China's BEV Sales Reach New High: 1.28 Million Units in September

China’s battery-electric vehicle market hit an all-time high in September, with 1.28 million BEVs delivered, according to wholesale data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). This marks a 21 per cent year-on-year increase and a 10 per cent rise compared to August, setting a new monthly record for the country.

Overall, new energy vehicle (NEV) sales — including BEVs, plug-in hybrids and range extenders — totalled 1.82 million units in September. This represents a 13.6 per cent year-on-year gain and an 11 per cent improvement over August. NEVs accounted for 61.6 per cent of all new vehicles sold in China during the month, a modest uptick in market penetration. While this share is no longer growing at the rapid pace seen in earlier phases, the internal composition of the NEV segment has shifted notably toward pure electric models. PHEV sales, by contrast, remained flat year-on-year at 546,000 units, though they edged up 13.3 per cent from August.

One of the most striking developments is the surge in exports of plug-in vehicles. September saw 571,000 NEVs shipped abroad — a 160 per cent year-on-year jump and a new record. Exports now represent 31.3 per cent of all NEV sales. For the fourth consecutive month, more than half of all Chinese vehicle exports were plug-in models, with the September figure reaching 54 per cent. Breaking that down, 352,000 BEVs were exported, up 130 per cent year-on-year, while PHEV exports climbed 220 per cent to 219,000 units. Cumulatively, NEV exports for the first nine months reached four million units, a 130 per cent increase over the same period last year.

In contrast, the domestic market has been contracting. Domestic NEV sales in September fell 9.4 per cent year-on-year to 1.25 million units, though they rose 12 per cent month-on-month. Over the first three quarters, domestic sales stood at 8.47 million units, down 10.6 per cent year-on-year. This persistent decline on the home front stands in sharp contrast to the booming export sector.

Looking at the broader picture, total NEV sales for the first nine months of 2026 reached approximately 12.5 million units, an 11.1 per cent increase year-on-year. The average NEV share of total sales across the three quarters was 53.6 per cent, dragged down by a sluggish start to the year. However, since July, monthly NEV penetration has consistently exceeded the 60 per cent threshold. With the usual upward trend in the final months of the year, industry observers suggest China could surpass the two-million monthly NEV mark before the year is out.