Amid the wave of industrial transformation, the cooperation model in the automotive industry has gradually shifted from traditional product trade and simple market exchanges to systematic cooperation featuring technological synergy, joint R&D, and ecosystem co-construction. Targeting the European market, Chinese enterprises in new energy vehicles (NEVs), batteries, and intelligent components are actively exploring localization pathways; meanwhile, Italian automotive companies continue to seek deep integration into China's NEV industrial chain to tap into incremental opportunities in the local market. At the same time, realistic challenges objectively exist, such as differences in cross-border policies and regulations, alignment of industry standards, localized production and operations, and supply chain adaptation. Exploring a new model of mutually beneficial bilateral industrial cooperation has become a common aspiration for the automotive industries of both China and Italy.
Standing at a critical juncture of China-Europe industrial synergy, the high-level bilateral industrial event—the 2nd China-Italy Automotive Industry Forum—is scheduled to grandly open in Shanghai on November 19-20, 2026. Jointly hosted by China EV100 International (Chebai International), the Italian Association of the Automotive Industry (ANFIA), and the Eldor Group, the forum will gather government representatives from both countries, industry associations, leading domestic and international OEMs, key enterprises across the entire supply chain, research institutions, and cross-border investment firms. It aims to precisely address the practical needs of two-way cooperation between the Chinese and Italian automotive industries and deliver actionable plans tailored to both markets, covering technological synergy, supply chain co-construction, and enterprise localization.
This year's forum focuses on core topics such as the localization layout of Chinese enterprises in Italy and Europe, the deep integration of Italian companies into China's NEV supply chain, innovative cooperation in automotive chips and smart cockpits, joint upgrading of smart manufacturing, and co-construction of the aftermarket ecosystem. It serves as a professional exchange platform integrating high-level discussions, corporate roadshows and matchmaking, and on-site industrial inspections. It is a vital vehicle in 2026 for the China-Italy automotive industries to connect two-way resources and facilitate practical project implementation. The core structure of the event consists of 1 Plenary Session + 1 Industrial Matchmaking Conference + On-site Industrial Inspections, covering the entire chain of policy discussions, business matchmaking, and industrial observation.
A Three-Dimensional Event Structure
The 2nd China-Italy Automotive Industry Forum innovatively adopts a three-dimensional conference architecture of "Plenary Session + China-Italy Industrial Matchmaking + Industrial Visits and Inspections," comprehensively covering segments such as policy interpretation, keynote reports, major achievement releases, thematic enterprise negotiations, manufacturing base inspections, and government-enterprise symposiums. This fully aligns with the diversified cooperation demands of OEMs, auto parts suppliers, intelligent technology providers, aftermarket players, and investment and financing institutions. The forum balances macro strategic discussions with micro business matchmaking, providing both a high-level dialogue and consultation window for the industry and a face-to-face pragmatic cooperation channel for enterprises.
Full Agenda
01 November 19 Morning | Plenary Session
Strategic Pathways for China-Italy NEV Cooperation Amid Global Supply Chain Restructuring
This plenary session is the core high-level forum segment of the event, featuring four major modules: opening remarks, thematic reports, keynote speeches by Chinese and foreign enterprises, and major achievement releases. Representatives from the political, business, and academic circles of China and Italy will exchange views on Italy's new energy industry policies and China-Europe NEV cooperation opportunities. Industry experts will analyze the strategic pathways for China-Italy NEV cooperation against the backdrop of global supply chain shifts.
Chinese enterprise representatives will focus on sharing practical experience in European localized operations, holding in-depth discussions on topics such as dual-base R&D in China and Europe, joint construction of KD (Knock-Down) factories, integrated charging and storage infrastructure solutions to assist Italy's electrification upgrade, mutual recognition and recycling of China-Europe power battery standards, and the co-construction of the China-Europe automotive supply chain ecosystem. Italian enterprise representatives will focus on the localization of Italian companies in China, innovative cooperation models in automotive chips, smart cockpits, and smart manufacturing. They will introduce the practical pathways for Italian companies to integrate into China's NEV supply chain and explore new directions for market collaboration between multinational OEMs and Chinese enterprises. The ECA-iHUB China-Europe Smart Manufacturing Center localization cooperation plan will be released on-site, providing new planning guidance for smart manufacturing cooperation between the two countries and supporting subsequent project implementation.
02 November 19 Afternoon | China-Italy Automotive Industry Matchmaking Conference
Three Special Sessions to Promote Pragmatic Industrial Matchmaking
With the core goal of facilitating business implementation, the matchmaking conference features three special industrial sessions. Focusing on three major directions: digital and intelligent synergy empowerment, overseas automotive supply chain system co-construction, and automotive aftermarket service ecosystem co-construction, key enterprises in smart cockpits, automotive electronics, core components, and automotive after-sales services are invited to conduct roadshows and interactive exchanges. Targeting Chinese and Italian OEMs, parts suppliers, and tech service providers, it builds an efficient negotiation platform for technology export, supply chain procurement, project investment, and channel interconnection. It focuses on the real business demands of enterprises, promotes efficient matchmaking for intended cooperation, and taps into two-way market cooperation opportunities.
03 November 20 Full Day | Industrial Visit and Inspection
Immersive Exploration of China's Automotive Benchmark Carrier
The conference will arrange unified bus transportation, with all attendees departing from the hotel together; conference staff and bilingual interpreters will be provided. The delegation will visit an OEM plant. First, an enterprise reception and symposium will be held, where the OEM's responsible personnel will introduce the company's NEV layout, European export business, and intelligent production line construction plans. Subsequently, a field inspection of the NEV assembly workshop, battery PACK production line, and intelligent testing laboratory will be conducted, allowing participants to intuitively experience domestic advanced manufacturing capabilities. After the inspection, an interactive Q&A session will be set up, where Chinese and Italian enterprise representatives can fully communicate on vehicle manufacturing, supply chain supporting facilities, and overseas cooperation.
Value and Vision of the Forum
The 2nd China-Italy Automotive Industry Forum is an important platform for high-level dialogue between the Chinese and Italian automotive industries, gathering resources from governments, enterprises, industries, academia, and capital from both countries. Based on the overall trends of global automotive industry transformation, the forum breaks down cross-border information barriers and promotes mutual policy understanding, technology mutual learning, and market interconnection. It not only helps Italian enterprises seize development opportunities in China's NEV market, deeply cultivate the Chinese local market, and seek cooperation opportunities in supply chain supporting facilities and joint technology R&D, but also provides strong support in policy analysis, high-level exchange, and business matchmaking for Chinese automakers and supply chain enterprises to explore the Italian and even European markets, assisting enterprises in compliant and efficient overseas expansion.
The forum is not limited to the exchange of viewpoints but places greater emphasis on the transformation of pragmatic results. It is hoped that through this forum, the cooperation links between the Chinese and Italian automotive industries will be connected, the information gap will be reduced, the communication costs of cross-border cooperation will be lowered, and visible, actionable cooperation opportunities will be created for enterprises of both countries.
