In September 2025, China reached a historic milestone in electric mobility, setting a new record for sales of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (NEV).
According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), a total of 1.6 million vehicles were sold — surpassing the previous record from December 2024.
Almost every second new car sold in the country is now electric, with the share of NEVs in total sales reaching 49.7%.
Record-Breaking Performance of China’s NEV Market
The new energy vehicle segment continues to show strong momentum.
Key figures for September 2025 include:
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Total NEV sales: 1,604,000
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Battery electric vehicles (BEV): 1,058,000 – surpassing one million for the first time
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Plug-in hybrids (PHEV): 546,000
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Growth vs September 2024: +24.6%
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Growth vs August 2025: +15%
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Exports: 222,000 NEVs (13.8% of total sales)
More than 86% of all NEVs remained in China’s domestic market, underscoring its internal strength and rapid adoption of electric mobility.
Export Stability After a Year of Growth
Although NEV exports have stabilized at around 220,000 units per month, the volume remains twice as high as in September last year.
China continues to lead global exports of electric cars, especially to Europe, South America, and CIS countries.
The export boom is driven by expanded manufacturing capacity and aggressive international expansion by Chinese brands. Still, the domestic market remains the main growth driver for NEV sales.
BEVs Accelerate While Hybrids Lose Momentum
In September 2025, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) posted record numbers, growing 36.4% year-on-year, while plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) increased only 6.7%.
This shift reflects a broader trend: consumers are increasingly choosing fully electric models as charging infrastructure improves and battery prices decline.
China’s EV transition is clearly entering a phase of mass adoption.
Key Manufacturers: Who Benefits from the Boom
BYD: Market Leader Facing Slower Growth
BYD remains China’s largest NEV producer with 396,270 vehicles sold in September.
However, the company reported its first 5.5% year-on-year decline in a long time, mainly due to weaker demand for its plug-in hybrid lineup.
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BEV sales: +24.3% YoY
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PHEV sales: –25.6% YoY
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Exports: 71,256 NEVs (+115% YoY)
BYD remains the overall leader, but its hybrid segment is under pressure from growing BEV competition.
Geely: Strengthening Its Position
Geely recorded impressive growth across both BEV and PHEV segments:
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BEV: 99,516 (+55% YoY)
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PHEV: 65,685 (+146% YoY)
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Zeekr: 18,257 BEV (–14.4% YoY)
The company’s strategy of offering both electric and hybrid options continues to pay off, especially in the mid-range market.
SAIC: Explosive Sales Growth
The SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle brand achieved 41,000 NEV sales, marking a 325% year-on-year increase.
Including joint ventures with foreign brands such as Volkswagen, SAIC Group reached 189,498 NEVs sold, a rise of 47% YoY.
Tesla: Gradual Recovery in China
Tesla recorded its second-strongest month of 2025 with vehicles produced at its Shanghai Gigafactory:
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BEV sales: 71,525 (–1% YoY, +25% vs August)
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Exports: 19,287 BEV (+19.6% YoY)
After a slow start to the year, Tesla is regaining momentum thanks to price cuts and the updated Model Y lineup.
Leapmotor: A Rising Competitor
Leapmotor, partially owned by Stellantis, achieved its fifth consecutive record month with 66,657 NEV sales (+97% YoY).
The company continues to strengthen its position in the mid-range electric vehicle segment and has emerged as a credible competitor to Tesla in China.
Other Notable Brands
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Great Wall Motor: 45,961 NEVs (+52% YoY), one in three vehicles now has a plug.
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Xiaomi EV: 41,948 BEVs (+209% YoY), an impressive performance for a newcomer.
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Xpeng: 41,581 BEVs (+95% YoY), maintaining steady growth.
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Nio: 34,749 BEVs (+64% YoY), including sub-brands Onvo and Firefly.
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Li Auto: 33,951 NEVs (–37% YoY), continuing its decline.
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GAC Aion: 29,113 NEVs, closing in on the top ten manufacturers.
Outlook: Strong Finish Expected in Late 2025
Historically, China’s auto market shows a significant surge in the final quarter of the year, and 2025 is expected to follow that trend.
The record-breaking September results are seen as a preview of a strong Q4.
While overall NEV growth has slowed slightly, electric cars now account for nearly half of all new vehicle sales in China.
Experts predict that NEV penetration will surpass 50% by the end of 2025 — marking a new milestone for the global automotive industry.
Key Takeaways
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China reinforces its position as the global leader in electric mobility.
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BEV sales exceeded 1 million units in a single month for the first time.
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BYD remains the top manufacturer but is losing share in hybrids.
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Geely, SAIC, and Leapmotor show the fastest growth.
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NEVs reached a 49.7% share of total car sales in China and are expected to cross 50% by year-end.