.

At present, my country’s commercial vehicle industry is steadily rebounding in scale and continuing to optimize its structure, and it is accelerating its transition toward high-quality development. In 2025, my country’s commercial vehicle production and sales were 4.261 million units and 4.296 million units respectively, returning to a scale of more than 4 million units. The sales volume of new-energy commercial vehicles reached 0.871 million units, up by more than 60%, and market penetration also rose to nearly 27%. Even more encouraging is that commercial vehicle exports surpassed 1 million units for the first time, reaching 1.06 million units. The development of the commercial vehicle industry provides solid support for growth in the automobile industry and the machinery industry. Based on statistical figures for the first two months of this year (2026), compared with passenger vehicles, commercial vehicle production and sales are more stable, and the performance is commendable.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the rollout of New China’s first automobile—the Jiefang-brand truck. We must not only remember the struggles and efforts of the automobile workers, but also learn from history to create the future. We should transform the entrepreneurial spirit of the older generation into practical strength for building an automotive power. Facing the blueprint laid out in the 15th Five-Year Plan, we need to take a higher vantage point and a broader perspective to promote a qualitative leap in the industry and achieve a reasonable growth in quantity.

With this opportunity, I would like to share a few understandings regarding the development of the commercial vehicle industry with you.

First, anchor the strategic positioning for the 15th Five-Year Plan. With high-quality development as the main line, enhance the industry’s core competitiveness. One, adhere to innovation-driven development and tackle shortcomings such as automotive-grade chips, basic software, and high-precision sensors, so as to accelerate breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies such as all-solid-state batteries and advanced-level autonomous driving; two, speed up green transformation, implement the “dual carbon” goals, and promote coordinated development of multiple powertrain routes such as pure electric, hybrid, and hydrogen fuel, thereby building a green manufacturing and supply chain system; three, advance digital intelligence empowerment, accelerate the practical deployment of high-level intelligent driving in real-world scenarios, and lead new demand with high-quality supply.

Second, strengthen coordination across the industrial chain and build a modern industrial ecosystem that is secure and controllable while fostering integrated coexistence. One, solidify the safety of the industrial chain by promoting integrated development among large, medium, and small enterprises, and promote coordinated innovation across the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain involving industry, academia, research, and application, so as to enhance the resilience and safety level of the industrial chain; two, play the “chain” role of complete-vehicle enterprises, increase support and cooperation with relevant local enterprises in areas such as equipment, components, software, and materials, and open up scenario coordination for coordinated advancement; three, promote “going global” as a group. Shift from product export to localized ecosystems and international branding. Achieve integrated overseas efforts in technology, standards, brands, and services, and enhance global competitiveness.

Third, remain committed to the foundation of the real economy, and maintain a fair and competitive, regulated, and orderly market environment. The national two sessions have clearly called for in-depth rectification of “involution-style” competition, which is highly targeted to promote the healthy development of the commercial vehicle industry. We hope that industry enterprises, first of all, will abandon price-cutting standoffs and focus on competing through technology, products, and service value; second, strictly maintain quality and safety bottom lines, strengthen quality management over the full life cycle, and build a coordinated governance system; third, strengthen industry self-discipline, rationally control capacity expansion, and put an end to homogeneous low-level construction, so as to jointly foster a sound competitive market order.

The China Machinery Industry Federation will, as always, play its role as a bridge and link, strengthen coordinated engagement with automobile associations and key enterprises, provide service support, and help implement policies, align resources, and build platforms, thereby assisting the high-quality development of the automobile industry and making an important contribution to building a country strong in manufacturing.

Finally, I sincerely wish this conference a complete success! Wishing you all good health in Shiyan, smooth work, and all the best. Thank you all!!

(Note: This article has been compiled based on on-site shorthand recording and has not been reviewed by the participating speakers)

Massive information, precise interpretation—available in the Sina Finance APP

责任编辑：梁斌 SF055