China to strengthen recycling management of used power batteries from NEVs

China will strengthen management on the recycling and comprehensive utilization of used new energy vehicle (NEV) power batteries, according to the interim measures jointly issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and five other departments on Friday.

Each power battery of NEVs will be assigned a digital identity under the interim measures, which will take effect on April 1, 2026.

The move comes as China's NEV industry has expanded rapidly. In 2025, NEV production and sales both exceeded 16 million units, accounting for over half of domestic new vehicle sales.

With power batteries from earlier NEVs reaching the end of their service life due to capacity degradation, the volume of retired batteries is growing significantly, according to the MIIT.

Industry experts note that the regulation is timely, given that China is entering a phase of large-scale battery retirement, with projected used battery generation exceeding 1 million tonnes by 2030.

Highlighting a "full-channel, full-chain, and full-lifecycle" management framework, the MIIT said that the interim measures include establishing a national NEV power battery traceability information platform and a digital ID management system.

"Specifically, the digital ID utilizes power battery coding as the information carrier, linking data across key stages including production, vehicle installation and sales, battery swapping, maintenance and replacement, vehicle scrapping, battery recycling, and comprehensive utilization. This enables monitoring of the power battery's entire lifecycle flow and facilitates traceability through information systems. It is fair to say that applying digital technology to the full-process traceability management of power batteries represents a significant institutional innovation under the interim measures," said Wang Peng, director of the Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization Department under the MIIT.

Gong Jinfeng, deputy general manager of the China Automotive Technology and Research Center, said the measures will ensure the secure and efficient recycling of used power batteries.

"The interim measures, as China's first departmental regulation governing the recycling and utilization of NEW power batteries, clearly define the primary responsibilities of entities across the industrial chain. They further elevate the level of management, intensify regulatory oversight, and establish clear boundaries for relevant activities. This will effectively standardize the conduct of all participants and focus on building a standardized, safe, and efficient recycling and utilization system," said Gong.

China initiated a three-year special campaign targeting illegal dumping and the disposal of solid waste in June last year, including scrapped motor vehicles, waste electronic products, retired new energy equipment, and used power batteries.

China to strengthen recycling management of used power batteries from NEVs

China's securities regulator has pledged to prioritize market stability and resolutely prevent sharp fluctuations as a core objective for 2026, aiming to consolidate sound development of the capital market.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) made the commitment at its annual work conference on Thursday, where the regulator reviewed the past year's performance and outlined key tasks for 2026.

In 2025, listed companies distributed a combined total of 2.68 trillion yuan (about 380 billion U.S. dollars) in cash dividends and share buybacks throughout the year, further consolidating the momentum for high-quality development.

Initial public offerings (IPOs) and follow-on offerings reached a combined 1.26 trillion yuan, while the exchange bond market issued various bonds totaling 16.3 trillion yuan.

Eighteen futures and options products were smoothly listed, demonstrating the robust functioning of the multi-tiered capital market.

The meeting emphasized that while the capital market currently shows stable and sound performance, it still faces complex and severe challenges posed by intertwined domestic and external risks as well as the overlapping of persisting and emerging issues.

Efforts will be made to effectively enhance the intrinsic stability of the market, the CSRC said, adding that it will rigorously investigate and punish excessive speculation, market manipulation, and other illegal activities to prevent sharp market fluctuations.

It will work to foster a market ecosystem where "long-term capital engages in long-term investment," the regulator said, pledging efforts to broaden the channels for medium and long-term capital inflows, introduce various products and risk management tools suited to long-term investment, and actively guide long-term, rational and value-based investment.

It also vowed to enhance the inclusiveness and adaptability of the multi-tiered equity market, crack down on illegal activities such as financial fraud, price manipulation and insider trading, and enhance corporate governance among listed firms.

The CSRC will advance the two-way opening up of the capital market in 2026.

Efforts will be made to expedite the implementation of the optimized Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor scheme, expand the scope of futures products accessible to foreign investors, and enhance the facilitation of cross-border investment and financing, the regulator said.

China's securities regulator stresses market stability in 2026 work plan