China is targeting global leadership in intelligent connected new energy vehicles (NEVs) by 2030, with advances in autonomous driving, vehicle efficiency and digital technologies set to reshape the industry.

A five-year development plan jointly released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and nine other central government departments sets out targets for NEVs to account for 70 percent of new passenger vehicle sales and 40 percent of new commercial vehicle sales in China by 2030.

Vehicles equipped with autonomous driving functions are expected to see large-scale application by then, while highly automated driving is targeted for expressways, urban express roads and some urban roads.

The plan also calls for breakthroughs in key technologies, including targets for average passenger vehicle fuel consumption of 3.3 litres per 100 km and electricity consumption of around 11.5 kWh per 100 km for pure electric passenger vehicles.

China also aims to foster several automakers among the world's top 10 by sales, alongside globally competitive auto parts makers.