People visit an auto show in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, on April 10, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]
New energy vehicles accounted for nearly half of China's new-vehicle sales in the first half of 2026, becoming a key source of demand as the broader automobile market came under pressure, latest industry data show.
The market penetration rate of NEVs reached 49.6 percent during the period, according to data released by the China Machinery Industry Federation on Thursday.
Data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers also showed that China produced 7.438 million NEVs and sold 7.446 million in the first six months, representing year-on-year increases of 6.7 percent and 7.3 percent, respectively.
NEVs accounted for 49.6 percent of all new-vehicle sales, while battery electric vehicles made up about 67 percent of total NEV sales.
