China Automotive Industry Association (CAAM) data released on October 12, 2026 show that in January-September the country produced and sold 12.483 million and 12.472 million new-energy vehicles, up 11% and 11.1% year on year respectively, with NEVs accounting for 53.6% of total new-car sales.
In September alone, NEV production and sales reached 1.814 million and 1.823 million units, up 12.2% and 13.6% year on year, and the NEV share of monthly new-car sales climbed to a record 61.6% - a third consecutive month above the 60% mark. Overall auto production and sales for the month were 2.99 million and 2.956 million units.
On the export side, China exported 8.205 million vehicles in the first nine months, up 65.8%, of which NEV exports totaled 4.006 million units, up 1.3-fold and making up 48.82% of all vehicle exports. In September, auto exports hit 1.053 million units, up 61.4%, with NEV exports of 571,000 units up 1.6-fold - and the NEV share of exports has stayed above 50% for four straight months.
'Despite a complex and severe external environment, exports have maintained rapid growth, showing strong resilience, while new momentum continues to be released at home,' said Chen Shihua, deputy secretary-general of CAAM, adding that the industry is expected to run steadily in the fourth quarter.
Image: Vehicles on display at an international mobility show. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).
