Beijing, September 9, 2026 — The China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) reported on September 8 that August retail sales of passenger vehicles in China reached approximately 1.541 million units, of which new energy vehicles (NEVs) accounted for about 1.005 million, up roughly 5.7 percent month on month.
NEV retail penetration hit a record 65.2 percent in August, up about 9.9 percentage points year on year, according to data carried by Economic Information Daily via Xinhua and Beijing News.
Internal-combustion-engine (ICE) passenger vehicles saw retail of about 540,000 units, down roughly 40 percent year on year, with pure-ICE vehicles falling even faster. NEV passenger-car exports reached about 518,000 units in August, up approximately 154.7 percent year on year and representing 58.4 percent of total passenger-vehicle exports.
CPCA said the traditional "golden" September season, combined with trade-in subsidies and the rollout of smart-driving features, could further underpin demand in the months ahead. The data underscore that the shift to electrified mobility is no longer a slogan but a measurable shift in the retail mix, with exports acting as the pressure valve for a softer domestic market.
