China’s commerce and industry ministries and its market regulator have issued joint guidelines telling automakers to price overseas on costs and market demand, set clear price tiers and avoid frequent steep changes. The EU has spent two years trying to replace its countervailing duties on Chinese electric vehicles with a negotiated minimum import price.
China has told its carmakers to stop competing on price abroad. Three government bodies issued joint guidelines on overseas expansion, Semafor reported.
The wording is unusually specific. Price on costs and market demand, set clear tiers by vehicle configuration, avoid frequent steep changes, and respect the pricing autonomy of local dealers.
The issuers say who this is aimed at. The commerce and industry ministries and the market regulator published it as general guidance, CnEVPost reported.
The volumes behind it explain the anxiety. China exported 8.32 million vehicles in 2025, and 2.77 million new energy passenger cars in the first seven months of this year. Total passenger exports over that period were about 5.18 million.
