The World New Energy Vehicle Congress 2026 will be held in Haikou from September 22 to 24. This marks the eighth consecutive year the conference has been held in Hainan. Focusing on the globalization of the new energy vehicle industry, intelligent connectivity, and the industry’s expansion into overseas markets, this year’s conference will showcase the achievements of Hainan Free Trade Port’s new energy vehicle industry.

As the host, Hainan will adopt the strategic positioning of “Global Hub for the Manufacturing and Overseas Expansion of Smart Connected New Energy Vehicles” and organize a “1+3” series of events. Among these, the core main forum—titled “Global Development and the Hainan Free Trade Port”—will focus on special-purpose vehicle manufacturing and the smart connected vehicle industry, while introducing the policy advantages of the Hainan Free Trade Port and the development path for the new energy vehicle industry.

The three thematic forums will focus on think tank exchanges, industrial development, and urban applications, respectively. These include the 2026 Plenary Meeting of the Third Hainan Provincial International Expert Advisory Committee on the New Energy Vehicle Industry, the Hainan Smart Connected and Special-Purpose Vehicle Manufacturing Development Forum, and the New Energy Vehicle Urban Development Forum. Representatives from government, enterprises, universities, and research institutions will engage in discussions on the development of the new energy vehicle industry.

Currently, the island-wide customs-sealed operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port is progressing steadily. Leveraging the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and its geographical advantages in relation to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Hainan is accelerating the construction of an international development platform for the new energy vehicle industry, providing new opportunities for automakers to expand into overseas markets.

During the conference, several industry platforms will be officially unveiled, and a number of projects in the fields of automotive manufacturing, export vehicle testing, and intelligent connected vehicles will be signed, further refining Hainan’s new energy vehicle industry layout.

This year’s conference will continue to host the Sino-German New Energy Vehicle Industry Development Cooperation Forum and, for the first time, will feature a special roundtable for Sino-German automotive parts companies to promote exchange and cooperation among enterprises in the Sino-German automotive supply chain. Additionally, the conference will invite representatives from Thai automotive industry organizations and enterprises to participate in the events, further expanding the scope of international cooperation.

Furthermore, the World New Energy Vehicle Development Organization will participate in the conference’s operations for the first time as a co-organizer, leveraging its global network of new energy industry resources to strengthen international exchanges and industrial collaboration.

Currently, preparations for the conference have entered their final stage. It is expected to attract guests from more than 20 countries and regions, including senior executives from multinational automakers, representatives of international industry organizations, and experts in the field of scientific research, who will come together to discuss future trends in the new energy vehicle industry.