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The APEC Automotive Dialogue serves as the principal public–private forum within APEC for matters relating to automotive policy and new vehicle technologies. It gathers government representatives, industry executives, and academic specialists from across the Asia-Pacific to exchange perspectives, identify shared challenges, and craft pragmatic recommendations. The Dialogue’s work is directed toward informing decisions at higher political levels, with outputs intended for submission to APEC Ministers and Leaders.
Functionally, the AD combines policy deliberation, capacity-building programs, and commissioned research to help economies manage the transition to cleaner, safer, and more connected mobility. Topics handled in the forum range from market trends to technical regulation, and from infrastructure planning to innovation governance. By linking stakeholders in a structured conversation, the AD aims to turn technical discussion into actionable policy pathways that member economies can adapt and implement.
Mandate and operational focus
The Dialogue advances its mandate through three central workstreams that together form its operational core. First, policy discussions convene targeted conversations on trade, regulatory alignment, and cross-sector issues affecting transport, energy, and industry. Second, capacity building delivers workshops and targeted initiatives to strengthen skills and institutional readiness for new vehicle technologies. Third, the AD commissions research and policy tools—analytical studies and practical guides designed to support economies as they deploy emerging technologies and related infrastructure safely and efficiently. These strands work in parallel to ensure recommendations are evidence-based and implementable.
Core workstreams explained
Policy discussions
The Dialogue’s policy discussions focus on practical regulatory and trade-related questions, examining how member economies can reduce barriers while maintaining safety and consumer protection. These exchanges address topics such as trade and investment facilitation, cross-border data flows for mobility services, and harmonization of standards. This stream often produces consensus-based recommendations that aim to harmonize approaches across the region, enabling smoother market access and cooperation among APEC economies.
Capacity building and tools
The AD’s capacity-building work includes hands-on workshops and training modules designed for officials and industry partners who are implementing new mobility solutions. Sessions cover design and oversight of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, workforce needs for advanced manufacturing, and risk management for novel fuels such as hydrogen. Complementing these activities, the Dialogue develops policy tools—practical templates and guidelines—that help governments adopt frameworks for safety, interoperability, and lifecycle management of vehicle technologies.
Technical priorities and recent topics
At the substance level, the Dialogue has recently concentrated on several high-priority technical areas. Discussions have included global and regional automotive market trends, development of the battery ecosystem including battery safety and charging deployment, and exploration of hydrogen mobility. The AD has also examined autonomous driving, the role of artificial intelligence and robotics in mobility, and the regulatory implications of these technologies. Alongside innovation themes, sessions have addressed cross-cutting technical regulation topics such as cybersecurity, telematics, and interoperability to ensure systems can work together across borders.
Framing principles and frameworks
The Dialogue’s work is framed by key APEC commitments and blueprints that guide regional cooperation. These include the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040, the Aotearoa Plan of Action, the APEC Connectivity Blueprint, the 2026 APEC Leaders’ Declaration, and the Bangkok Goals. These instruments provide strategic direction and help ensure that the AD’s outputs align with APEC priorities on connectivity, sustainability, and inclusive growth.
Recent meetings and future steps
In 2026 the Automotive Dialogue organized two formal sessions: AD 41 (9–10 May, Jeju) and AD 42 (1–2 August, Incheon). Both meetings advanced workstreams tied to APEC’s innovation, sustainability, and inclusiveness objectives, surfacing recommendations and identifying follow-up activities. Plenary discussions and breakout sessions during these meetings helped narrow technical gaps and set priorities for collaborative projects, from harmonizing safety standards to supporting regional charging networks and supply chain resilience for batteries.
Next meeting and continued engagement
Looking ahead, AD 43 is scheduled for 12-13 May 2026 in Shanghai, China, where delegates will continue to refine policy tools and coordinate capacity-building efforts. Stakeholders preparing for AD 43 are expected to build on the 2026 agenda and translate dialogue into concrete guidance for member economies. Last page update: April 2026. The Dialogue remains a central venue for coordinating the Asia-Pacific response to the rapid changes transforming vehicle technologies and mobility systems.