China sold 1.344 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) in April, marking renewed growth in the country’s electric vehicle sector as exports continued to offset softer domestic demand, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
The April total, which includes battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell vehicles, rose 9.7% from the same month a year earlier and increased 7.4% from March 2026 levels.
It was the first month this year in which China’s NEV sales exceeded year-earlier volumes, reflecting a recovery after several months of weaker growth.
NEVs accounted for 53.2% of all vehicle sales in China during April, compared with 43.2% in March, extending momentum seen in late 2025 when the country first surpassed the 50% threshold for electric and hybrid vehicle market share.
The CAAM figures represent wholesale sales, covering vehicles produced in China for both domestic consumption and export markets.
Domestic demand, however, remained under pressure. According to CAAM data, local NEV sales fell to 914,000 units in April, down 10.8% from a year earlier, although they edged up 3.7% compared with March.
The decline marked the fourth consecutive month in which domestic sales trailed year-earlier levels, following the expiration of several government incentives for new energy vehicles at the end of 2025.
At the same time, exports continued to expand rapidly, becoming an increasingly important growth driver for Chinese automakers.
China exported 430,000 NEVs in April, a record level and an increase of 110% compared with the same period last year, according to the industry data. Exports also rose 16% from March.
Chinese automotive outlet CN EV Post said “this robust external demand provides sustained momentum for the overall stability of China’s auto industry.”
Exports represented nearly one-third of China’s total NEV wholesale sales in April, compared with less than one-fifth a year earlier. In April 2025, China exported around 200,000 NEVs while domestic sales exceeded 1 million units.
The figures suggest Chinese automakers continue expanding overseas despite higher tariffs and trade barriers in several key export markets.
Across the broader automotive market, total vehicle wholesale sales in China reached 2.526 million units in April, down 2.5% year-on-year and 12.9% lower than March levels.
Total vehicle exports, however, climbed 74.4% year-on-year to 901,000 units.
Battery-electric vehicles remained the dominant category within China’s NEV market. BEV wholesale sales reached 905,000 units in April, increasing 10.2% from a year earlier and 8.9% from March.
Plug-in hybrid vehicle sales totalled 439,000 units, up 8.8% year-on-year and 4.3% month-on-month.
Export growth was particularly strong in the plug-in hybrid segment. China exported 170,000 PHEVs in April, an increase of 180% from a year earlier, while battery-electric vehicle exports rose 85.4% to a record 260,000 units.