Beijing - China's new-energy vehicle (NEV) sales in July 2026 accounted for more than 60 percent of the monthly new car sales for the first time, while the cumulative share for the first seven months of the year also surpassed 50 percent, industry data showed on Wednesday.

In July alone, NEV output and sales reached over 1.57 million and 1.56 million units, respectively, up 26.8 percent and 23.7 percent year on year, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

Among the NEVs, pure electric vehicle output and sales both exceeded 1 million units in July, rising over 30 percent from a year earlier, the data revealed.

In the first seven months of 2026, NEV output and sales reached 9.01 million and 9 million units, respectively, both up nearly 10 percent year on year.

Overall auto output and sales in July stood at 2.57 million and 2.58 million units, respectively, edging down both month on month and year on year, a decline that CAAM Deputy Secretary-General Chen Shihua attributed to seasonal factors.

July is traditionally a slow season for auto sales, said Chen, who also noted that early demand release from the half-year sales push and persistent high temperatures, as well as typhoons and flooding in some regions, all weighed on market performance.

Vehicle exports maintained strong momentum in July, topping 1.04 million units, up 81.3 percent year on year. Notably, NEV exports of the month rose 1.5-fold to 553,000 units, making up over half of total vehicle exports for two straight months.

During the January-July period, vehicle exports totaled 6.14 million units, up 66.8 percent, including 2.91 million NEVs, a 1.2-fold increase.

Since the start of the year, persistently high oil prices have pushed up the daily costs of using fuel-powered vehicles, strengthening the economic case for NEVs and boosting sales.

Meanwhile, NEVs have continued to improve in overall product competitiveness. Chinese automakers have stepped up technological innovation and R&D investment, making sustained advances in areas of particular concern to consumers, including safety and driving range. A richer and more varied NEV product lineup has also helped to unlock the market's growth potential.

Latest data from the National Energy Administration showed total charging facilities for EVs reaching 23.06 million by the end of June, up 43.2 percent year on year.

China aims to increase the share of NEVs in the total vehicle fleet to 30 percent by 2030, according to an action plan for carbon peaking during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).