In the land of dragon boats, dumplings, and the Great Wall, China’s Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) stole the spotlight in September with a mind-boggling 826,000 units sold—because apparently, saving the planet comes second to saving a few bucks on gas. This translates to BEVs making up a whopping 63.7% of the total New Energy Vehicle (NEV) retail sales, which hit 1.296 million units. Meanwhile, the hybrid vehicles (you know, those that can’t decide whether to be electric or gas-powered) managed to muster 469,000 units, showing a year-on-year dip of 2.7%. Talk about an identity crisis!
Ah, September in China: when NEV retail sales surged to 1.296 million units. That’s a 15.5% jump from last year and a delightful 16.2% improve from August. Fresh off the press from the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA)—which might as well be named the Car Whisperers—we learned that while the sales figure missed the initial forecast of 1.307 million, it sure beat last month’s measly prediction of 1.25 million. Let’s call it a win for optimism!
This little spike marks the highest monthly passenger NEV retail sales for 2024—just shy of December 2024’s paltry 1.3 million units. Who knew greening our planet could feel this competitive? And BEVs? Oh honey, they’re not playing. They roared to 826,000 units sold in September, crushing last December’s record of 762,000 units like a watermelon at a summer picnic. That’s a dainty 28.5% increase year-on-year and a delightful 19.8% rise from August; let’s hope those numbers don’t make gas guzzlers weep.
BEVs now represent 63.7% of total NEV sales, jumping up from 62.3% in August—because when it comes to leading the charge in electricity, every percentage point counts! Meanwhile, hybrids, bless their confused little hearts, sold 469,000 units in September. That’s down 2.7% year-on-year—an existential crisis marked by trying to decide between charging and refueling. Although, they did show some class by rising 13.3% from August. Who says behavior can’t be contradictory?
Let’s break it down further: Without the Extended-Range Electric Vehicles (EREVs)—which evidently serve no purpose other than to confuse everyone—plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) sold a measly 360,000 units. That’s 27.8% of the NEV retail pie, if you’re still following along. Their year-on-year sales dipped by a mere 0.1%, but they did pull off a 12.5% increase compared to the last month. So, if we’re handing out participation trophies, they win!
EREVs, as usual, did their own thing by totaling 109,000 units in September. Though that’s an 8.0% dip year-on-year, at least they can brag about a 4.2% increase from August. While all this electric enthusiasm unfolded, the total passenger car retail sales—including good ol’ gas guzzlers—hit 2.241 million units, translating to a 6.3% increase year-on-year. Apparently, there’s no stopping the thirst for vehicles, hybrid or not!
As NEV retail penetration inched up to 57.8%, let’s cheer for 5 percentage points in a year—because who doesn’t love watching the gradual shift toward electric vehicles? Of course, domestic brands claimed a staggering 78.1% of NEV sales. Luxury brands? Oh, they managed a modest 34.5%. Meanwhile, joint-venture brands seem to struggle with just 7.4%. A drama worthy of reality television unfolds on the showroom floor!
And finally, let’s not forget the export scene. Passenger NEV exports from China soared to 211,000 units in September, up a jaw-dropping 96.5% year-on-year. This is the sort of number that makes you think: why bother with case studies when all you need is a spreadsheet filled with integers to feel successful? BEVs accounted for 66% of those exports, down from the impressive 83% last year—so who’s picking up the slack, you ask? A0-class and A00-class BEVs who collectively represent 46% of these exports, making their debut as the stars of China’s automotive renaissance.
