Monthly NEV exports hit all-time high

In contrast to domestic sales, China's new energy vehicle (NEV) exports show no signs of slowing.

Per the latest China Passenger Car Association (CPCA) data, January marked two new highs for NEV exports:

• 286,000 NEVs exported – up 104% y/y and 10.5% m/m
• 49.6% share of total auto exports – up 13.0 percentage points y/y and 3.3 percentage points m/m

NEVs' record export share wasn't the result of weak gas-powered auto (ICE) exports:

• China exported 290,000 ICEs in January, above the 2025 monthly average of around 274,000 units.

With this massive NEV sales growth and strong ICE exports, China's overall auto exports rose 51.7% y/y in January.

Within NEVs:

• Pure electrics held pretty steady at a 65% export share (vs. 67% last year)
• Compact pure electrics (A00 and A0) gained share, rising to 50% of pure electric exports (vs. 41% last year)

Get smart: BYD remains the clear leader – exporting nearly twice as many NEVs as second-place Tesla China.

• However, exports from more than a dozen Chinese NEV companies are growing, too.

Get smarter: Headwinds in the EU and other major markets are real.

• Still, the early-2026 data suggests that global demand for Chinese NEVs remains robust – even if future growth will be harder won.