The 7th WCIFIT ｜ The New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation and Promotion Center Established in Chongqing: How Will It Establish Its Foothold in Chongqing and Exert Global Influence?

On May 24, the New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation and Promotion Center (referred to as the Center) was officially inaugurated in Liangjiang New Area. The Center will consistently engage in research, cultivation, evaluation, enhancement, promotion and collaboration related to global new energy vehicle brands, supporting the upgrading and growth of these brands as well as the high-quality and sustainable development of the industry.

On May 24, the Inaugural Ceremony of the New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation and Promotion Center was held at the Yuelai International Convention Center. Photo by Reporter Zhang Jinhui/Visual Chongqing

What is the background of the New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation and Promotion Center? How will it establish its foothold in Chongqing and exert global influence?

Leveraging Chongqing's strengths in the NEV industry to empower brands in going global

Looking back at the Center's developmental course, there are two key milestones.

In September 2022, the "New Energy Vehicle Brand Cluster" was established in Beijing, focusing on standard development, evaluation research, international cooperation, and platform building in the NEV brand sector. In November 2024, under the guidance of the "New Energy Vehicle Brand Cluster," the New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation and Promotion Center was officially registered and established in Liangjiang New Area.

Why did the Center choose Chongqing? Su Bo, Vice Chairman of the National Manufacturing Strategy Advisory Committee (NMSAC) and Chief Expert of the New Energy Vehicle Brand Cluster, succinctly explained: "As a pivotal hub of China's automotive industry and the starting point of the China-Europe Railway Express, Chongqing has close ties with international markets such as Europe and Southeast Asia. It has already formed a new energy vehicle industrial cluster centered in Liangjiang New Area, providing fertile ground for brand cultivation. By locating in Liangjiang New Area, the Center will better integrate advantageous resources, deepen international cooperation and openness, and drive the development of global NEV brands".

Su Bo. Photo by Reporter Zhang Jinhui/Visual Chongqing

In short, the New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation and Promotion Center will leverage Chongqing's dual advantages of industrial agglomeration and inland openness to facilitate the global expansion of NEV brands, promote high-quality resource alignment between domestic and international NEV industries, and drive cooperation in areas such as NEV brand evaluation, promotion, and international exchange.

An official from Liangjiang New Area stated that the establishment of the Center will further solidify the foundation for Chongqing's NEV industry development and enhance the industrial ecosystem. Liangjiang New Area will strengthen service support, fully back the Center's growth, and jointly advance the construction and development of NEV brands.

Addressing brand needs through forward-looking research

What exactly is the New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation and Promotion Center? Simply put, it is an international non-profit organization focused on the research, cultivation, evaluation, and promotion of global NEV brands.

The leadership of the Center, including its council and secretariat, comprises a diverse professional team featuring experts from institutions like Beijing Institute of Technology, as well as senior representatives from organizations such as China National Brand, China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd., and Chongqing Guoyuan Port International Logistics Hub Construction and Development Company. Together, they form a hybrid team of multidisciplinary specialists.

Moreover, the Center has access to the expert resources of the "New Energy Vehicle Brand Cluster," enabling collaborative development of brand-related academic and research capabilities, which provides a continuous stream of intellectual support.

With these solid foundations, the Center has already embarked on forward-looking research initiatives. During its inaugural ceremony on May 24, the Center announced a partnership with relevant institutions to jointly develop the world's first Global New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation Index research project.

On May 24, the Global New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation Index was officially launched at Yuelai International Convention Center. Photo by Reporter Zhang Jinhui/Visual Chongqing

According to the reporter, this research will for the first time present a comprehensive, systematic and professional overview of global new energy vehicle brand development. It will innovatively establish a five-dimensional evaluation model covering tangible assets, quality, innovation, service and intangible assets, providing important guidance for new energy vehicle enterprises in brand building while contributing Chinese wisdom to global new energy vehicle governance.

Working with all parties to tell the new energy vehicle brand story well

In addition to "cutting-edge" forward-looking research, the Center has many "down-to-earth" key tasks in the near future.

Li Fangzheng, Chairman of the New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation and Promotion Center, introduced that the Center will next implement the "Seven-One Projects" Initiative, essentially delivering results in seven key areas. The aforementioned Global New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation Index is one of these projects.

Specifically, the New Energy Vehicle Brand Evaluation and Promotion Center will establish a think-tank to provide the industry with brand insights and deliver high-quality specialized reports to support government decision-making. It will develop a roadmap for new energy vehicle brands and formulate a series of brand evaluation standards. It will also cultivate a New Energy Vehicle Brand Conference, creating a dedicated IP to effectively communicate the story of Chinese NEV brands. Additionally, it will compile the New Energy Vehicle Brand Development Report, which will include annual brand research, evaluation systems, and outstanding case studies.

Furthermore, the Center aims to build a professional talent development platform for the NEV brand sector, innovate working and collaboration mechanisms, and promote efficient operations with internal and external coordination.

"At present, China's new energy vehicle industry is still in a transitional phase shifting from product exports to brand globalization. The establishment of the Brand Evaluation and Promotion Center comes at a most opportune time."

Yao Chenggang, Executive Director of the China Council for Brand Development, noted that while China's NEV industry has maintained rapid development momentum, there remain shortcomings in brand building such as the lack of world-class brand vision, neglect of long-term brand strategy, and insufficient coordinated efforts in overseas markets. Moving forward, the Center can leverage its strengths to guide both the industry and consumers toward truly recognizing quality brands that focus on core technological innovation and product excellence through systematic brand evaluation. It will also facilitate collaborative efforts to better communicate the narrative of Chinese NEV brands on the global stage.

Yao Chenggang. Photo by Reporter Zhang Jinhui/Visual Chongqing

Source: New Chongqing - Chongqing Daily