On September 1, 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and State Administration for Market Regulation jointly released the "Guidelines on Overseas Competition Behavior and Compliance Construction for the Automobile Industry."
The guidelines aim to promote healthy and orderly international development of China's automotive industry. They call on automakers to standardize their overseas competitive practices, strengthen compliance management, and deepen international cooperation across the automotive supply chain.
Key requirements include establishing cost-based pricing strategies oriented by international market supply and demand, managing compliance for parts and whole vehicle pricing, and avoiding market disruption through unjustified low prices or frequent price adjustments. The document also covers dealer management, after-sales service, data cross-border compliance, and intellectual property protection.
Industry analysts said the guidelines mark a shift from China's auto export strategy of "volume first" to "capability first," helping Chinese automakers build sustainable global brands rather than relying solely on price competition.
Source: National Business Daily / Tencent News
