Electric vehicles reach record two-thirds of sales in China

New-energy vehicles accounted for a record 67% of all new car sales in China in September 2026, Carbon Brief reported. The category includes both battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids. Data from the China Passenger Car Association confirmed that electric vehicles reached this market share for the first time. [1]

The increase in market share occurred despite total sales volume for new-energy vehicles declining compared to the previous year, Carbon Brief reported. The market share grew rapidly because sales of internal combustion engine vehicles fell steeply across the country over the same period. [1]

Adoption of plug-in electric vehicles globally is shaped by consumer demand, market prices, available charging infrastructure, and government policies like purchase incentives. In China, the China Passenger Car Association attributed the sharp decline in combustion-engine car sales to rising petrol prices following the onset of the Hormuz crisis. [1][3]

As HEROIC BREAKING NEWS reported earlier, technological developments in China's electric vehicle sector include high-density semi-solid-state battery cells designed by Beijing manufacturer WeLion New Energy. These hybrid liquid-solid cells offer higher energy density and improved safety over standard lithium-ion batteries across electric vehicles, ships, and drones. [6]