The 2026 World New Energy Vehicle Congress was held in Haikou, Hainan, from September 22 to 24. Experts agreed the global NEV industry has moved beyond policy-led introduction and growth into a new stage of market-driven, large-scale adoption and high-quality iteration, with China a key innovation source and a stabilizer of the global auto supply chain.
Wan Gang, chairman of the congress, said global NEV sales reached 11.234 million units in the first half of 2026, up 14% year on year, with market penetration rising to 24%. Cumulative global sales have surpassed 94 million, of which China accounts for more than 62 million.
China's NEV sales hit 10.65 million units in January-August, with penetration climbing to 52.4%, while exports reached 3.435 million units, up 124% year on year - a core engine of growth. The industry is shifting from single-product export to overseas manufacturing, technology export and ecosystem globalization.
Volkswagen Group China said its largest integrated R&D center outside Germany, built in Hefei, now has more than 3,000 local R&D staff, underscoring China's role as a global NEV innovation hub.
