China set a record in the automotive market after selling the equivalent of 1 car per second in 2025, according to a report by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).
According to the document, China sold a total of 34.4 million vehicles last year, an increase of 9.4% compared to 2024.
This growth was largely driven by “new energy vehicles,” that is, fully electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and range-extended models.
NEVs alone recorded an increase of 28.2%. With 16.5 million units sold, these vehicles accounted for 47.9% of all sales in the country.
In addition to NEV sales, domestic stimulus measures such as trade-in programs and consumer incentives, exports also posted strong numbers. In 2025, more than 7 million vehicles were exported worldwide.
Even so, CAAM suggests that growth in the Chinese automotive market should continue in 2026, but at a slower pace. Trade and regulatory tensions in foreign markets, combined with economic uncertainties and changes in domestic subsidy policies, could result in a much smaller increase than that recorded last year.
Photo: Unsplash. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
