On December 7, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce jointly issued a revised version of the "Guidance Catalogue for Foreign Investment Industries" (hereinafter referred to as "Catalogue"), which officially solicited opinions, involving as many as nine projects in the automotive industry. Including key components of new energy vehicles, automotive key component manufacturing and key technology research and development, and automotive electronics manufacturing and R&D.

Compared with the 2015 edition of the Catalogue, foreign investment will continue to be encouraged to enter the field of automotive electronics and new energy vehicle batteries. However, the Catalogue has made a question about whether the outside world has been arguing over whether to limit the ratio of vehicle-to-equipment joint stocks. A clear statement: the ratio of Chinese stocks in automobile and special-purpose vehicles is not less than 50%.

Encourage foreign investment in automotive projects to reach 9

It is understood that since the Catalogue was first promulgated in 1995, China has carried out six revisions according to the needs of economic development and opening up. This revision is based on last year's basis and has been revised again.

Among them, 344 projects were encouraged to enter foreign capital, and 9 projects involving automobiles were involved in special equipment, general equipment manufacturing, and automobile manufacturing projects.

Specifically, it includes automobile body outer cover stamping die, automobile instrument panel, bumper and other large injection molds; design and manufacture of automotive power battery special production equipment; automotive polymer materials (friction plate, modified phenolic piston, non-metal hydraulic General sub-pumps, etc.) Equipment development and manufacturing; automotive key component manufacturing and key technology research and development; automotive electronics manufacturing and R&D; and manufacturing of key components for new energy vehicles.

However, compared with the 2015 edition of the Catalogue, sub-projects have decreased in the major aspects of automobile manufacturing.

It is reported that in the key component manufacturing projects of new energy vehicles, the previous energy-type power batteries (energy density ≥110Wh/kg, cycle life ≥2000 times, foreign investment ratio not exceeding 50%), battery cathode materials (specific capacity ≥150mAh/ g, the cycle life of 2000 times not less than 80% of the initial discharge capacity has been canceled; and the automotive electronic bus network technology and electric power steering system electronic controller project in the manufacture and development of automotive electronic devices have also been restricted to joint ventures. Claim.

The joint stock ratio is clear again and will not let go

It is reported that on the basis of the substantial opening last year, the Catalogue will contain 93 restrictive measures in the 2015 edition of the Catalogue (including 19 items of encouraged class shares, 38 items of restricted items, and 36 items of prohibited items). ), reduced to 62.

However, in the list of restrictions on foreign investment in the industry, it has once again been clarified that the ratio of Chinese stocks in automobile and special vehicle manufacturing is not less than 50%, and the same foreign company can establish two (including two) productions in the same country (multiplied by passengers). Joint ventures for vehicles and commercial vehicles), such as joint ventures with Chinese joint venture partners, may not be restricted by the two domestic automakers.

This means that from a policy perspective, the joint stocks have no signs of relaxation than the red line that has been released. However, prior to this, the State Council issued Document No. 41 of 2016, “Decision of the State Council on Temporary Adjustment of Relevant Administrative Regulations, State Council Documents, and Departmental Regulations Approved by the State Council in the Pilot Free Trade Zone”, which involves a total of three in the automotive industry. Including: allowing foreign investors to engage in the manufacture and research and development of automotive electronic bus network technology and electronic power steering system electronic controllers in a sole proprietorship; allowing foreign investors to engage in energy-type power battery manufacturing in a sole proprietorship; allowing foreign companies to engage in motorcycle production in a sole proprietorship.

The move was also analyzed by the outside world as a pilot in the free trade zone to open up the ratio of joint venture stocks in key areas of the automobile, and to explore the experience of future vehicle stocks.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos held in Tianjin at the end of June this year, Xu Shaoshi, director of the National Development and Reform Commission, once revealed that the government is considering canceling the 50% ceiling for foreign-invested joint-venture automobile manufacturing enterprises. Prior to this, in April this year, the Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Miao Wei, also made a clear statement, is considering the release of the joint stock ratio, but set aside the transition time as much as possible.