After overdeveloping its electric vehicle industry, China is shifting from quantity to quality. In 2026, three government measures will be game-changers.

According to several analysts, dozens of Chinese electric car brands could disappear as early as 2026, victims of a destructive price war and unsustainable profit margins. After encouraging the emergence of countless manufacturers, Beijing now seems to accept (or even provoke) a natural selection process, from which stronger, more profitable groups capable of establishing themselves internationally will emerge.

Similarly, China will introduce the first mandatory energy consumption standards for electric vehicles in 2026, a world first. Gone are the days when simply fitting a large battery was enough to boast an impressive range; manufacturers will now have to meet specific kWh/100 km thresholds, or risk losing certain tax advantages.

Fewer gadgets, more security

A third strong signal: the announced ban, starting in 2027, on fully retractable "Tesla"-style door handles on cars sold in China. By mandating a mechanical mechanism that functions under all circumstances, the authorities are prioritizing real-world safety, particularly in the event of an accident or electrical failure, over spectacular design. This, too, is highly symbolic, since certain solutions that have become hallmarks of electric modernity are now deemed incompatible with the requirements of reliability and occupant protection.

Clearly, then, Chinese policy is shifting its philosophy. Not that the state is withdrawing from electric vehicles, but the time has come for maturity, with less tolerance, more regulations, and a desire to bring order to a sector that has been, so to speak, anarchic. Is this also a way of showing good faith to markets that are becoming increasingly defensive? Quite possibly. One thing is certain: in Europe, we know that the more stringent the standards a car must meet, the more expensive it is. Chinese imports will therefore lose some of their competitiveness.