China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) sales rose solidly in 2025, even as deliveries eased in December following a strong November, according to data released on Wednesday by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
NEV sales totaled 1.71 million units in December, up 7.2% from a year earlier but down 6.2% from November. The figures reflect wholesale sales by automakers, including domestic deliveries and exports, and cover battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and fuel cell vehicles.
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For the full year, China sold 16.49 million NEVs, an increase of 28.2% from 2024, underscoring the sector’s role as a key growth driver in the world’s largest auto market.
Battery electric vehicles accounted for the bulk of December sales, with 1.11 million units delivered, up 13.8% year on year but 5.3% lower than in November. Plug-in hybrid sales fell 3.7% from a year earlier to 599,000 units, marking the first year-on-year decline in at least five years based on CAAM data.
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China’s overall vehicle sales totaled 3.27 million units in December, down 6.2% from a year earlier. NEVs accounted for 52.3% of total sales during the month, compared with 45.7% a year earlier, though slightly below November’s 53.2%.
On an annual basis, total vehicle sales reached 34.4 million units in 2025, up 9.4% year on year. CAAM said the result confirmed China’s status as “the world’s largest automotive market” for the 17th consecutive year, with NEVs contributing 47.9% of total sales.
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Exports remained a key support. NEV exports reached 300,000 units in December, more than doubling from a year earlier, while full-year exports totaled 2.62 million units, up 100%. BEV exports rose 66.7% in 2025 to 1.65 million units, while PHEV exports surged 230% to 969,000 units.
Domestic NEV sales, excluding exports, came in at 1.41 million units in December, down 3.6% year on year, but still lifted full-year domestic sales to 13.88 million units, a 19.8% increase from 2024.
