Two-thirds of China's September car sales were electric

· Climate · China

New-energy vehicles accounted for 67% of new car sales in China in September, a record share, according to data reported by Carbon Brief. The milestone marks the first time NEVs — the Chinese category covering battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars — have passed two-thirds of monthly sales. The shift reflects years of policy support, a deep domestic lineup of affordable Chinese-brand EVs and an increasingly competitive price war that has squeezed foreign automakers' share of the world's largest car market. For the industry, China is now effectively an EV-majority market by monthly sales, which sets the pace for battery demand, supply-chain investment and export strategy well beyond China's borders.

Why it matters：China is the world's largest auto market, so its EV adoption rate sets global expectations for battery demand, legacy automaker strategy and oil consumption.

Key points

  • NEVs reached 67% of new car sales in September, the first time above two-thirds
  • The NEV category includes both battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles
  • The share is a record for the Chinese market

Sources (original reporting)

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