Five Departments: Researching to Improve Product and Application Standards Time Around Automotive Industry Upgrade Demands

On September 22, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and three other departments jointly issued the "Work Plan for Stable Growth in the Steel Industry (2025-2026)," which specifies that efforts will be made to enhance steel product and application standards in response to the upgrading needs of downstream industries such as the automotive sector. At the same time, a core target is set for an average annual growth of 4% in the added value of the steel industry over the next two years. The plan proposes 10 specific measures, with two key directions specifically targeted at the automotive field:

First, focus on key materials such as high-performance bearing steel and gear steel required for new energy vehicles and intelligent connected vehicles, organizing steel companies to collaborate with automotive enterprises and research institutions to tackle challenges in the industrial chain.

Secondly, establish a quality grading system for automotive steel, formulate special standards for core components such as body structural parts and chassis systems, and strengthen requirements for indicators such as material strength and corrosion resistance.

The public can access the full plan through the official website of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the relevant standard revision work is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026.

Xiao Bangguo, the director of the Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute, pointed out that the improvement of the standard system will promote steel enterprises to shift from "scale expansion" to "quality competition." It is expected that the high-end rate of steel for automotive use will increase from the current 45% to 60% by 2026. At the same time, a green steel certification system will be established to connect with the demands of the new energy vehicle industry, forming a positive cycle of "material upgrading - vehicle quality improvement - market expansion." Currently, policies such as ultra-long-term special government bonds and special re-loans for technological innovation have clearly tilted towards upgrading projects for steel enterprises, providing financial support for industrial chain collaboration.