• BEVs continued to lead growth, with October sales reaching a record 1.353 million units, up 22% year-on-year.
  • NEV exports rose about 140% year-on-year to 606,000 units, while domestic sales fell 8.6%.

China's new energy vehicle (NEV) sales hit a record high in October, as strong export growth offset a decline in domestic sales and further expanded NEVs' share of the overall auto market.

NEV sales totaled 1.94 million units in October, up 13.1% year-on-year, according to data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) on Wednesday.

That was up 6.4% from September's 1.823 million units, surpassing the previous monthly record, though year-on-year growth slowed slightly from September's 13.6%, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.

CAAM's NEV sales figures include domestic sales and exports, covering both passenger and commercial vehicles. Powertrain types include battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fuel cell vehicles.

NEVs accounted for a record 64.3% of total vehicle sales in October, up from 61.6% in September, remaining above 60% for the fourth consecutive month.

BEVs continued to lead growth. October BEV sales reached a record 1.353 million units, up 22% year-on-year and 6.0% from September.

PHEV sales totaled 587,000 units, down about 3% year-on-year but up 7.5% from September, continuing to underperform BEVs.

In the first 10 months of the year, cumulative NEV sales reached 14.41 million units, up 11.3% year-on-year, accounting for 54.8% of total vehicle sales, according to CAAM.

Exports remained a key driver of growth. NEV exports reached 606,000 units in October, up about 140% year-on-year and 6.2% month-on-month, exceeding 600,000 for the first time.

Exports accounted for about 31.2% of total NEV sales in October, up from 14.9% a year earlier, according to CnEVPost calculations, highlighting the growing contribution of overseas markets to industry growth.

BEV exports totaled 374,000 units in October, up about 130% year-on-year, while PHEV exports reached 233,000 units, up about 160%.

NEVs accounted for more than 50% of total vehicle exports for the fifth consecutive month. In the first 10 months, cumulative NEV exports reached 4.612 million units, up 129% year-on-year.

The domestic market remained under pressure. Domestic NEV sales totaled 1.334 million units in October, down 8.6% year-on-year but up 6.5% month-on-month. The annual decline narrowed from September's 9.4%.

Domestic NEV sales have fallen year-on-year for 11 consecutive months, with the downturn beginning in December 2025, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.

Domestic sales of NEV passenger vehicles totaled 1.222 million units in October, down 11.3% year-on-year, while those of NEV commercial vehicles reached 112,000 units, up 36%.

Despite the decline in domestic sales, NEVs' share of total domestic vehicle sales rose to 68.4% from September's 65.8%. NEVs accounted for 70.4% of domestic passenger vehicle sales.

In the first 10 months, cumulative domestic NEV sales totaled 9.8 million units, down 10.3% year-on-year, in sharp contrast to rapid export growth.

CAAM said China's domestic auto market has continued to decline this year under pressure from multiple factors, with overall domestic vehicle sales falling more than 20% year-on-year for 7 consecutive months.

The domestic market has yet to show meaningful improvement, with strong supply and weak demand continuing to weigh on the industry and profitability remaining low. Coordinated policy measures are needed to stabilize expectations and bolster consumer confidence, CAAM said.