RCEP Members Strengthen Cooperation in New Energy Vehicle Development
Regional dialogue emphasizes commitment to low-carbon strategies and sustainable transport solutions.
From June 4 to 6, 2023, approximately 300 delegates from the 15 member states of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) participated in a dialogue in Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
The discussions centered on new energy vehicles (NEVs) and advanced photovoltaic industrial and supply chains, reflecting a collective drive towards sustainable development and greener mobility solutions among RCEP countries.
This dialogue was part of the 2025 RCEP Local Governments and Friendship Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum, which resulted in 27 cooperation agreements covering trade, technology, and sister-city initiatives.
As global supply chains grapple with challenges posed by protectionism and unilateralism, the RCEP is positioned as a stabilizing entity, offering a framework for collaboration.
The significance of the RCEP, as the world's largest free trade agreement in terms of population and trade volume, was highlighted by numerous participants.
A notable theme was the evolving cooperation in NEVs among RCEP members, which has shifted from basic vehicle exports towards comprehensive local integration.
Joint projects unveiled during the forum included the establishment of regional manufacturing hubs, reinforcing supply chains for critical components such as battery materials.
For instance, in May 2023, PT SGMW Motor Indonesia celebrated its production of the 3-millionth electric vehicle and has manufactured 40,000 units at its plant in Cikarang, West Java.
Additionally, Geely has commenced trial production of its EX5 model in Purwakarta, Indonesia, with plans for mass production to begin in the third quarter of 2023.
Chinese EV manufacturer BYD is also expanding its operations, having begun construction on a passenger vehicle plant in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, with an annual capacity planned for 10,000 vehicles, expected to be operational by the end of 2023.
The dialogue attendees observed a significant trend towards localized NEV production, evidenced by the comprehensive setup at SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile’s facility in Indonesia, which combines vehicle manufacturing with parts supply aimed at enhancing the nation's automotive industry.
The investment strategies of major Chinese battery producers, including China Aviation Lithium Battery (CALB), Gotion High-Tech, and SVOLT Energy Technology, have also become a hallmark of regional NEV developments, as they establish factories across Thailand, Vietnam, and other RCEP countries.
The RCEP region is seeing an increased focus on reducing carbon emissions, with countries such as Cambodia targeting net-zero emissions by 2050 and aiming for a 70 percent share of renewable energy by 2030. Thailand has set a goal for electric vehicles to constitute 30 percent of its car production by 2030, with a similar carbon neutrality goal for 2050.
Bhokin Bhalakula, the former president of the National Assembly of Thailand, emphasized that together RCEP countries represent over 2.3 billion people and approximately 30 percent of global GDP, stressing both economic scale and social responsibility.
Dennis Chuah, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of Malaysia, highlighted the establishment of long-term cooperation mechanisms within RCEP, indicating that battery development and recycling will be pivotal areas of collaboration among Malaysia, China, and other member states.
Hefei has emerged as a key player in the new energy industry, achieving NEV output of 1.37 million units in 2024 and a total industrial chain value exceeding 260 billion yuan (approximately 36.19 billion USD).
The city's solar and energy storage sectors have also experienced substantial growth, surpassing 180 billion yuan.
Furthermore, as reported by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China produced 4.43 million NEVs in the first four months of 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 48.3 percent, with sales rising by 46.2 percent to 4.3 million units, demonstrating that NEVs accounted for 42.7 percent of all new vehicle sales during this period.
The collective insights from the dialogue in Hefei underscore the advancing role of China as a global leader in NEV production, research and development, battery innovations, infrastructure, and industrial scale, fostering a collaborative future for mobility across Asia and beyond.
The discussions centered on new energy vehicles (NEVs) and advanced photovoltaic industrial and supply chains, reflecting a collective drive towards sustainable development and greener mobility solutions among RCEP countries.
This dialogue was part of the 2025 RCEP Local Governments and Friendship Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum, which resulted in 27 cooperation agreements covering trade, technology, and sister-city initiatives.
As global supply chains grapple with challenges posed by protectionism and unilateralism, the RCEP is positioned as a stabilizing entity, offering a framework for collaboration.
The significance of the RCEP, as the world's largest free trade agreement in terms of population and trade volume, was highlighted by numerous participants.
A notable theme was the evolving cooperation in NEVs among RCEP members, which has shifted from basic vehicle exports towards comprehensive local integration.
Joint projects unveiled during the forum included the establishment of regional manufacturing hubs, reinforcing supply chains for critical components such as battery materials.
For instance, in May 2023, PT SGMW Motor Indonesia celebrated its production of the 3-millionth electric vehicle and has manufactured 40,000 units at its plant in Cikarang, West Java.
Additionally, Geely has commenced trial production of its EX5 model in Purwakarta, Indonesia, with plans for mass production to begin in the third quarter of 2023.
Chinese EV manufacturer BYD is also expanding its operations, having begun construction on a passenger vehicle plant in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, with an annual capacity planned for 10,000 vehicles, expected to be operational by the end of 2023.
The dialogue attendees observed a significant trend towards localized NEV production, evidenced by the comprehensive setup at SAIC-GM-Wuling Automobile’s facility in Indonesia, which combines vehicle manufacturing with parts supply aimed at enhancing the nation's automotive industry.
The investment strategies of major Chinese battery producers, including China Aviation Lithium Battery (CALB), Gotion High-Tech, and SVOLT Energy Technology, have also become a hallmark of regional NEV developments, as they establish factories across Thailand, Vietnam, and other RCEP countries.
The RCEP region is seeing an increased focus on reducing carbon emissions, with countries such as Cambodia targeting net-zero emissions by 2050 and aiming for a 70 percent share of renewable energy by 2030. Thailand has set a goal for electric vehicles to constitute 30 percent of its car production by 2030, with a similar carbon neutrality goal for 2050.
Bhokin Bhalakula, the former president of the National Assembly of Thailand, emphasized that together RCEP countries represent over 2.3 billion people and approximately 30 percent of global GDP, stressing both economic scale and social responsibility.
Dennis Chuah, president of the Electric Vehicle Association of Malaysia, highlighted the establishment of long-term cooperation mechanisms within RCEP, indicating that battery development and recycling will be pivotal areas of collaboration among Malaysia, China, and other member states.
Hefei has emerged as a key player in the new energy industry, achieving NEV output of 1.37 million units in 2024 and a total industrial chain value exceeding 260 billion yuan (approximately 36.19 billion USD).
The city's solar and energy storage sectors have also experienced substantial growth, surpassing 180 billion yuan.
Furthermore, as reported by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, China produced 4.43 million NEVs in the first four months of 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 48.3 percent, with sales rising by 46.2 percent to 4.3 million units, demonstrating that NEVs accounted for 42.7 percent of all new vehicle sales during this period.
The collective insights from the dialogue in Hefei underscore the advancing role of China as a global leader in NEV production, research and development, battery innovations, infrastructure, and industrial scale, fostering a collaborative future for mobility across Asia and beyond.
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