CAAM Initiates Anti-Discrimination Probe in the Automotive Sector

On September 19, the Industry Development Department of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) released a "Notice on Commencing an Anti-Discrimination Investigation in the Automotive Industry." The notice's core message is that on September 13, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce launched an anti-discrimination investigation into U.S. actions concerning China's integrated circuit industry. In order to comprehend and evaluate the ramifications of these U.S. measures on the automotive industry's use of integrated circuits, the CAAM is undertaking this investigation.

The specifics of this investigation are detailed in Document No. 50 issued by the Ministry of Commerce, which initiates an anti-discrimination inquiry into U.S. policies related to China's integrated circuit sector. On the very day Document No. 50 was made public, the Industry Development Department of the CAAM issued a statement. It firmly endorsed the Ministry of Commerce's decision to take legal and necessary actions, pledged active support and cooperation with the investigating bodies, and vowed to resolutely protect fair trade and the legitimate rights and interests of the automotive industry.

This news rapidly garnered widespread attention within the automotive industry.

With the swift advancement of new energy vehicles and the rising intelligence levels in the automotive field, there's an escalating demand for chips, computing power, semiconductors, and the like. Many new energy vehicle manufacturers opt for NVIDIA's high-end chips. In 2024, Jensen Huang announced that brands such as BYD, XPeng, Zeekr, and Li Auto would incorporate NVIDIA's intelligent chip DRIVE Thor.

However, in December 2024, the U.S. unveiled a fresh round of export restrictions on China. It added over 140 Chinese companies to the Entity List and imposed export controls on additional semiconductor equipment, high-bandwidth memory chips, and other semiconductor products.

This U.S. move triggered robust countermeasures. On December 3, 2024, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, the China Semiconductor Industry Association, the China Internet Association, and the China Communications Enterprise Association jointly issued a statement. They expressed their staunch opposition and urged domestic companies to exercise caution when procuring U.S. chips.

From last year's call for caution in selecting U.S. chips to the current CAAM-launched anti-discrimination investigation in the automotive industry, these initiatives are aimed at safeguarding the security and stable development of the automotive sector and preventing unforeseeable consequences.