China’s new-energy vehicles captured 53.2 percent of total new car sales in April. This NEV dominance rose from 47.3 percent a year earlier, according to CAAM data. NEV sales reached 4.304 million units in the first four months of 2026. Total auto exports surged 61.5 percent to 3.127 million units. NEV exports more than doubled to 1.384 million units during that period.
CAAM deputy secretary-general Chen Shihua said policy measures will help improve domestic demand. BYD unveiled a new battery that adds 400 kilometers of range in five minutes. Semi-solid-state batteries will see large-scale deployment from late 2026 through 2027. All-solid-state batteries could reach small-batch mass production by 2027 or 2028. Six Chinese battery makers held a combined global market share exceeding 70 percent in 2025.
This NEV dominance extends to international cooperation as well. Volkswagen teamed up with Xpeng in Hefei to develop new models jointly. Geely and Renault invested 5.1 billion yuan in Brazil for two NEV models. Stellantis expanded its alliance with Leapmotor to deploy EV technology across Europe. Chinese brands captured a record 75 percent of the domestic passenger vehicle market in April.
A survey found that 55 percent of European consumers would consider a Chinese brand. Peru data showed Chinese brands held a 33.7 percent market share among 25 bestsellers. Charging infrastructure now expands to county-level areas across China. The NEV dominance thus reflects a quality upgrade, not just volume growth. Global collaboration remains essential as the industry transforms toward electrification. China will share its intelligent vehicle technologies with worldwide partners accordingly.
