Chart: A record two-thirds of car sales in China are now electric vehicles
New-energy vehicles (NEVs) reached a record 67% of new car sales in China during September 2026. This shift is driven by a steep decline in combustion-engine vehicle sales, which analysts attribute to rising petrol prices caused by the ongoing Hormuz crisis.
Why it matters
The rapid electrification of China's transport sector significantly impacts global oil demand and accelerates the transition away from fossil fuels.
Share Article Contents Expand menu Close NEV record Impact of Hormuz NEV demand down Exports surge For the first time, new-energy vehicles (NEVs) made up 67% of new car sales in China in September, according to the latest data from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA).
The figures show that NEVs, which include battery electric cars and plug-in hybrids, captured a record share of sales, even though fewer were sold than last year.
This is because sales of combustion-engine cars are falling steeply, a trend that the CPCA has attributed to rising petrol prices following the start of the Hormuz crisis .
Indeed, sales of fuel-only cars were down 31% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2026, with plug-in hybrid sales down 26% – whereas battery EV sales were only down 4%.
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