China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) ownership reached 31.4 million units by the end of December 2024, marking a significant milestone as the figure surpassed the 30 million mark.
NEVs, which include battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and fuel cell vehicles, now account for 8.9 percent of the country’s total vehicle ownership, which stands at 353 million vehicles, according to data released by China’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS).
The ownership of BEVs alone reached 22.09 million units, making up 70.34 percent of the total NEV ownership. In 2024, China registered 11.25 million new NEVs, reflecting a 51.49 percent year-on-year increase. These NEVs accounted for 41.83 percent of new vehicle registrations in the country.
The growth in NEV ownership has been rapid, surpassing the 10 million mark in June 2022 and the 20 million mark by the end of 2023.
In 2024, the overall number of new vehicles registered in China reached 26.9 million, an increase of 9.53 percent compared to the previous year. The country continues to see significant urban vehicle growth, with 96 cities reporting more than 1 million vehicles, 45 cities exceeding 2 million, and 26 cities surpassing 3 million.
Six cities—Chengdu, Beijing, Chongqing, Suzhou, Shanghai, and Zhengzhou—have more than 5 million vehicles, further illustrating the widespread adoption of vehicles across the country.
The total number of motor vehicle drivers in China, including motorcycle operators, reached 542 million by December, with automobile drivers accounting for 506 million, or 93.46 percent of the total.
In 2024, 22.26 million new drivers were licensed, contributing to the growing number of vehicles and drivers in the country.