On 13 March 2026, China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) was adopted by the National People’s Congress (NPC). An overview article covering the main targets related to climate change and the green transition can be found here.
This article covers the parts of the Plan that are relevant to the mobility and transport sector, a pillar of the green transition. The Plan hereby focuses on system-level transformation of the transport sector, which accounts for around 10% of national CO₂ emissions, rather than isolated measures.
Electrification, clean technologies, and infrastructure
Electrification remains the dominant pathway, with continued support for electric vehicles across segments and a growing focus on scaling heavy-duty applications. Hydrogen and green fuels are promoted for hard-to-abate segments such as shipping and aviation. The Plan foresees large-scale demonstration projects for electric trucks as well as the deployment of vessels powered by green fuels. This is complemented by targeted expansion of infrastructure, including over 10,000 km of low- or zero-carbon transport corridors (including road and waterway) with associated charging, refuelling, and logistics facilities..
System integration, logistics, and digitalisation
A defining feature of the 15th FYP is the emphasis on system integration and efficiency. The Plan envisages the development of an integrated national transport network, strengthened by digitalisation and artificial intelligence. Measures include smart highways, ports, and shipping systems, as well as the promotion of intermodal transport. The modal shift towards rail and waterways is prioritised to reduce emissions and improve efficiency. At the same time, the Plan places strong emphasis on the integration of vehicles, infrastructure, and cloud platforms, positioning connected and intelligent electric vehicles as a strategic industry. The mobility agenda is closely linked to industrial policy, with strong support for clean-tech industries such as EVs, batteries, green fuels and renewable energy propulsion systems , and emerging technologies including autonomous driving and the “low-altitude economy” (economic activities in low-altitude airspace, including drones for logistics, mobility, and industrial services).
Key takeaways
Overall, the 15th FYP reflects a maturation of China’s mobility strategy, shifting from rapid expansion towards system integration and quality of transition. The emphasis on infrastructure, cross-sector coordination, and efficiency improvements suggests a more structural approach to transport decarbonisation. Importantly, as the Plan outlines only high-level directions for the transport sector, its practical impact will depend on forthcoming sector-specific plans and implementation programmes to be developed by relevant ministries, which are expected to further operationalise targets, define timelines, and clarify policy instruments.
