China's NEV sector drives global auto transformation: FISITA CEO

China's new energy vehicle sector has become a core driver of global automotive transformation, underpinned by rapid innovation and scalable industrial growth, said Christopher Mason, CEO of the global automotive engineering body FISITA.

Mason, also vice-chairman of World New Energy Vehicle Development Organization, made the remarks at the 2026 World New Energy Vehicle Congress held last week in Haikou, Hainan province.

Drawing on a decade of on-the-ground experience in China, Mason noted that the country's NEV penetration has neared 50 percent, alongside surging export growth, marking a pivotal acceleration phase for China's electric vehicle industry.

He highlighted innovation as the defining strength of China's EV sector, which has achieved unprecedented rapid electrification adoption and technological upgrading.

The global automotive industry is undergoing simultaneous revolutions in electrification, software-defined vehicles, digital connectivity, artificial intelligence and sustainable mobility, shifting competition from traditional hardware manufacturing to integrated software and ecosystem capabilities, said Mason.

Mason said AI, digitalization, software-defined vehicles, digital cockpits, intelligent safety and sustainable mobility would drive the industry over the next five years.

While core autonomous driving technologies are mature, large-scale commercial deployment is constrained by regulatory gaps, liability challenges and low public acceptance.

Mason stressed that the industry's biggest challenge is no longer technological feasibility, but standardized, safe and sustainable large-scale implementation.

Fragmented global standards for EV batteries and charging systems have inflated supply chain costs, calling for cross-border industry coordination.

Amid rising industrial fragmentation, Mason emphasized global collaboration, workforce upskilling and unified technical standards as critical to future mobility development.

FISITA is advancing new industry research and white papers covering EV popularization, carbon-neutral mobility and digital transformation, while promoting joint efforts between global academia and industry to cultivate interdisciplinary engineering talent.

"Future mobility success depends not on single technologies or individual markets, but on global ecosystem collaboration, mutual knowledge sharing and trusted, responsible innovation," Mason said.