On January 16, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology hosted a press conference to unveil the "Interim Measures for the Management of Recycling and Comprehensive Utilization of Waste Power Batteries for New Energy Vehicles." In recent years, China has witnessed a rapid expansion in its new energy vehicle sector. In 2025 alone, production and sales volumes soared to 16.626 million and 16.49 million units, respectively, marking year-on-year growth of 29% and 28.2%. With the escalating volume of retired power batteries, China’s comprehensive utilization of waste power batteries surpassed 400,000 tons in 2025, a 32.9% increase from the previous year. Key enterprises have achieved internationally leading recovery rates for metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel.

To bolster full-chain oversight and establish a standardized, safe, and efficient recycling system, six departments jointly issued the "Management Measures." These measures adopt a management approach encompassing "full channels, full chains, and full life cycles." They clarify the responsibilities of entities at each stage, strengthen information traceability management, and establish administrative penalties. The "Management Measures" are set to take effect on April 1, 2026, providing a legal framework for the standardized development of the industry.