From April 11 to 12, 2026, the “Intelligent Electric Vehicle Development Forum 2026” was held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing.

Under the theme of “Driving NEVS toward Intelligent, Green, Integrated, and International Development” the forum brought together leading institutions such as the Development Research Center of the State Council, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Tsinghua University, along with representatives from leading domestic and international companies including BYD, Huawei, NIO, Geely, Volkswagen, and BMW, to conduct in-depth discussions on the strategic direction of the industry over the next decade. Sunway Law was invited to participate in the forum.

From Electrification to Intelligence: Entering the Industry's Second Phase

“A decade of development has shown that strategic guidance, a well-balanced relationship between government and market, a strong focus on innovation, and openness to collaboration are the key drivers behind the rise of the new energy vehicle industry.”

A New Stage of Going Global: From "Trade Expansion" to "Structural Transformation"

Another key focus of the forum was the transformation in the global strategies of Chinese automakers. Representatives from Chery and other automakers noted that China’s automotive exports are at a historic inflection point—shifting from pure trade expansion to structural transformation.

A clear consensus emerged among participants: companies must evolve from being “Chinese companies operating overseas” to becoming “local companies with Chinese DNA.” The core challenges of going global have also moved beyond product exports to the comprehensive development of capabilities in compliance and governance, supply chain localization, as well as data security and privacy protection.

Data Security and Compliance: A Key Focus

During the two-day forum, “data security” and “compliance” were among the most frequently discussed topics by both domestic and international speakers. Academician Ouyang Minggao noted that data in the new energy vehicle sector has evolved from a supporting role into a key driver of business model innovation and value creation.

In the international context, compliance challenges related to cross-border data flows are even more prominent. Several speakers highlighted that differences across jurisdictions in data security regulations, standards recognition, and regulatory coordination are becoming critical bottlenecks for the overseas expansion of China’s intelligent electric vehicle industry.

How to strike a balance between “data sovereignty” and “data mobility,” and to build a compliance framework that is recognized internationally, has become a shared challenge for the entire industry.

Sunway Law’s View: Cross-Border Legal Services as Foundational Infrastructure

I. Building a Systematic Compliance Framework for Global Expansion

As companies move from “product export” to “system-level globalization,” they need to establish a comprehensive compliance framework in target markets. This includes multiple dimensions such as investment approvals, data localization, intellectual property protection, and supply chain due diligence. Sunway Law is committed to helping companies plan ahead and build a solid compliance foundation that supports sustainable global operations.

II. Compliance Pathways for Cross-Border Data Flow

With the exponential growth of data generated by intelligent vehicles, data has become a core asset for automotive companies. Sunway Law’s cross-border legal services are designed to assist clients in navigating diverse data security regimes across multiple jurisdictions, identifying compliant pathways for cross-border data transfers, and enabling the lawful and efficient utilization of data assets.

III. Legal Framework Design for Ecosystem Collaboration

From OEMs to upstream suppliers, from autonomous driving algorithm companies to cloud service providers, collaborative innovation across the intelligent electric vehicle ecosystem calls for a "law first" cooperation model. Sunway Law works with industry partners to design legal frameworks tailored to this evolving ecosystem, providing institutional support for effective and sustainable collaboration.

Sunway Law has consistently focused on cross-border legal services, positioning itself as a bridge between China’s new energy and intelligent manufacturing supply chains and global markets.

As the industry enters the “second half” and faces a new phase of accelerated growth, Sunway Law looks forward to working with more partners to support global expansion through robust compliance and legal solutions.