China Drive Battery Installations Rise 15.2% in April 2026 Amid Strong LFP Demand

China recorded strong momentum in the electric vehicle battery sector during April 2026, according to the latest figures released by the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance (CAPBIIA). Total installed drive battery capacity for vehicle equipment reached 62.4GWh during the month, reflecting a 15.2% year-over-year increase. The latest data highlights continued expansion in the country’s electrified vehicle market, with lithium-iron phosphate chemistry maintaining a dominant position across vehicle applications. The figures also underline the growing scale of battery deployment among passenger vehicles and the increasing concentration of market share among leading battery manufacturers.

Ternary batteries accounted for 11.5GWh of installed capacity during April, representing 18.5% of the overall market and posting a 24.2% year-over-year increase. Meanwhile, lithium-iron phosphate batteries contributed 50.8GWh, securing an 81.5% share of total installed capacity and recording 13.4% annual growth. The continued preference for lithium-iron phosphate technology reflects strong adoption across mass-market electric vehicles due to cost advantages, thermal stability, and supply chain maturity. Despite the faster growth rate of ternary batteries during the month, lithium-iron phosphate batteries remained the dominant chemistry in the Chinese electric vehicle industry.

From January through April 2026, cumulative drive battery installations for vehicle equipment reached 187.2GWh, registering a modest 1.6% year-over-year increase. Within this total, ternary batteries contributed 37.4GWh, accounting for 20.0% of the market and increasing 8.9% compared with the previous year. Lithium-iron phosphate batteries represented 149.8GWh during the same period, maintaining an 80.0% market share despite recording a slight 0.1% decline year-over-year. The cumulative figures indicate that while overall market expansion has moderated, lithium-iron phosphate technology continues to hold a commanding lead in large-scale electric vehicle battery deployment.

Battery electric passenger vehicles represented the largest share of installed drive battery capacity during April. Their total proportion reached 55.6%, reflecting a 1.1% year-over-year increase. Plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles accounted for 16.8% of total installed battery capacity and registered a stronger 15.2% year-over-year rise. The data suggests that battery demand remains supported by both fully electric and hybrid vehicle segments, with plug-in hybrid models gaining additional traction as automakers expand electrified product portfolios across different vehicle categories.

Year-to-date figures showed battery electric passenger vehicles accounted for 57.5% of total installed drive battery capacity, although this represented a 9.0% decline compared with the previous year. Plug-in hybrid electric passenger vehicles held a 17.6% share during the same period, slightly down by 0.1% year-over-year. These shifts indicate evolving demand patterns within the passenger vehicle sector, where automakers continue balancing battery electric and hybrid vehicle strategies in response to consumer preferences, infrastructure readiness, and cost considerations.

Top 10 Battery Makers by YTD Installed Capacity in China (2026)

The market remained heavily concentrated among leading battery suppliers, with CATL retaining a dominant 47.4% market share through cumulative installed capacity of 88.6GWh. BYD secured the second position with 31.4GWh and a 16.8% market share. Other major participants included Gotion High-tech, CALB, EVE Energy, Rept Battero, Sunwoda, Zenergy, Energee, and LG Energy Solution. The combined performance of these companies highlights the increasing scale and competitiveness of the Chinese electric vehicle battery ecosystem as manufacturers continue expanding production capacity and technology development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was China’s total drive battery installation capacity in April 2026?
China’s total installed drive battery capacity reached 62.4GWh in April 2026, marking a 15.2% increase compared with the same month last year. The growth was primarily supported by strong demand for electric passenger vehicles and increasing adoption of lithium-iron phosphate battery technology across the automotive industry. The data also reflected continued expansion in battery deployment among both battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle segments, reinforcing China’s position as one of the world’s largest electric vehicle battery markets.

Which battery chemistry dominated China’s EV battery market in April 2026?
Lithium-iron phosphate batteries dominated China’s electric vehicle battery market during April 2026 with an 81.5% share of total installed capacity. These batteries accounted for 50.8GWh of installations during the month and continued to outperform ternary batteries in overall market share. The strong preference for lithium-iron phosphate technology is linked to lower production costs, enhanced thermal stability, and widespread use in mass-market electric vehicles. Ternary batteries still showed strong annual growth but remained a smaller portion of the overall market.