In September 2026, sales of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China reached 1.823 million units, marking the highest monthly figure for the year. This total represents an 11.0% increase compared to August. NEVs accounted for 61.6% of all vehicle sales, maintaining a share above 60% for the third consecutive month.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) led the growth with a record 1.277 million units sold, up 20.7% year-on-year. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales reached 546,000 units. For the first nine months of the year, total NEV sales hit 12.47 million units, reflecting an 11.1% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
Exports served as the primary growth engine, with 571,000 NEVs shipped abroad in September, a 160% year-on-year surge. NEVs now represent approximately 54% of China's total vehicle exports. Cumulative NEV exports for the first three quarters reached 4.006 million units, growing by 130% year-on-year.
Conversely, the domestic market saw a contraction. Domestic NEV sales dropped 9.4% year-on-year to 1.252 million units in September. Despite this, the market share of NEVs within domestic sales rose to 65.8%, driven by a significant 47.3% decline in demand for conventional fuel passenger vehicles.
