China issues overseas pricing guidance for automakers

China's commerce and industry ministries and market regulator issued joint overseas-expansion guidelines telling automakers to base foreign prices on costs and market demand, set clear configuration tiers, avoid frequent steep changes, and respect local dealers' pricing autonomy. The guidance also covers after-sales service, labor protections and connected-vehicle data. It arrives as the EU seeks a negotiated minimum import price to replace countervailing duties on Chinese battery-electric vehicles. The guidelines do not state a penalty for noncompliance.