Electric Mobility Reshapes The Industry: Compliance And Technology Drive High-Quality Development Of Brake Pad Sector in 2026
As 2026 begins, China's automotive brake friction material industry is undergoing a structural transformation. Driven by the rising penetration of new energy vehicles (NEVs), implementation of CHINA-7/Euro 7 emission regulations, and stricter CCC certification and green manufacturing standards, the brake pad industry is accelerating its shift from traditional supporting parts to high-end, lightweight, intelligent and low-emission products, with both market scale and technical barriers rising simultaneously.
According to industry monitoring data, China's domestic brake pad market reached approximately 28 billion RMB in 2025. With NEV penetration in passenger cars exceeding 36% in 2026, the iteration of braking materials has become imperative: the adoption rate of copper-free ceramic-based formulations for urban vehicles has risen to 38.5%, carbon-ceramic composite materials are growing rapidly in vehicle installation, and their penetration in high-end models continues to expand. Disc brakes account for 93.7% of new vehicle configurations, OEM channels take up nearly 59% of the market, while the aftermarket is upgrading toward precise model adaptation and rapid response.
Policies have become a core driver of industry restructuring. The revised version of GB 5763-2018 Automotive Brake Linings imposes stricter controls on friction coefficient, heat fade and wear rate; full coverage of CCC certification and limits on hazardous substances, together with copper-reduced/copper-free requirements, have been fully implemented, classifying products with copper content exceeding 5% as restricted items. Meanwhile, CHINA-7 and EU carbon footprint rules have forced enterprises to build green manufacturing systems. In 2026, carbon emissions per unit product in the industry have dropped by nearly 40% compared with 2020, the proportion of recycled materials has increased to 21.6%, and small and medium-sized non-compliant capacities are accelerating to phase out.
Technological advances are focused on three directions: first, material upgrading – ceramic composites and carbon-ceramic brakes have become the mainstream choice for NEVs priced above 200,000 RMB due to low dust, low noise, high heat resistance and long service life, with significantly lower continuous braking friction coefficient attenuation than semi-metallic products. Second, intelligent sensing – wear monitoring sensors are deeply integrated with electro-hydraulic/electromechanical brakes (EMB/EHB), improving response speed and reducing weight to support braking execution for L2+ to L4 autonomous driving; EMB entered small-batch mass production in 2026. Third, low-emission braking – leading enterprises have launched low-dust and low-wear formulations adapted to Euro 7 and CHINA-7, meeting both environmental and safety standards.
The market landscape is rapidly reshaping. International giants are accelerating R&D and capacity layout in China, focusing on NEV-specific brake pads and localized testing; leading local enterprises are achieving breakthroughs in both passenger/commercial vehicle supporting services and overseas exports relying on self-developed formulations, cost advantages and rapid response. Brake-related component exports grew 25% year-on-year in 2025, with Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa as major markets. Rising penetration of new energy heavy trucks has driven a 34.6% increase in the value of commercial vehicle braking systems, forming a new growth pole.
The industry also warns of risks: inferior brake pads cause prominent problems such as extended braking distance, severe heat fade and abnormal wear, seriously threatening driving safety. With stricter supervision and certification, branding, compliance and technology will become the core of competition. Enterprises with IATF16949 certification, international accreditation and full-process quality control capabilities will continue to seize market share.
Looking ahead for the full year, China's brake pad industry will maintain steady growth in 2026, with four clear main lines: NEV adaptation, intelligent integration, green compliance and global supply chain. Only by focusing on material innovation, process upgrading and standard alignment can enterprises build long-term competitiveness amid the wave of vehicle electrification and globalization, and propel China from a major producer of brake parts to a technological power in the global braking industry.
