China Tasks NEV-Makers With Battery Recycling as Huge Waste Pile Looms
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The Chinese government has formalized the legal framework for recycling new-energy vehicle (NEV) batteries, placing the primary responsibility for recovering waste power cells on automakers as the industry braces for a surge in battery retirements in the world’s largest auto market.
Under the new regulation, released on Friday and set to take effect on Apr. 1, NEV manufacturers are required to establish recycling service outlets commensurate with their sales volumes in the regions where they operate. Automakers are also prohibited from refusing to accept waste batteries transferred by vehicle maintenance service providers and vehicle recycling companies.
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- China formalized regulations mandating NEV automakers to recycle waste batteries, effective April 1.
- Automakers must set up recycling outlets proportionate to sales and cannot refuse waste batteries from service providers.
- Discarded NEV batteries are expected to exceed 1 million tons by 2030; China's NEV sales reached 16.5 million units in 2025, up 28.2% year-on-year.
- 2025：
- China’s NEV sales reached about 16.5 million units, a year-on-year increase of 28.2%, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
- 2026-01-17：
- The Chinese government released a new regulation formalizing the legal framework for recycling new-energy vehicle (NEV) batteries.
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