China Issues Auto Industry Overseas Compliance Guidelines as Carmakers Respond

China's Ministry of Commerce, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and China's State Administration for Market Regulation have jointly issued the Guidelines on Overseas Competitive Conduct and Compliance Building for the Auto Industry, setting out compliance requirements for automakers' overseas operations in areas including safety production, after-sales service systems, and intellectual property protection, according to Jiemian News. BYD, Chery, Seres, and Geely Holding were among the carmakers that said they would actively respond to the guidelines. Separately, the China Passenger Car Association said preliminary data showed retail sales of passenger vehicles in China reached 1.626 million units in August, down 19% from a year earlier but up 11% from July. Wholesale shipments totaled 2.369 million units, down 5% year on year and up 5% from the previous month. Year to date, retail sales were 11.799 million units, down 20%, while wholesale sales were 17.179 million units, down 5%. BYD said on September 1 that the next two to three years will be a key window for the accelerated rollout of intelligent driving, smart cockpit and AI technologies. Audi also said on September 3 that its innovation technology center has been established in Shanghai, where it will jointly develop the ADP 2.0 intelligent digital platform with SAIC Motor and launch four new AUDI models, with the first due in 2028. Separately, Audi (Shanghai) Technology Co. was established on September 2 with registered capital of 694 million yuan.