BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) - In July 2026, the share of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in monthly new-car sales exceeded 60% for the first time, while their cumulative share surpassed 50% for the first time, according to the latest data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
To understand the significance of these two 'firsts,' it is essential to look at the statistical scope. Previously, claims that 'NEVs had passed the halfway mark' mostly referred to the passenger-vehicle segment or the domestic market. This time, however, the data cover both passenger and commercial vehicles as well as domestic sales and vehicle exports - a genuine crossing of the watershed that marks NEVs as the market mainstream.
In the domestic market, the share of NEVs in domestic passenger-vehicle sales has risen month by month this year, reaching 68.1% in July - meaning that for every three new cars sold, two are NEVs. The electrification of commercial vehicles has also maintained rapid growth, with domestic NEV commercial-vehicle sales up nearly 50% year on year in July.
In terms of exports, the share of NEVs in vehicle exports has exceeded 50% for two consecutive months. While China's vehicle exports were long dominated by fuel vehicles, NEVs are now becoming a new engine driving export growth.
Sustained high global oil prices have directly raised the daily cost of owning a fuel vehicle and reshaped consumer logic, while the lower energy cost of NEVs has become an increasingly prominent economic advantage.
At the same time, the product strength of NEVs continues to improve. Domestic automakers are deepening technological innovation, making continuous breakthroughs in safety and driving range, and rolling out next-generation power batteries, smart cockpits and intelligent driving-assistance systems, continuously shortening model iteration cycles.
From pure-electric city cars to luxury smart flagships, from rugged off-roaders to family MPVs, differentiated positioning covers the travel needs of different consumer groups, and the rich NEV product supply continues to activate market potential.
The supporting infrastructure is also improving. The world's largest recharging network continues to safeguard green mobility. The latest data shows that China has 23.057 million charging facilities (guns) in total, with more than 180,000 high-power charging guns built.
Looking ahead, a number of '15th Five-Year Plan' (2026-2030) programs have been released, with NEVs - as a representative of new quality productive forces - frequently appearing in related deployments, injecting strong confidence and providing solid support for the high-quality development of the industry.
For example, the State Council's Action Plan for Carbon Peaking in the 15th Five-Year Plan Period proposes that by 2030 the share of NEVs in the vehicle parc should strive to reach 30%, and the share of NEVs among operating transport vehicles should reach 25%. The 15th Five-Year Plan for Building a New Power System clearly states that by 2030 the total number of charging facilities should exceed 40 million, forming a charging service capacity supporting more than 110 million electric vehicles.
Relying on the advantages of a super-large domestic market, a complete and efficient industrial chain and supply chain system, and continuously iterating core technologies, China's NEV industry will continue to deepen the green-transition track and accelerate the integrated upgrading of electrification, intelligence and connectivity, constantly unleashing industrial vitality and giving birth to more new breakthroughs.
