China Auto Daily丨China Sets Auto Production and Sales Records in 2025, NEVs Surpass 50% Share

CAAM: China's 2025 Auto Production and Sales Hit Record Highs, Leading Globally for 17th Year

The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) reported on January 14 that the country's automobile production and sales reached 34.531 million and 34.4 million units respectively in 2025, setting new annual records with year-on-year growth of 10.4% and 9.4%. This solidifies China's position as the world's largest auto market for the 17th consecutive year. Notably, new energy vehicle production and sales surpassed 16 million units, with NEVs accounting for over 50% of domestic new car sales for the first time. Vehicle exports exceeded 7 million units, also ranking first globally, including 2.615 million NEV exports—a 100% annual increase. CAAM forecasts China's total vehicle sales to reach 34.75 million units in 2026, a 1% increase, with NEV sales projected to grow 15.2% to 19 million units.

Research Firm: Global EV Sales Exceed 20 Million in 2025, Up 20%

Consulting firm Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI) released data on January 14 showing global electric vehicle registrations grew 20% in 2025 to 20.7 million units. Growth, however, is expected to moderate in 2026. The Chinese market led with 12.9 million EV sales, a 17% increase. European sales rose 33%, while North American sales declined 4%, and the rest of the world saw a 48% surge. BMI projects global EV sales to reach 23.9 million units in 2026, a 15.7% increase, driven by an estimated 21% growth in China. In contrast, U.S. sales are forecast to fall 29%, pulling overall North American sales down 23%, with growth in Europe and other regions slowing to 15% and 26% respectively.

MIIT: Focus on Solid-State Battery and High-Level Autonomous Driving Breakthroughs to Boost Consumption

A 2026 inter-ministerial conference on energy-saving and NEV industry development was held in Beijing on January 14, chaired by Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Lecheng. The meeting outlined key priorities: formulating industry development plans in coordination with energy and infrastructure sectors; enhancing supply chain resilience through focused R&D on flagship products and core technologies, specifically accelerating breakthroughs in all-solid-state batteries and high-level autonomous driving; further stimulating auto consumption through trade-in programs, promoting NEV heavy-duty truck adoption, and reforming NEV insurance; regulating market competition via cost monitoring and quality inspections; and strengthening international cooperation in trade, investment, and technology while guiding orderly overseas expansion for companies.

Minister Wang Xiaoping: Skill Upgrades to Target AI, NEVs, and Low-Altitude Economy

Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Wang Xiaoping stated on January 14 that China will launch targeted, high-impact training programs in 2026 to cultivate skilled talent aligned with economic needs. Specialized training will focus on new productive forces like artificial intelligence, new energy vehicles, and the low-altitude economy, as well as urgent social needs such as elderly care and domestic services.

Shanghai Aims for Large-Scale High-Level Autonomous Driving by 2027

Shanghai's Commission of Economy and Informatization, Transportation Commission, and Public Security Bureau jointly issued the "Shanghai High-Level Autonomous Driving Pioneer Zone 'Model Speed Intelligence Action' Plan" on January 14. According to the Plan, by 2027, the city targets the large-scale deployment of high-level autonomous driving applications, with public service platforms strongly supporting industry innovation. It aims to achieve international leadership in key technologies and industrial scale, forming a globally competitive intelligent connected vehicle cluster and essentially establishing a world-leading high-level autonomous driving pioneer zone.

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