Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Monday called on German automotive companies to deepen collaboration with their Chinese counterparts by leveraging each other's complementary advantages.

China welcomes German automakers to further invest in the Chinese market, Wang said during a meeting with Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA).

Bilateral cooperation will help advance the global automotive industry's transition toward premium, intelligent, and green development, he said.

Noting that 2026 marks the inaugural year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan(FYP) period, Wang said China will continue to expand high-standard opening up, drive high-quality development through new quality productive forces, and encourage fair competition to foster industrial innovation.

During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on the stability of global automotive supply and industrial chains, as well as the European Union's restrictive economic and trade measures targeting China.

'Soft landing' in EV dispute

Wang also highlighted the "soft landing" in the China-EU electric vehicle dispute through a price commitment scheme early this year.

He urged the EU side to honor its pledge of equal treatment and facilitate negotiations with Chinese carmakers to implement the price commitments at an early date.

Wang called on both sides to manage differences through dialogue and consultation and safeguard stable, unimpeded industrial and supply chains in the global automotive sector.

Expressing concern over the EU's recently introduced trade-restrictive measures, Wang said that such protectionist measures would create risks for Chinese enterprises and undermine their confidence in investing in Europe.

He expressed hope that the VDA can play an active role in pushing the EU to respect free competition, abide by WTO rules, and adjust inappropriate provisions to create a fair, just, and non-discriminatory business environment for China-EU cooperation.

German automakers in China for the world

Mueller, for her part, said that China's 15th FYP offers clear signals and important guidance for foreign investment.

German auto companies, she said, will continue to expand investment, research and development efforts, and innovation in China while accelerating localization efforts to better serve global markets from China – "in China for world."

She affirmed the VDA's commitment to free trade, praised the price commitment scheme as a solid foundation for resolving tariff disputes, and vowed to keep advocating for an open EU automotive market.

Mueller also welcomed Chinese automakers and parts suppliers to invest in Germany to deepen automotive industrial and supply chain integration between Germany and China, as well as between the EU and China.