China EV Battery Installations Reach 42 GWh in January 2026 Despite Monthly Drop

China EV battery installations recorded steady year-on-year growth in January 2026, even as volumes declined sharply from December’s elevated base. Fresh figures released by the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA) confirm that total power battery installations reached 42.0 GWh during the month. This represents an 8.4% increase compared to January 2025, although installations fell 57.2% sequentially from December. The data illustrate the typical seasonal recalibration at the beginning of the calendar year, while reinforcing the underlying annual expansion trend in the China EV market.

China EV Battery Installations Show Annual Growth Momentum

The latest China EV battery installations data underline sustained structural growth in the country’s electrified mobility ecosystem. January’s 42.0 GWh compares with 38.8 GWh in January 2025 and 32.3 GWh in January 2024, demonstrating consistent year-on-year progression over a three-year horizon.
At the same time, the pronounced month-on-month decline aligns with established seasonal delivery cycles, where December volumes are typically elevated due to year-end sales pushes and incentive expirations. CABIA data from 2024 through 2026 indicate that China power battery installations continue to expand structurally, supported by deeper EV penetration, broader vehicle model availability across passenger cars and commercial vehicles, and sustained electrification momentum.

LFP Battery Installations Continue to Dominate

Lithium Iron Phosphate Maintains Market Leadership

Lithium iron phosphate batteries remained the dominant chemistry within China EV battery installations in January. LFP battery installations reached 32.7 GWh, accounting for 77.7% of total monthly installations. This reflects an 8.1% year-on-year increase, despite a 59.1% decline compared with December levels.
The sustained leadership of lithium iron phosphate batteries is rooted in their cost efficiency, improved cycle life, and enhanced thermal stability. These attributes make LFP particularly well-suited for high-volume EV segments, where affordability and safety are critical. Over recent years, LFP battery installations have progressively widened their lead over alternative chemistries, consolidating their central role in China’s battery mix.

Ternary Lithium Batteries Hold Steady Share

Ternary lithium batteries recorded installations of 9.4 GWh in January, contributing 22.3% of total China EV battery installations. This represents a 9.6% increase year-on-year, although volumes declined 48.6% from December.
While ternary lithium batteries offer superior energy density, enabling longer driving ranges and premium positioning, their share has moderated as manufacturers increasingly prioritize cost optimization and supply chain resilience. Nevertheless, the positive annual growth indicates that ternary chemistries continue to serve performance-oriented and long-range vehicle segments within the China EV market.

China Battery Production and Export Performance

China battery production for both power and energy storage applications totaled 168.0 GWh in January. This marks a robust 55.9% year-on-year increase, even though production declined 16.7% sequentially from December. The data reflect ongoing capacity expansion aligned with long-term domestic EV demand and global energy storage growth.
The production split further reinforces prevailing chemistry trends:

• LFP battery production reached 136.7 GWh, rising 57.1% year-on-year while decreasing 14.8% month-on-month.

• Ternary battery production stood at 31.3 GWh, up 51.1% year-on-year but down 23.1% compared to December.

This production distribution closely mirrors installation patterns, with LFP maintaining a decisive majority share.
On the export side, total shipments of power and energy storage batteries reached 24.1 GWh in January. Exports increased 38.3% year-on-year, though they declined 26.0% from December.
The export composition is as follows:

• Power battery exports totaled 17.7 GWh, accounting for 73.3% of overall exports and rising 59.3% year-on-year.

• Energy storage battery exports reached 6.4 GWh, representing 26.7% of total exports, with a 1.4% annual increase.

Overall, China EV battery installations continue to signal a structurally expanding EV ecosystem. Despite short-term seasonal fluctuations at the start of the year, strong manufacturing output, a dominant LFP chemistry profile, and resilient export performance collectively reinforce China’s central position in the global EV and battery value chain.