China’s New Energy Vehicle Sales Hit Record Share in August as Exports Surge

BEIJING, September 10 — China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) market continued to expand rapidly in August, with monthly sales accounting for more than 60 percent of new vehicle sales, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) on September 10.

China produced 1.653 million new energy vehicles and sold 1.643 million in August, with both figures increasing by nearly 20 percent year on year. NEVs continued to strengthen their dominant position in the domestic automotive market, while their share of total new vehicle sales reached a new monthly high of 60.6 percent.

Overall, China’s automobile production and sales totaled 2.684 million and 2.712 million units, respectively, in August. Chen Shihua, deputy secretary-general of CAAM, attributed the month-on-month growth partly to continued upgrades to automobile consumption subsidies in several regions across the country.

NEVs Account for More Than Half of New Car Sales

During the first eight months of 2026, China produced 20.255 million automobiles and sold 20.315 million, representing a slight year-on-year decline.

NEVs, however, maintained strong growth momentum. Production reached 10.668 million units, while sales totaled 10.65 million units, with both figures increasing by more than 10 percent year on year.

NEVs accounted for 52.4 percent of new vehicle sales during the January-August period, highlighting the accelerating transition of China’s automotive market toward electrification.

The sustained expansion of the NEV sector has further strengthened China’s position as one of the world’s largest markets for electric and other new energy vehicles.

Automobile Exports Maintain Rapid Growth

China’s automobile exports also continued to expand at a rapid pace, with monthly exports exceeding 1 million vehicles for three consecutive months.

In August, China exported approximately 1.01 million automobiles, up 65.3 percent year on year. NEV exports reached 526,000 units, surging 130 percent from a year earlier.

For the first eight months of 2026, China’s total automobile exports reached 7.153 million units, an increase of 66.7 percent year on year. NEV exports totaled 3.435 million units, representing a year-on-year increase of 120 percent.

The strong export performance demonstrates the growing international competitiveness of Chinese automakers and the increasing global demand for Chinese-made new energy vehicles.

With domestic NEV penetration continuing to rise and overseas shipments maintaining strong momentum, China’s automotive industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, with electrification and international expansion emerging as two major drivers of industry growth.