China June NEV Sales Reach Record 58.5% Market Share as Auto Exports Top One Million

China's new energy vehicle market continued its strong momentum in June, with wholesale sales climbing to 1.643 million units, an increase of 23.6% compared with the same month last year and 9.8% higher than May. According to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), the latest performance lifted NEVs to a record 58.5% share of total new vehicle sales, marking the third consecutive month of a new all-time high. The figures include domestic deliveries and exports covering battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles.

June Production and Sales Performance

NEV production reached 1.598 million units during June, representing year-on-year growth of 26%. Battery electric vehicles remained the largest contributor, with sales totaling 1.142 million units, rising 33% from a year earlier and 11.3% from the previous month. BEV production stood at 1.099 million units, up 33.6% year-on-year. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle sales reached 500,000 units, increasing 6.5% year-on-year and 6.4% month-on-month, while production totaled 499,000 units, reflecting annual growth of 12.1%.

First-Half NEV Market Performance

During the first six months of the year, NEV production totaled 7.438 million units, while sales reached 7.446 million units. These represented year-on-year increases of 6.7% and 7.3%, respectively. As a result, NEVs accounted for 49.6% of all new vehicle sales during the first half, highlighting the continued transition toward electrified mobility across the country's automotive market.

Domestic Market Trends

Overall vehicle sales in China totaled 2.81 million units in June, declining 3.2% compared with the previous year but increasing 6.9% over May. Domestic NEV sales reached 1.12 million units, rising 6.7% month-on-month while recording a slight 0.4% decline year-on-year. First-half domestic NEV sales totaled 5.09 million units, down 13.4% from the same period last year. CAAM stated that although domestic demand remains under pressure, the industry's transition from conventional gasoline vehicles to electrified models continues steadily as traditional vehicle sales decline further.

China Auto Export Milestone in June

June became a historic month for exports as China's total vehicle shipments reached 1.037 million units, increasing 11.6% from May and 75.1% compared with the previous year. This marked the first occasion that monthly vehicle exports exceeded one million units. NEV exports reached 523,000 units, surpassing the 500,000-unit mark for the first time, growing 1.6 times year-on-year and 17.2% month-on-month.

Breakdown of NEV Export Performance

Battery electric vehicle exports totaled 309,000 units, rising 1.4 times year-on-year and 15% from the previous month. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle exports continued to outperform BEVs in terms of growth, reaching 214,000 units after increasing 1.9 times year-on-year and 20.5% month-on-month. In the first half of the year, China exported 5.096 million vehicles overall, representing annual growth of 65.3%. NEV exports reached 2.355 million units, increasing 1.2 times from a year earlier.

Chinese Brands Strengthen Market Position

Sales of Chinese-brand passenger vehicles reached 1.812 million units in June, reflecting growth of 6.2% year-on-year. Their market share expanded to 75.5%, representing an increase of 8.2 percentage points compared with the same period last year. CAAM noted that while export demand continues to provide strong support, the second half of the year is expected to remain challenging because of a complex external environment, increasing uncertainty and persistently weak domestic demand.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the key highlights of China's NEV market in June?
China recorded 1.643 million NEV sales during June, representing a 23.6% year-on-year increase and pushing NEVs to a record 58.5% share of all new vehicle sales. Total vehicle exports exceeded one million units for the first time, while NEV exports surpassed 500,000 units. Battery electric vehicles remained the largest segment, and plug-in hybrid vehicles delivered even faster export growth, demonstrating continued strength in China's electrified vehicle industry despite softer domestic demand.