At an Oct 19 State Council Information Office briefing on the national economy in the first three quarters of 2026, the new-energy vehicle (NEV) industry stood out as a highlight of green transition and 'new quality productive forces.' Domestic NEV retail penetration has exceeded 60% for six consecutive months, and NEV passenger-vehicle retail surpassed 7.7 million units in the first three quarters.
The growth rides on complete supply-chain strength and is pulling upstream sectors higher: in the first three quarters, output of lithium-ion batteries above designated size rose 39.5% year on year, while high-tech manufacturing and equipment manufacturing value added grew 14.3% and 10.2% respectively. Overall industrial value added rose 5.3%.
The expansion is also lifting energy efficiency. Preliminary estimates put the decline in energy consumption per unit of GDP at 3.1% in the first three quarters, with energy use per unit of industrial value added down 4.3%, underscoring NEVs' role in coordinated green, industrial and trade progress.
